This month, Heartland Forward and Morgan Health brought together nearly a dozen benefits leaders—the human resources professional responsible for designing, managing and overseeing an organization’s employee benefits programs—including Fortune 500 companies from across the region, for a peer-to-peer dialogue on improving maternal health outcomes. Conversations examined the role employers can play in improving maternal health outcomes in the heartland, a multi-stakeholder opportunity to support moms and babies, workforce health and long-term economic stability.
The convening built upon the work of Morgan Health, a division of JPMorganChase focused on improving the quality, affordability and equity of employer-sponsored health care[LB1] , and Heartland Forward’s Maternal & Child Health Center for Policy & Practice, a policy hub within the think-and-do tank dedicated to creating lasting and sustainable solutions to improve maternal health.
As Rivka Friedman, who leads Morgan Health’s Health Care Innovation team, described: “Improving maternal health supports healthier employees, fosters a more accessible health care system and strengthens communities.” By connecting leaders across industry, this event served as an incubator for actionable strategies to make maternal health an economic investment as much as a health benefit—as Friedman noted, “For employers, this isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s a competitive advantage and an economic necessity” for a thriving and competitive heartland.
Access to Quality Maternal Health Care Is a Business Issue
Quality maternal health care is not only a top indicator of public health and community wellness, it is also necessary for overall business and economic outcomes. One in every six dollars an employer spends on inpatient health care goes toward maternity services, making maternal care consistently a top three medical expense. As highlighted in Heartland Forward’s research, for heartland employers competing for talent and building resilient local economies, this is especially pressing as health care access can be sparse in rural areas, childbirth can cost more than $20,000 per birth and tens of millions of individuals on employer-sponsored insurance live in the heartland. With its mix of rural access constraints, workforce health needs and forward-thinking companies, the heartland is a compelling testing ground for innovative maternal health solutions—and employers are well-positioned to lead.
Employers are already covering interventions known to improve maternal health outcomes and reduce costs, such as doulas—trained professionals who provide physical, behavioral and educational support to pregnant women and their families before, during and after birth. 76% of individuals on employer-sponsored insurance want doula support, yet nearly half thought it would be hard to find a doula and more than a quarter were unfamiliar with the care doulas provide. Lack of awareness was most common among younger, lower-income, rural and first-time parents. Employers can close this gap by covering doula services and supporting employee care navigation.
Midwives—advanced practice nurses providing comprehensive health care to women, including primary care, labor and delivery, prenatal and postpartum care—present a similar case: Among individuals on employer-sponsored insurance, 66% expressed interest in using a midwife, and for good reason, as midwives lower caesarean rates, support postpartum mental health and reduce preterm births. According to Heartland Forward research, if preterm births and low birth weight instances dropped by 50%, the U.S. could save approximately $28.5 billion. Employers who cover midwifery care are expanding access and unlocking those savings.
Maternal Health Care in the Heartland
Improving access to research-backed, patient-centered care supports more than individual heartland families. Healthy moms and healthy babies benefit workforce participation and long-term community growth. As highlighted on NBC News’ Meet the Press, government leaders like Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Maryland Governor Wes Moore, heartland businesses and philanthropists like Olivia Walton are investing in strong maternal health benefits as an economic imperative, to improve preventive care and to support healthier communities.
Looking Forward
The Maternal & Child Health Center for Policy & Practice is designed to be a hub for evidence-based maternal health care solutions: there is no better launching point for those solutions than the perspectives of heartland employers. Through this partnership, Morgan Health is extending JPMorganChase’s commitment to strengthening communities and businesses across the heartland, and the Maternal & Child Health Center for Policy & Practice is working to elevate regional maternal health needs and innovative solutions across the region.
“The Maternal & Child Health Center for Policy & Practice is focused on turning research into practical solutions, and employers are key partners in that work. By ensuring benefits reflect the real needs of employees and families, employers can help improve maternal and child health outcomes, strengthen workforce opportunities and support healthier communities across the heartland,” said Angie Cooper, President of Heartland Forward.
Together, Heartland Forward and Morgan Health are translating research into action by advancing practical, evidence-based maternal health solutions with the leaders positioned to implement meaningful change. We look forward to continuing to spark measurable improvements in maternal health outcomes through data-informed innovation and open dialogue with employers across the region.To learn more or get involved, visit the Maternal & Child Health Center for Policy & Practice, Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies America and Morgan Health.