Raising the Bar for Maternal Health Equity and Excellence – Actionable Strategies for Healthcare Systems is a new initiative created by the National Partnership for Women & Families. The purpose of this new 2023 initiative is to improve health equity by supporting the whole person and applying an anti-racist lens to improve outcomes for Black parents. It is well documented that Black families consistently receive subpar care and limited access to appropriate support and as a result have outcomes that are significantly worse than the outcomes for white families. To put is simply, there is a maternal health care crisis and that crisis disproportionately impacts Black families and that needs to change.

Raising the Bar for Maternal Health Equity and Excellence is is a common-sense guide and roadmap that can support health care systems and is specifically tailored to the needs of individuals who are growing their families. The initiative has four focus areas:

1. Providing high-quality whole-person care
2. Employing and supporting a diverse workforce
3. Partnering with the communities most impacted
4. Advocating for and investing in maternal health equity

If you would like to take a deep dive into the complete report, you can access it here. There is an implementation toolbox that offers institutions and medical systems checklists, and operational guidance manuals to help implement, assess and fine-tune their programs to align with whole-care delivered through an equity lens.

Another valuable tool spotlights programs that are already in place in hospital systems that are achieving encouraging outcomes and making positive change. Highlighting the programs that are successfully “raising the bar” demonstrates that with application and effort, it is absolutely possible to improve outcomes for Black birthing people.

You have an opportunity to register for and participate in a live online event titled “Moving the Needle on Maternal Health Equity” scheduled for Tuesday, May 16th from 2 PM to 3 PM Eastern Time.

The presentation will include national experts who will discuss:

• Business case for advancing maternal health
• Quality care measures and measure sets
• Maternity payment reform and linking payments to equity and outcomes
• Demographic data collection and sharing

The panelists will include the following individuals:

Sinsi Hernández-Cancio, JD – National Partnership for Women & Families (Moderator)

She is a national health equity policy and advocacy expert, with experience spanning nonprofit, state government, and labor arenas. Her leadership on the Health Justice team includes the development of Raising the Bar for Maternal Health Equity and Excellence.

Patty Graham – HealthPartners (MN)

Her experience spans integrated health systems, health plans, and community clinics. HealthPartners’ work with doulas is highlighted in this Raising the Bar community partner spotlight.

Abike T. James, MD, MPH – Penn Medicine

She offers a provider perspective through her roles as lead physician and attending with Penn OBGYN Associates, the vice chair of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and an associate professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology. Penn Medicine’s multifaceted strategy to improve black maternal health is featured in this Raising the Bar spotlight.

Joshua Traylor, MPH – Health Care Transformation Task Force

His policy expertise includes care delivery reform, Medicaid and Medicare innovations, and health benefit design. The Health Care Transformation Task Force contributed to Raising the Bar operational guidance on maternal health equity data collection/sharing and payment linkages to improving equity in maternal health access, care, and outcomes.

Participating in this live presentation will provide exposure to both the current situation and highlight concrete action items and programs that support change.

We all share a responsibility for raising the bar on maternal health equity and childbirth educators are in a unique position to offer information and resources that class families can utilize to access equitable care that will improve outcomes. Please consider registering for this event now and accessing the toolbox and other resources so that you can step up and do your part.

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