What You Should Know:
– Philips announced a partnership with Amerigroup, CareSource Georgia, and Peach State Health Plan to provide remote patient monitoring (RPM) solutions for high-risk pregnancies in Georgia.
– The initiative aims to expand access to quality maternal healthcare and improve outcomes for mothers and babies, particularly in underserved communities.
Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis
Maternal healthcare in the United States faces significant challenges, with a high prevalence of high-risk pregnancies and limited access to care in many areas.
- High-risk pregnancies: 62% of pregnancies are considered high-risk, with hypertension and diabetes being significant contributing factors.
- Maternity care deserts: Over 35% of U.S. counties are considered maternity care deserts, lacking adequate access to maternal healthcare services.
- OB-GYN shortages: The supply of OB-GYNs in non-metro areas is projected to fall significantly short of demand by 2030.
These challenges are particularly acute in Georgia, where Medicaid covers nearly 50% of all births and the state ranks 31st out of 40 in maternal mortality.
Expand Access to Care for High-Risk Pregnancies in Underserved Communities
The program, launched in support of the Georgia Healthy Babies Act, will initially focus on pregnant and postpartum individuals with maternal hypertension and diabetes in 50 counties across the state. Pregnant women with maternal hypertension or diabetes who are covered by Medicaid can opt into the program and receive appropriate RPM devices. Philips-trained clinicians, including nurses, dietitians, and certified diabetes educators, will provide personalized coaching and support.
Participants will receive RPM devices and personalized health coaching from licensed clinical professionals to monitor their condition and intervene to prevent potential complications. The new program aims to address these issues by leveraging technology to expand access to care and improve outcomes for high-risk pregnancies. If a participant’s readings fall outside of the normal range, clinicians receive alerts and can intervene to provide guidance, assess symptoms, and determine if further medical attention is needed. This remote monitoring continues for up to 90 days postpartum, ensuring continuity of care during a critical period.
“Philips is committed to improving maternal healthcare and ensuring that all expectant women have access to high-quality prenatal and postpartum care,” said Jennifer Law, Maternal Health Leader at Philips. “We enable this through partnerships with innovative organizations like Peach State Health Plan, Amerigroup, and CareSource that share our mission of improving lives. It takes an ecosystem of innovators, providers, payers, and policymakers working together to ensure a healthy pregnancy and start for every mom and child.”
