Kansas Receives $17M Grant to Transform Maternal Health and Bridge Gaps
TL/DR –
Kansas has been selected to be part of the Transforming Maternal Health Model program by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and is set to receive a $17 million grant over the next decade. This initiative aims to improve maternal and child healthcare for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program members across the state. The funding will support strategies including enhancing hospital engagement, providing whole-person care, prioritizing telehealth and telemonitoring, and expanding home visiting programs, with an overall goal of reducing disparities in access and treatment.
Kansas Receives $17 Million for Maternal Health Transformation
The Sunflower State is set to receive approximately $17 million to revamp maternal health and bridge healthcare access gaps. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly proclaimed that the state has been picked by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to be among 15 states to join the Transforming Maternal Health Model program. A $17 million grant will span over the next decade for this initiative.
This program aims to bolster maternal and child healthcare for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program members. Governor Kelly expressed her pride in Kansas’ selection for this crucial program, noting the grant will facilitate increased maternal healthcare access for underserved Kansans.
Kansas aims to amplify the efforts initiated by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment through the Kansas Medicaid and Maternal and Child Health programs to enhance maternal health outcomes. The grant is anticipated to assist the state in implementing key aspects of the TMaH Model per KDHE Secretary Janet Stanek.
The TMaH Model seeks to establish a comprehensive approach to pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care through the KDHE, reducing disparities in access and treatment. This aligns with the objectives of the KanCare 3.0 contracts, which came into effect on January 1.
The model, as Governor Kelly highlighted, focuses on three pillars – access to care, infrastructure and workforce capacity; quality improvement and safety; and whole-person care delivery. The grant will enable the KDHE to expand on the following key projects:
- Hospital Engagement for Birthing-Friendly Designation to enhance patient safety and increase quality services
- Whole-Person Care to enhance patient education and universal screening components
- Telehealth and Telemonitoring Prioritization to overcome geographic barriers and improve access to specialists
- Home Visiting Program Expansion to address funding gaps and improve early-childhood health outcomes.
The funds will aid state efforts to address disparities among underserved populations at higher risk for poor maternal outcomes. For more information about the program, visit HERE.
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