Missouri works to decrease maternal deaths; expands Medicaid for new moms
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
As maternal mortality appears to decrease nationwide, Missouri's political leaders are working to decrease deaths in the state.
In the 2024 fiscal year budget signed earlier this month, $4.4 million was allocated toward implementing a Maternal Mortality Prevention plan. The Missouri Hospital Association, Department of Health and Senior Services and other health experts in the state are working together to formulate a plan.
"The worst of all possible outcomes are death. But we also want to avoid those long term illnesses that sometimes can occur during a pregnancy or at birth," said Dave Dillon, spokesperson for the Missouri Hospital Association.
The plan is still in the early stages of being formulated, but Dillon said people will soon start seeing more concrete proof of the efforts toward lowering maternal deaths. One of the goals the state is working toward now is implementing something called a Prenatal Quality Collaborative.
"It's basically creating a much more robust network of the people who are involved in this practice," Dillon said.
Dr. Karen Florio is the chair of the Pregnancy Associated Mortality Review Board in Missouri. The board puts together an annual report on maternal deaths in the state and puts out recommendations on how to improve maternal health.
"One of the recommendations we made was to extend Medicaid to one year postpartum, because we do know that people who, for instance, have hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, they need close follow up," Dr. Florio said.
A recently signed law expands Medicaid coverage for low-income Missouri mothers from 60 days after giving birth to a full year.
Dr. Robin Blount, chief medical officer at Boone Health Hospital, said the expansion of Medicaid is important at a time when many are losing pandemic health benefits.
"With the Medicaid expansion, we're hoping that we'll see an improvement in these dire statistics," Dr. Blount said. "I mean, we really shouldn't be seeing an increase in maternal mortality, and we can do something about that."
Nationally, maternal mortality is decreasing since the pandemic. Missouri health experts expect new reports to show the same trend within the state.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a provisional report on maternal death count, which shows nationwide the number of maternal deaths has decreased since July 2022. The report shows 1,160 maternal deaths in July 2022, and 784 maternal deaths this March. The CDC updates its provisional data quarterly.
Missouri has the seventh-highest maternal mortality rate in the country, according to the CDC. In the most recent Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Report, the Department of Health and Senior Services said an average of 61 women died while pregnant each year between 2017 through 2019.
In January, Gov. Mike Parson said that addressing maternal mortality is one of his top priorities for the year. Parson received a standing ovation from both Republicans and Democrats.
"If we can’t get it right for the mothers and children across our state, we might as well pack our bags and let somebody else occupy our seats," Parson said during his speech.
Parson says that the current maternal mortality rates in Missouri is unacceptable. He hopes that extending health care coverage for new mothers will protect more Missouri moms and their children.
"We hope to make real progress and protect more Missouri moms and their children," Parson said. "These measures are not only common sense but pro-life too.”
