WASHINGTON, D.C. – (March 18, 2022) – Despite paying far more for maternity care, American women are dying at higher rates in pregnancy than women in other high-income countries. This health challenge is even further exacerbated for people of color - 2020 maternal mortality rates for black women were nearly 3 times higher than that of white women. Published today, a new AHIP issue brief offers solutions for this disturbing reality that leverage value-based care. Through value-based care programs, health insurance providers and doctors work together to provide high-value, patient-centric, evidence-based care to the patients and communities they serve.
The issue brief also spotlights several real-world solutions that are working today to improve patient care, care coordination, and patient value through value-based maternity care.
“Americans need and deserve safe, high-quality, equitable and affordable maternity care,” said Matt Eyles, AHIP President and CEO. “More and more, health insurance providers and their care provider partners are embracing value-based care and payment models to align incentives, transform care delivery, enhance the patient experience, and improve outcomes for both this generation and the next.”
In value-based care models, providers are paid in a manner that incents them to improve quality and deliver cost-efficient care in a coordinated manner. Such models are more effective than the “fee-for-service" (FFS) model in which they are paid for every service they provide, regardless of whether those services work to improve the health of the patient. Value-based models can encourage evidence-based care throughout a pregnancy and post-partum periods – resulting in healthier patients and babies.
And with Congress committing $1 billion in funding to maternal and child health programs, there is a clear focus on finding solutions to provide better care and improve patient outcomes.
AHIP’s new issue brief offers policy solutions to support the volume to value movement and improve maternal health care. Importantly, these solutions include a focus on achieving health equity to help improve outcomes for historically marginalized populations.
About AHIP
AHIP is the national association whose members provide health care coverage, services, and solutions to hundreds of millions of Americans every day. We are committed to market-based solutions and public-private partnerships that make health care better and coverage more affordable and accessible for everyone. Visit www.ahip.org to learn how working together, we are Guiding Greater Health.