Core Principles
Access
45%
of Arkansas counties are defined as maternity care deserts
16%
of counties have no birthing hospital within 30 minutes
Arkansas only has 37 hospitals with labor and delivery services. Women
living in areas without access to care will incur substantial costs due to
travel and lodging.
One of the most significant barriers to
access results from inadequate public health insurance reimbursement
rates. Low rates cause issues for hospitals in hiring doctors and nurses.
If Medicaid does not adequately reimburse for care, then
health care providers cannot provide services without losing money,
forcing the closure of clinics and hospitals. To address the access gap,
AIM supports increasing reimbursement rates for providers who deliver
babies (both doctors and midwives).
Affordability
“Medicaid funded almost half the births (44%) in Arkansas in 2020.”
Currently, Medicaid coverage is limited to 60 days postpartum. As any
parent can attest, the challenges and needs that come with caring for an
infant extend well beyond 60 days postpartum coverage.
A key
recommendation in the 2022 Arkansas Maternal Mortality Review Committee
report was the extension of insurance coverage from 60 days to one year
postpartum “to monitor the mother’s physical and mental health, provide
support during the transition, and ensure access to treatment.”
To make access to comprehensive postpartum care more
affordable, AIM supports the bipartisan effort to increase Medicaid
coverage from 60 days to 12 months postpartum.
Quality
The quality of healthcare before, during and after pregnancy can affect
long-term health outcomes. Multiple factors contribute to Arkansas' poor
maternal health outcomes, including relatively high rates of poverty and
large rural areas with limited obstetric care.
All Arkansans
should have access to highly-skilled and licensed OB/GYNs and perinatal
care providers. To ensure mothers and children have the highest quality of
care, AIM supports increasing funding for workforce training through
medical schools and increasing the number of residency slots to train
providers in Arkansas.