Babyscripts’ Post

📰In the news, the White House pushes for better maternity care solutions, and CMS and HRSA respond with reimbursement + grant initiatives for Medicaid enrollees, but coverage gaps widen with the end of the public health emergency, and variations in care across state lines complicate access. Plus, new insights from Deloitte on healthcare consumer behavior. Read more 👇

KFF has updated their Medicaid Postpartum Coverage Extension Tracker. This page tracks state actions to implement extended Medicaid postpartum coverage to offer added support services to women and families following childbirth. The U.S. has the highest rate of maternal deaths, most of which are considered preventable. Access to health care following childbirth is vital for preventing maternal deaths, addressing pregnancy-related health complications, and promoting well-being for parents and children. https://lnkd.in/gT7Q9QNt

New data reveals a 4% decline in hospitals providing labor and delivery services between 2019 & 2020. This problem is more acute in states that have not expanded #Medicaid, where multiple hospitals have closed due to lack of funding. Medicaid expansion allows states to tap into federal funds to cover a significant portion of the costs associated with providing care to the communities they serve. It's time for all states to expand Medicaid so mothers and babies can get the care they want and need. https://lnkd.in/eEyXqNAH

EXCITING NEWS IN HEALTH POLICY!!! The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services propose introducing baseline requirements for hospitals and critical access hospitals (CAH) in obstetrical services, marking a pivotal step towards revolutionizing maternal healthcare. The proposed rule can drive robust maternal quality improvement initiatives that set foundational standards for the organization, staffing, and care delivery within obstetrical units. Safeguarding emergency services readiness and establishing seamless transfer protocols for obstetrical patients can significantly enhance the quality and safety of maternal care. Furthermore, the rule requires annual staff training on evidence-based maternal health practices and cultural competencies, equipping healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills to provide compassionate, high-quality care to every mother. This policy intervention promises to elevate the standard of maternal health services nationwide, ultimately saving thousands of lives and improving outcomes for countless families. https://lnkd.in/eAPr6Tg9 #MaternalHealth #QualityCare #HealthcareReform #SafeDeliveries #MaternalWellness #CompassionateCare

New data reveals a 4% decline in hospitals providing labor and delivery services between 2019 & 2020. This problem is more acute in states that have not expanded #Medicaid, where multiple hospitals have closed due to lack of funding. Medicaid expansion allows states to tap into federal funds to cover a significant portion of the costs associated with providing care to the communities they serve. It's time for all states to expand Medicaid so mothers and babies can get the care they want and need. https://lnkd.in/eEyXqNAH

Doulas improve clinical care and quality outcomes. Additional evidence recently from an Elevance Health study that evaluated care for 850+ Medicaid beneficiaries. The results... lower c-sections rates, higher attendance at postpartum visits, and lower prevalence of anxiety and/or postpartum depression. #MaternalHealth #DoulasForAll #Doula #QualityImprovement #PatientSafety https://lnkd.in/gTDGKGbU

In their new Forefront article, Ginny Rogers, Montgomery Smith, Jonathan Gonzalez-Smith, and Robert S. Saunders of the Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy explore opportunities to redesign care models given the unique needs of rural communities and policy and payment reforms to scale home-based primary care access. "Although a variety of services can be provided in the home setting, we focus on how home-based primary care (HBPC) can be expanded to improve care for older adults and other home-limited adults residing in rural areas. There is evidence that HBPC models, such as Independence at Home and the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Home-Based Primary Care program can reduce hospitalizations, increase patient satisfaction, and reduce the total cost of care for enrolled patients. However, successful implementation is challenging in rural areas given heightened workforce shortages and resource constraints. Furthermore, increasing access to HBPC can advance the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS’s) commitment to addressing health disparities for rural populations and congressional interest in increasing access to health care for rural and underserved areas." Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/3SPqZQG

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has declared a crisis in access to maternal health care and called for observance of January 23 as Maternal Health Awareness Day. One spot of hope on the horizon: the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is piloting a new care delivery model, Transforming Maternal Health. Starting this summer, 10 state Medicaid agencies will be chosen to receive support, guidance and funding for better prenatal and postpartum care, access to midwives and doulas and other strategies to shrink the disparity in outcomes between underserved and/or rural communities and society in general. Read more at https://lnkd.in/eJE2uZzN.

#Aged #Care Sector Average Stats source myagedcare.gov.au #Government funding per resident per day - $241.49 #Resident contribution per resident per day - $79.71 That is about $321.20 of average funding per resident per day. Spending on Physiotherapy services per resident per day - $3.64 This equates to 1.13% of funding invested in #physiotherapy #Results (source, gen-agedcaredata.gov.au) 32% of residents had one or more falls in a quarter 6% of residents had one or more pressure injuries 14.7% of residents were presented to ED or admitted to hospitals 21.3% of residents experienced a decline in their ADL score The consequences of immobility not only compromise residents' health but also escalate healthcare costs. It begs the question: Why is the government misguided when it comes to investing in allied health care in aged care settings? Despite the overwhelming evidence supporting the benefits, funding allocations remain inadequate. This oversight not only undermines the well-being of our most vulnerable citizens but also perpetuates an unsustainable cycle of healthcare expenditure. #Physiotherapy #AgedCare #HealthcareInvestment #MobilityMatters #Advocacy #AgedCareReform #GovernmentInvestment #AlliedHealthCare #HealthOutcomes #QualityOfLife https://lnkd.in/ghEk8ifB Anthony Albanese Anika Wells Scott Willis GAICD Australian Physiotherapy Association Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care

Hospice is a cost-effective end-of-life option for older adults with dementia, but some rules put in place by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services may be encouraging disenrollment, which leads to higher healthcare costs, according to a new study published in Health Affairs. #homecare #homehealth #medicare https://brnw.ch/21wCxIY