HJBR May/Jun 2026

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE  I  MAY / JUN 2026 37 Jamie Schlottman Plan President Louisiana Healthcare Connections While these successes are significant, higher visit rates are only the beginning. The next chapter is making sure every visit leads to the best possible outcomes — by supporting evidence-based practic- es, strengthening screening and follow-up, integrating behavioral health, and con- necting families to services such as doulas, nutrition supports, and community health workers. Transforming Maternal Health Through TMaH Louisiana’s work to improve maternal health is also being reinforced by national support. In January 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services selected Louisiana as one of 15 states for the Trans- forming Maternal Health Model (TMaH), a long-term initiative designed to help states strengthen access, quality, and whole-per- son support in maternity care. Managed care health plans can help members engage with care teams and connect to resources that address social health drivers. TMaH goes a step further by aiming to strengthen the maternity care delivery system itself by: • Expanding access to care with mid- wives, doulas, and perinatal com- munity health workers to reduce unnecessary c-sections, labor com- plications, and postpartum mental health issues. • Improving quality and safety through approaches such as patient safe- ty bundles that emphasize evi- dence-based practices and clearer accountability, especially for high- risk conditions such as hypertension and substance use disorder during pregnancy. • Tailoring whole-person care to in- dividual needs with tools like birth plans, screenings, and connections to programs that support physi- cal health, mental health, and social needs. Building on Progress Louisiana’s maternal and infant health challenges are real, and so is the momen- tum to address them. Medicaid managed care health plans are investing in preven- tion, removing barriers to care, and part- nering with providers and community organizations to support families before, during, and after pregnancy. We won’t solve every issue overnight. But with continued focus on quality, accountability, and whole-person support, we can continue moving toward a future where more Louisiana mothers have healthy pregnancies — and more babies have the healthy start they deserve. n REFERENCES “Data and Statistics for SUID and SIDS,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, September 17, 2024, https://www.cdc.gov/sudden-infant- death/data-research/data/index.html. Medicaid Managed Care Quality Dashboard, Louisiana Department of Health, n.d., https:// qualitydashboard.ldh.la.gov/. National Center for Health Statistics, “Infant Mortality,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, August 19, 2025, https://www.cdc. gov/nchs/state-stats/deaths/infant-mortality. html. “Mortality and Morbidity,” March of Dimes, updat- ed February 2024, https://www.marchofdimes . org/peristats/data?reg=99&top=6&stop=91&lev= 1&slev=4&obj=9&sreg=22. “CMS Announces 15 States Selected for Transforming Maternal Health ‘TMaH’ Model” Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, January 10, 2025, https://policycentermmh.org/cms- announces-15-states-selected-for-transforming- maternal-health-tmah-model/. These examples are just part of a broader set of maternal and child health programs — including care coordina- tion, education, risk screening, and early childhood support — offered by Louisi- ana’s five Medicaid managed care health plans. Stronger Prenatal and Postpartum Care A core role of a managed care health plan is helping members connect to the preventive care and trusted providers they need, when they need it. For healthy preg- nancies, that starts with timely prenatal care and continues with strong follow-up after delivery. Prenatal care includes regular visits during pregnancy to monitor the health of both mom and baby and to catch compli- cations — conditions like preeclampsia and gestational diabetes — early. Under Med- icaid managed care, prenatal care rates have increased from 64% in 2011 to 84% in 2024 (the most recent reporting period available). Postpartum care helps ensure new moms are healing well and supports early identification and treatment for issues like postpartum depression. Under Medicaid managed care, postpartum care rates have increased from 52% in 2011 to 82% in 2024. These rates represent meaningful prog- ress that brings Louisiana up to the na- tional average, which might not sound like much, but in a state usually ranked 50th for health, it’s worth celebrating. In addition, this achievement reflects what is possible when health plans, providers, and community partners remain intent on de- livering care that is focused.