Maternal Health
2022 Cohort Findings
Overview
The Request for Information (RFI) specifically focused on the behavioral health needs, both mental health and substance use disorder, of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander pregnant and postpartum women. These sub-populations include Micronesians, Palauans, and Marshallese.
Review the insights gathered through the discovery process in Hawaii, which informed the Area of Focus
Insight from Community Discovery
RFI Areas of Focus
The 2022 Request for Information had one area of focus for organizations to address in their response to the behavioral health of pregnant and postpartum women on Medicaid.
Enabling, Navigating, or Coordinating Behavioral Health Care for Expecting and New Moms
Enabling, Navigating, or Coordinating Behavioral Health Care for Expecting and New Moms
Current Challenges
Pregnant and postpartum women dealing with mental health and substance use disorders face significant challenges getting their care needs met. From the discovery with providers, moms in Hawaii often feel paralyzed and do not know what to do. It is overwhelming to navigate care systems and other support services, especially if in crisis, and they are unaware of all the options available to them or their families. In some cases, women avoid help because of a desire to keep problems within the family, shame and stigma, or the risk of law enforcement involvement. Furthermore, there is distrust of interventions that do not understand Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander identities, beliefs, and care preferences. The limited availability of behavioral health providers - by geography and specialty - and long wait lists cause significant delays in care. Even when they are ready and care is available, expecting and new moms have difficulty arranging childcare, time off work, and travel to make it to appointments.
Innovation Opportunities
Solutions should be able to coordinate and work with existing community resources and health plan pregnancy and postpartum wraparound care models to deliver more connected and informed care. Solutions should be able to create a unified way for moms and families to receive a variety of health and social services and help manage care. Solutions need to help health plans and providers support diverse and vulnerable communities with linguistically and culturally responsive care. Potential solutions can address, enhance, or expand existing care navigation, case management, or member engagement programs.
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Showcase: Maternal Behavioral Health
Opening Remarks
Solutions Selected to Present
With criteria based on the findings from community discovery, members of the Selection Committee nominated the following organizations to present their models at the Maternal Behavioral Health Showcase in May 2022.
Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition
Brave Health
Epic 'Ohana
Marigold Health
Nest for Families
