LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — On Thursday, the Strategic Committee for Maternal Health announced that they've delivered a report to Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
According to the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) and Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS), the report includes recommendations on new policies, programs, and approaches that would be aimed at improving maternal health in the state — this comes in the form of improving health outcomes for pregnant women, new mothers, and babies.
Months ago, Gov. Sanders established the committee and tasked the group with a six-month timeline on determining potential reforms for the state's maternal care. She signed the executive order on March 6, 2024, creating the committee as a result.
In the time since, the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) said that over 100 stakeholders from dozens of companies across Arkansas have met in order to establish the recommendations inside of the report.
“This report is the result of many meetings and listening sessions with stakeholders across the state," said Renee Mallory, Arkansas Secretary of Health. "While we’ve already begun this important work, we look forward to continuing to enact solutions to improve the health and well-being of moms and babies in Arkansas.”
As for the findings of the report, recommendations included the following:
- Development of a dashboard reporting key maternal health indicators
- Evaluation of Medicaid reimbursement rates
- Implementation of "presumptive" eligibility for Medicaid-eligible pregnant women
- Creation of a pathway used for Medicaid provider types, along with reimbursements for Doulas and community health workers
- Expansion of obstetrics and gynecology residencies in Arkansas
- Development of a maternal health education and advertising campaign
Notably absent is a recommendation to extend postpartum coverage to one year under a Medicaid program. Currently, the state provides coverage for 60 days despite an option provided through the American Rescue Plan Act to extend to a full year.
Elisabeth Burak, senior fellow at Georgetown Center for Children and Families, told the Associated Press that not pursuing that extension is a "flagrant omission."
“It's great to see that there's a priority on this. But if you have a priority truly on maternal health, then why not do something that you've got this easy option to do and keep women whole with coverage during a stressful time in their life, and that research supports?” Burak said.
In order to read the report in its entirety, you can click here.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.