Arkansas leaders highlight efforts to improve maternal health

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Olivia Walton, founder of Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies America, participated in the Maternal Health Roundtable discussion at the Clinton Center Thursday.

The two discussed what the state was doing to raise Arkansas up in the rankings of low maternal health rates.

One of the solutions Gov. Sanders mentioned was the Claim Your Care ad campaign.

“Raising awareness and helping people have different access points to the support of care and things that they need,” Gov. Sanders said.

Another solution Gov. Sanders suggested was a technology platform combining state government, nonprofits and the private sector all into one place.

“No matter where you show up, we have the ability to say, we know that not only do you need medical care, you also need transportation, you need housing,” Gov. Sanders said.

Gov. Sanders also highlighted their post-partum call center.

“Having somebody you can reach out to, that can walk you through and say, ‘Hey its actually completely normal for your babies to cry all night, but here’s some things you might try so that everybody gets 30 minutes of sleep, or this is something to watch for if it continues,’” Gov. Sanders said.

Walton emphasized the importance of these solutions.

“It’s overwhelmingly preventative, but we need to kind of change the way we really think about postpartum care,” Walton said.

Arkansas was the only state in the nation that limits postpartum Medicaid coverage to 60 days after delivery. All other states provide a year’s coverage. 

Read more: https://www.kark.com/news/local-news/arkansas-leaders-highlight-efforts-to-improve-maternal-health/