Quantifying the financial burden of preventable birth complications is a challenging and yet critical step toward developing payment models that invest in preventive maternal healthcare, saving both lives and taxpayer dollars. Recently, Milliman published a report commissioned by the Episcopal Health Foundation and the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation to estimate the impact of reducing severe obstetric complications. Both foundations provide support to the North Texas Maternal Health Accelerator: a first-of-its-kind, outcome-based payment program that seeks to reduce severe obstetric complications by 20% in a service area with more deliveries than 30 US states, and a foundation for this report.

In this webinar, Cameron Combs (CPAL) provides an overview of the Accelerator’s work on severe obstetric complications (SOC), followed by Stoddard Davenport’s (Milliman) in-depth review of findings published in the Milliman report — notably that SOC prevention can improve health outcomes and reduce costs to Texas Medicaid. Afterwards, Karen Love (Cook Children’s Health Plan) and Angie Hochhalter (Aetna Better Health of Texas) highlight their plans’ efforts to reduce SOCs, including provider incentives and collaboration between payers. Mayor Mattie Parker (Fort Worth) rounds out the webinar with a statement of gratitude for the Economic Impact Report on maternal health and emphasizing its importance for advocating for additional funding in Texas.