Agenda - 03-06-1996 - IX-B - Laserfiche WebLink

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t Board of Commissioners `+ 1 Action Agenda Item No. —$ Action Agenda Item Abstract Meeting Date: March 6, 1996 Subject: Maternity Care Coordination Grant Department: Health Public Hearing Yes_ No X Budget Amendment Needed Yes X No Attachments(s) Information Contact Health Director's Office X2411 1. Notice of Award of$12,500 grant from DEHNR. 2. Local Health Department Budget Telephone Number 3. Contract Addendum 4. Two letters from the Department of Family Hillsborough 732-8181 Medicine, UNC School of Medicine Chapel Hill 968-4501 5. Maternity Care Coordinator Revenue Mebane 227-2031 and Expense Analysis Durham 688-7331 Purpose: To approve acceptance of a grant from DEHNR awarded in the amount of$12,500.00 to increase the number of pregnant women covered by Medicaid who receive Maternity Care Coordination and establish a permanent, time-limited Social Work position to provide the services at the UNC School of Medicine Department of Family Medicine. Background: The Orange County Health Department has been providing a case management service called Maternity Care Coordination(MCC) since 1989. The service was designed by the State Health Department and the State Division of Medical Assistance to reduce the infant mortality rate and other poor pregnancy outcomes experienced by pregnant women who are covered by Medicaid. A study by the State Center for Health and Environmental Statistics demonstrated that pregnant women who receive MCC have significantly better birth outcomes than women who do not receive MCC. Reducing poor birth outcomes has been a high priority in the health department for several years. Currently, the department provides MCC at the OCHD clinic in Hillsborough and off-site at UNC Hospital Clinics. The two positions are self-supporting through Medicaid fees charged for the services. Recently, DEHNR determined that approximately 60 pregnant women covered by Medicaid last year did not receive MCC and recommended that the health department expand the service. Concurrently, the department received a request to outstation a maternity care coordinator at the Family Practice Center which has seen an increase in the number of Medicaid eligible prenatal patients it has enrolled as a Carolina Access provider. In their letter of January 29, 1996, Family Medicine said that the lack of MCC resulted in missed appointments, poor follow-up and lack of support for psychosocial problems.