Arkansas is taking critical steps to improve maternal health through the recently enacted Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act, designed to provide timely care and comprehensive data for pregnant women.
The legislation, which went into effect July 1, presumes that pregnant women are immediately eligible for Medicaid to start prenatal care without delay and changes Medicaid payments by unbundling them to separately reimburse prenatal, delivery, and postpartum services.
This shift from lump-sum payments allows for better tracking of when and how often expectant mothers receive care.
Janet Mann, Arkansas Department of Human Services Secretary-Designate, highlighted these features at the Arkansas Maternal Health Roundtable on August 6, a gathering of more than 100 hospital leaders, legislators, and health advocates focused on improving maternal outcomes.
Arkansas faces urgent challenges, with the fourth highest maternal mortality rate nationally at 38 deaths per 100,000 live births from 2018-2022, well above the national average of 23. The state also recorded the third highest infant mortality rate in 2022, with 7.67 deaths per 1,000 live births.
Under the new law, Medicaid now reimburses clinicians separately for office visits, lab work, testing, and remote monitoring, encouraging more frequent and earlier prenatal care.
Mann noted that before the reform, approximately 1,100 women annually did not seek any prenatal care until delivery, with many others delaying care until their second trimester.
The act also updates payment rates for the first time in nearly 20 years, with about $45 million allocated in state and federal funds, focusing on delivery services and office visits—a practice aligned with the best standards recommending 14 prenatal and postpartum visits per patient.
Additional provisions in the law will soon establish rules to reimburse lactation specialists, doulas, and community health workers, pending approvals by the governor and legislature.
These efforts complement federal support, including a 10-year, $17 million Transforming Maternal Health Model grant awarded to Arkansas to reduce disparities in maternal care, and community programs like Life 360, which provides home visits and education for high-risk pregnant women.
Leaders like Dr. Nirvana Manning of UAMS emphasized the unprecedented statewide coordination, from legislation to county-level clinical care, aiming to build a system where “every mother has the support and care she needs to thrive.”
The roundtable also highlighted innovative tools such as the Phillips Pregnancy+ app, tailored for Arkansas women to easily access resources like Medicaid applications, nutrition assistance, and healthcare appointments.
Senator Missy Irvin and Representative Aaron Pilkington, sponsors of the act, have expressed optimism that these reforms will help move Arkansas forward from its alarming maternal and infant mortality rates toward healthier outcomes for families across the state.
READ MORE
