Payer Partners with Nonprofit to Improve Prenatal Care Access

The United Health Foundation has announced a partnership with the nonprofit organization CAMBA, Inc. to improve health outcomes and increase prenatal care access for women in Brooklyn.

The United Health Foundation, the philanthropic branch of UnitedHealth Group, and CAMBA, a nonprofit that provides social services to New York citizens, are partnering to reduce maternal and infant morbidity rates.

The partnership is a three-year, $3 million deal that will focus on helping underserved and homeless women in Brooklyn.

New York ranks thirtieth for women receiving adequate prenatal care, according to an America’s Health Rankings report. The state ranks twenty-first for women with access to a dedicated health care provider with quality care.

“Expectant mothers in New York’s underserved communities often lack access to prenatal and postpartum care, which is essential to treat their distinct health needs,” said Joseph Chiarella, MD, chief medical officer of UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of New York.

“Our partnership with CAMBA will help expand access to care and address health disparities by adapting maternal care delivery to meet patients where they are.”

In an effort to improve access to care, CAMBA will provide community health workers to two family shelters and nine public housing developments. These healthcare professionals will assist around 500 women each year.

The workers will conduct screenings and health assessments, provide educational workshops, and offer referrals to supportive food and nutrition, breastfeeding, mental health, housing, and newborn care services, according to the press release.

The organizations will also direct some of the funding toward staffing, birth and postpartum doula support, and the purchase of mobile medical vans.

“We are grateful to the United Health Foundation for its partnership and generous support of this important initiative,” said Claire Harding-Keefe, executive vice president of Homeless and Family Services at CAMBA, Inc.

“Together, we will better meet women’s critical health needs during and after pregnancy, reduce health disparities and improve maternal and infant health outcomes among many of New York City’s most vulnerable residents.”

UnitedHealth Group has donated over $8 million in grants to support the health of mothers and newborns. Their Healthy Pregnancy and Maternity Support programs offer resources and services to help expectant mothers make informed decisions, communicate with care providers, and fully understand and utilize their benefits.

UnitedHealth Group and the United Health Foundation have worked to address social determinants of health and improve access to care for New Yorkers by providing grants and services to underserved communities. UnitedHealth Group delivers care to around 3.9 million individuals in New York.

At the start of the pandemic in April 2020, the payer donated $5 million to support healthcare workers.

The donations consisted of $2 million to the CDC Foundation to help with purchasing personal protective equipment (PPE), and $2 million to Direct Relief to fund PPE and other healthcare supplies for workers providing care at community health centers, free clinics, and mobile clinics.

The payer also donated $1 million to the American Nurses Foundation Coronavirus Response Fund for Nurses to help build a virtual support system for nurses across the country.

Other payers have fought to improve maternal healthcare in the past as well. For example, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) partnered with community-based organizations to increase education and provide support for new mothers.

BCBSIL donated $350,000 to six community-based organizations in Chicago that serve areas where racial care disparities for mothers are prevalent.

Priority Health also aimed to reduce maternal care disparities by offering financial incentives to providers who used the Centering Healthcare Institute’s Centering Pregnancy value-based care model.

The care model provided prenatal care to women in groups, increasing the chances of expectant mothers sticking with their prenatal routine.