Fort Smith, ARK – Arkansas has been awarded a $17 million federal grant to enhance the health outcomes of pregnant women, new mothers, and babies in the state. The 10-year grant, provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), is part of the federal Transforming Maternal Health program. The funding will be distributed to several state agencies, including the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS), which will lead the initiative in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who convened the Strategic Committee for Maternal Health in March 2023, expressed her commitment to improving maternal health across the state. “Healthy moms means healthy babies,” Sanders said. “Pursuing this grant was one of the first major recommendations of the Strategic Committee for Maternal Health I convened, and it will facilitate much of the rest of our work to increase the maternal care workforce, invest in technology and research to help new moms, and connect expecting moms with healthcare providers in all corners of the state.”
The grant is aimed at addressing several critical areas in maternal health, focusing on improving care access, quality, safety, and overall health outcomes. Specifically, the program will concentrate on six key priorities:
- Data Analysis: Utilizing data to better target maternal health services and ensure they reach the most underserved populations.
- Education: Educating both healthcare providers and pregnant women on the benefits of incorporating doulas, community health workers, and midwives into care plans.
- Technology Investment: Enhancing technological resources to serve pregnant women and healthcare providers more effectively.
- Infrastructure Enhancement: Developing better infrastructure to collect, share, and utilize data on maternal health outcomes.
- Medicaid Reform: Redesigning Medicaid reimbursement structures to incentivize providers who achieve healthier maternal outcomes.
- Community Collaboration: Strengthening the connections between healthcare providers and community-based organizations, including nonprofits and faith-based groups, to better serve low-income women across the state.
Governor Sanders emphasized that this grant marks a significant step toward improving maternal health in Arkansas, particularly for vulnerable populations. “This funding will help us build a more robust maternal care system that ensures all women, no matter where they live, have access to the care and support they need,” she added.
The initiative aims to combat the challenges faced by pregnant women and new mothers in Arkansas, a state that has historically struggled with high maternal and infant mortality rates. By addressing systemic issues and investing in innovative solutions, the grant offers a promising opportunity to improve the overall health of mothers and babies in the state.