The Department of Health and Human Services granted more than $40 million to fund the Strong Start initiative aimed at reducing the number of preterm births in America, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced Thursday.
The grants will be used to test ways to reduce preterm births, as well as to fund a public campaign to reduce early elective deliveries.
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“Preterm births are a growing public health problem that has significant consequences for families well into a child’s life,” said Sebelius, in a press release announcing the grants. “The Strong Start initiative will help give expectant mothers the care they need for a healthy delivery and a healthy baby.”
More than half a million infants are born prematurely in America each year, a trend that has grown by 36 percent over the last 20 years, noted HHS' press release. Children born preterm require additional medical attention and often require early intervention services and special education and have conditions that may affect their productivity as adults.
In addition to health benefits, preventing preterm births can save money for the healthcare system. It is estimated that medical care in the first year of life for preterm babies covered by the Medicaid program averages $20,000 compared to $2,100 for full-term infants. Medicaid pays for slightly less than half of the nation’s births each year. Even a 10 percent reduction in deliveries occurring prior to 39 weeks would generate over $75 million in annual Medicaid savings.
To tackle this problem, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation will award grants to healthcare providers and coalitions to improve prenatal care to women covered by Medicaid. The grants will support the testing of enhanced prenatal care through several approaches under evaluation, including through group visits with other pregnant women, at birth centers providing case management, and at maternity care homes where pregnant women have expanded access to better coordinated, enhanced prenatal care.
In addition to preventable preterm births, the Strong Start initiative will also focus on reducing early elective deliveries, which can lead to a variety of health problems for mothers and infants. Up to 10 percent of all deliveries are scheduled as induced or surgical deliveries before 39 weeks that are not medically indicated.
The Strong Start initiative cuts across many agencies within HHS and will involve efforts by the CMS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Health Resources and Services Administration and the Administration on Children and Families. HHS will also work with a variety of professional organizations including the March of Dimes, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and other organizations.
“Premature birth is a serious health problem and the public and private collaboration that will be generated by the Strong Start initiative is the single most important step forward to date in our nation’s prematurity prevention efforts,” said Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes, in a statement. “Working together to eliminate medically unnecessary early deliveries will reduce the emotional and financial burden of prematurity for thousands of families.”