Improving Health Outcomes for Pregnant and Postpartum Individuals with Substance Use Disorder
Center for Health Care Strategies
Better care where it's needed most
Mental health conditions and substance use disorders (SUD) are significant drivers of the U.S. maternal mortality crisis, particularly during the postpartum period. Suicide and SUD-related overdoses are leading causes of maternal mortality, accounting for more than 20 percent of postpartum deaths. Despite Medicaid covering two out of every five births nationwide and being the largest payer of behavioral health services, promising models that support pregnant and postpartum individuals with SUD have not yet been widely adopted. Emerging innovations do exist, however, at both the local and federal levels, offering new pathways to more effective and widespread implementation of integrated services for this population.
With nearly every state now providing 12 months of postpartum Medicaid coverage, states and other key stakeholders have a significant opportunity to promote integrated, family-centered, trauma-informed care that improves health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum individuals and their children. This panel will bring together ground-level practitioners and state and health plan leaders to share innovative approaches that better support pregnant and postpartum Medicaid members with mental health conditions and SUD. The discussion will highlight an upcoming report from the Center for Health Care Strategies, and offer insights and practical examples to help policymakers, health systems, providers, and community-based organizations transform maternal health care to offer critical supports for this oft-hidden population.