BCBSTX's $1.2 Million Grant Awarded to Mobile Health Center in Efforts to Bridge Gaps in Maternal, Infant Healthcare

In efforts toward improving maternal and infant healthcare access in Texas, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) announced a $1.2 million grant awarded to March of Dimes Mom & Baby Mobile Health Center® to Texas, with Houston as its home base to reduce maternal morbidities, mortalities, and health disparities.

The grant is part of BCBSTX's expanded Special Beginnings® maternal and infant health initiative, which spans regions including Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Houston, RGV, and Austin.

The BCBSTX-funded mobile health center will become March of Dimes' sixth unit and will operate in collaboration with a selected clinical provider. Its mission is to deliver crucial maternal programs, encompassing support, education, and healthcare services, directly to mothers and mothers-to-be in their own communities.

By offering pre-conception, pregnancy, postpartum, and newborn interventions, as well as primary, wellness, and preventive care, this mobile health center is set to close the access gaps that have long affected the well-being of women and children in Texas.

Dr. Angela Moemeka, the Chief Medical Officer for Texas Medicaid at BCBSTX, highlighted the importance of collective efforts in improving maternal and infant health outcomes.

"In order to move the needle on maternal and infant health outcomes, it will take a collective effort," Moemeka said. "We are investing in non-profits, like March of Dimes, so we can work alongside each other to reduce barriers at a hyper-local level and scale their impact."

"Considering the stark historical and ongoing statistics on maternal health disparities and maternal mental health, we recognize the role that comprehensive, value-based, person-centered, and coordinated efforts play in ensuring health equity and high-quality care."

A March of Dimes report, titled "Where You Live Matters: Maternity Care Deserts and the Crisis of Access and Equity," highlights the current issues in Texas:

• Prenatal Care Disparities: The report reveals that 20.4% of birthing individuals in Texas received either no prenatal care or inadequate care. This figure surpasses the U.S. rate of 14.8%, underscoring the urgent need for improved access to care.
• Chronic Health Conditions and Preterm Births: Texas women with chronic health conditions face a 43% higher risk of preterm birth compared to those with none, emphasizing the critical role of accessible healthcare for this demographic.
• High Vulnerability: Overall, women in Texas are highly vulnerable to adverse healthcare outcomes due to the limited availability of reproductive healthcare services.

Jen Torres, the Executive Director of Houston-area March of Dimes, emphasized their commitment to serving underinsured or uninsured individuals in underserved communities.

"Our approach, through our mobile health centers, is an aim to create a non-traditional avenue for women and newborns to overcome barriers and access vital healthcare services," she stated.

March of Dimes is scheduled to launch in late 2024 or early 2025. It will be custom-built from the ground up by a March of Dimes vendor with experience in the mobile unit field.

This 30-foot unit will feature two clinical rooms designed specifically for women's health services, an intake area, a bathroom, a small lab area, and a vaccine-compliant refrigeration system. Additionally, the unit will include a generator, electricity for lighting and air conditioning, and telematics.