MHA Keystone Center and MVC Release Statewide Childbirth Outcomes Report

The MHA Keystone Center and the Michigan Value Collaborative (MVC) developed and released a statewide report Feb. 2 on birth outcomes following recently released data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in an effort to support maternal health quality improvement initiatives. CDC data shows the maternal mortality rate in the United Sates was 23.8 per 100,000 live births in 2020 and four in five pregnancy-related deaths were preventable between 2017 and 2019.

The Michigan report details information on episode payments, mode of delivery, patient characteristics and rates of hemorrhage, hypertension and severe maternal morbidity for 90-day claims-based episodes of care for vaginal and cesarean delivery at MVC participating birthing hospitals from January 2019 to December 2021. It found 7.5% of patients had a diagnosis of hemorrhage, 4.2% had a diagnosis of hypertension and 1.8% had a diagnosis of severe maternal morbidity (SMM) during their index birth hospitalization. A notable finding was the difference in rates of these complications by race. Patients who were identified as Asian or Pacific Islander had higher rates of hemorrhage than other race categories, while patients who were identified as Black had higher rates of hypertension and SMM than the overall population.

Through support from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, this report helps to better understand disparities in care while guiding the MHA Keystone Center’s efforts to increase equitable care and decrease preventable several maternal morbidity and mortality.

Members with questions about the report may reach out to the MHA Keystone Center.

Media Recap: Implicit Bias Training & Medicaid Maternal Health Coverage

Brian Peters

The MHA received media coverage the week of May 9 on the upcoming Public Health Code Rules requiring implicit bias training for all professions licensed or registered under the Public Health Code and the recently approved extension by The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services of Michigan Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program coverage for 12 months after pregnancy.

Bridge published May 11 a story on the healthcare industry’s reaction to the June 1 implementation date of the implicit bias training requirement. MHA CEO Brian Peters is quoted in the article expressing the positive reaction from hospitals on the requirement and their commitment to eliminate health disparities.

“There’s been no push back,” said Peters. “Everyone realizes this is the right thing to do.”

State of Reform also published May 10 an article on the increase in coverage for postpartum mothers from 60 days after birth to a full year in Michigan. Laura Appel, executive vice president of government relations and public policy, MHA, spoke with State of Reform on the importance of this coverage extension towards addressing maternal mortality and racial disparities.

“It feels counterintuitive to why healthcare coverage for women would end 60 days after they gave birth,” said Appel. “You would in no way expect coverage to end so quickly.”