AHIP Affirms Commitment To Improving Maternal Health

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 (TNStalk) -- America's Health Insurance Plans issued the following statement on Dec. 13, 2022:

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AHIP President and CEO Matt Eyles released this statement following today's announcement by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on improving maternity care. Today, 27 health insurance providers who together cover 150 million Americans committed to including the agency's Birthing-Friendly Hospital designation in their provider directories.

"Every American deserves access to affordable, comprehensive, high-quality coverage and care. For women, access to care is a critical issue: Overall, women are higher users of health care than men due to longer life expectancies, reproductive health needs, and maternity care.

"Our country's maternal health challenges are clear. The United States has one of the highest maternal mortality rates among high-income countries, despite significantly higher spending on maternity care. Around 700 American women die each year as the result of pregnancy or its complications, and more than 50,000 pregnant women experience a life-threatening complication. Moreover, women of color face significantly higher mortality rates and increased risks of poor maternal health outcomes.

"That's why AHIP applauds today's announcement. Improving maternity care including CMS' Birthing-Friendly Hospital designation will help inform patients as they make decisions about their maternal health care needs.

"Health insurance providers are committed to improving maternal and reproductive health. We are implementing innovative programs that include proactive outreach to those at high risk, capitalize on telehealth and other technologies to better engage pregnant patients, and to help ensure they are receiving the care they need, when and where they need it. We are embracing value-based payment models to improve outcomes and increase affordability. And we're addressing the social determinants of health and other risk factors that contribute to disparities in care and outcomes.

"Every woman deserves care that will help ensure the good health of both that mother and her baby. Health insurance providers are working and committed to improve health care outcomes for all women and to deliver innovative and culturally competent approaches to improve maternity and infant care."

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Original text here: https://www.ahip.org/news/press-releases/ahip-affirms-commitment-to-improving-maternal-health-as-insurance-providers-covering-150-million-americans-commit-to-birthing-friendly-hospital-designation