Partnership aims to improve access
to doula care and address the cultural needs of Medicaid
members during pregnancy and postpartum
DETROIT, Sept. 19,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Meridian, a leading managed
care organization in the state of Michigan and a Centene
Corporation company (NYSE: CNC), has partnered with Mae, a
culturally responsive digital solution built to address the
specific clinical, social and cultural needs of underserved
expectant mothers, to provide supplementary support for the
maternal health needs of all eligible pregnant and postpartum
members. Mae will connect Meridian's Medicaid members with its
growing network of over 50 Michigan-based doulas for virtual and
in-person emotional support, labor education, advocacy, lactation
support and postpartum management.
By launching a partnership with Mae in July to increase access
to doula support and other services, Meridian works toward its
commitment to reduce disparities in maternal outcomes and improve
the overall perinatal health outcomes in Michigan, where Black women are more than
twice as likely than white women to die from maternal-related
complications.
"We are pleased to offer this much-needed additional service to
our eligible members and doulas," said Dianalynn Smith, Meridian's Vice President,
Quality Improvement. "As a major source of coverage for low-income
people, Medicaid has a critical role to play in reducing health
disparities, both locally and nationally. Meridian is responsible
for nearly 10%, or 1 in 9, of all births in Michigan. While pregnancy can be a beautiful
journey, it can also be a very stressful time, both physically and
mentally. Community-based doulas provide culturally and racially
resonant care through a shared background, culture and language
with pregnant people."
According to The American College of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists, one-on-one emotional support provided by doulas has
been shown to reduce cesarean births, help shorten the duration of
labor and improve the rate of spontaneous vaginal birth. Doula
services are an evidenced-based intervention key in addressing the
alarming rise in maternity care deserts, with an estimated 16% of
Black babies born in Michigan in
areas with limited or no access to maternity care
services. Doulas have been proven to improve maternal
health outcomes and reduce complications and ineffective
interventions, while driving down costs for the broader healthcare
ecosystem.
To support Meridian members, Mae combines a digital engagement
and risk-tracking platform with community-based doula support to
better align provider support teams and center the pregnant person
throughout the perinatal journey, all with the goal of reducing
disparate maternal health outcomes, including preterm births and
non-medically necessary C-sections.
"Over the past two years, Mae has built a meaningful presence in
Michigan, partnering with a
growing team of extraordinary community-based doulas to serve the
needs of Medicaid beneficiaries across the state," said
Maya Hardigan, Chief Executive
Officer of Mae. "We are thrilled to launch our partnership with
Meridian to expand our reach to birthing individuals in
Michigan and to drive improvements
in maternal health outcomes and equity. We look forward to the
impact we will make together."
About Meridian
Meridian in Michigan provides
government-sponsored managed care services to families, children,
seniors and individuals with complex medical needs primarily
through Medicaid (Meridian), Medicare Advantage and Medicare
Prescription Drug Plans (Wellcare), Medicare-Medicaid Plans
(MeridianComplete) and the Health Insurance Marketplace (Ambetter
from Meridian). Meridian is a Centene Corporation company, a
leading healthcare enterprise committed to helping people live
healthier lives. For more information about Meridian, please
visit mimeridian.com.
About Mae
Mae is a culturally responsive digital first
solution built to address the specific clinical, social and
cultural needs of underserved expectant mothers, with an early
focus on Black expectant mothers, those with the most striking
disparities in maternal health outcomes. Mae has created a space
where complete digital care meets culturally aligned on-the-ground
doula support. For more information, please visit meetmae.com.
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/meridian-partners-with-mae-to-improve-maternal-outcomes-and-reduce-disparities-across-michigan-302252728.html
SOURCE Meridian of Michigan