Transforming Maternal Health (TMaH)
A new federal initiative to improve maternal health outcomes for Medicaid beneficiaries.
Transforming Maternal Health (TMaH) is the new initiative from the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Innovation focused on improving maternal health care for people enrolled in Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). TMaH’s goal is to improve maternal health care by offering targeted technical support to eligible state Medicaid agencies to develop a whole-person approach to pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care.
To foster this holistic approach to improving maternal health, under TMaH:
- States will implement strategies that address physical and mental health before, during, and after pregnancy
- States will also address social related needs for birth givers and their babies during pregnancy
- Key components of the program include mandating improved access to freestanding birth centers, midwives, and doulas
CMS plans to release a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for state Medicaid agencies in Spring 2024. Applications will be due in Summer 2024.
AABC is collaborating with the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM), Birth Center Equity (BCE), the National Association of Certified Professional Midwives (NACPM), and the National Black Midwives Alliance (NBMA) to promote the crucial role of midwives and birth centers improving health care. We urge states to emphasize midwifery services and birth centers in their TMaH grant proposals and prioritize investments in models of care that recognize the important role of midwives.
In preparation for TMaH, AABC has contacted all State Medicaid Directors and Maternal and Child Health staff to bring their attention to the role of birth centers in the coming federal grant opportunity Transforming Maternal Health (TMaH), and the expertise that AABC and our birth center members hold. AABC presented a webinar on May 17th to help agencies learn further about freestanding birth centers, the midwifery model of care, and their significance for improving maternal health outcomes for Medicaid beneficiaries. We also address how freestanding birth centers can actually lead to significant cost savings for agencies.
We know that we can do better for birth givers and their babies by uplifting the midwifery model of care across the nation. Evidence continues to point us in this direction, and TMaH will be a positive contribution in this direction. View the webinar below and download the slide deck.