Texas lawmakers have taken important steps to improve maternal health, including extending postpartum Medicaid coverage and authorizing new initiatives to address nonmedical needs that affect pregnancy outcomes. But these policies alone do not guarantee better health. A new report from Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy identifies opportunities for Texas to connect these initiatives, strengthen accountability and ensure that investments in maternal health translate into measurable improvements for mothers and families.
“Beyond Clinical Care: Integrating Non-Medical Drivers of Health Into Maternal Health Policy in Texas,” a new report from the Texas Consortium for the Non-Medical Drivers of Health, an initiative by the Center for Health Policy at the Baker Institute, finds that improving maternal health requires more than expanding Medicaid coverage or creating new programs. Texas must ensure that women can access needed services, including nutrition assistance, transportation and community-based support, while developing sustainable financing for interventions that demonstrate results. The report also emphasizes that Medicaid should complement, rather than replace, public health programs, home visiting and other community resources.
The report identifies six priorities for the Legislature to take into account in its next session:
- Create durable financing pathways.
- Align financing with maternal health outcomes.
- Finance the connection of nonmedical needs to services.
- Build data and accountability around results.
- Build the maternal community-based workforce.
- Align home visiting with maternal health.
“Texas has made important progress on maternal health, but passing legislation is only the first step. A doctor’s office visit is just one part of what women need for a healthy pregnancy and the first year of life. When 80% of maternal deaths are considered preventable, we need to look beyond clinical care and address the barriers that keep women from getting the support they need. Our report provides a road map for turning state policies into meaningful improvements in maternal and infant health,” said Charles Mathias, director of the Texas Consortium for the Non-Medical Drivers of Health and lead author of the report with co-authors Elena M. Marks, senior fellow in health policy, and Sameera Vedantam, Baylor College of Medicine and MBA candidate in Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business.
The Texas Consortium for the Non-Medical Drivers of Health brings together researchers, practitioners and policymakers to advance the integration of nonmedical services into health care delivery, improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.
The report’s findings will be presented at a Texas Capitol event Nov. 12. “Beyond Clinical Care: Integrating Nonmedical Drivers of Health Into Maternal Health Policy in Texas,” commissioned by Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas Inc.