- Center on Health Equity & Access
- Clinical
- Health Care Cost
- Health Care Delivery
- Insurance
- Policy
- Technology
- Value-Based Care
Addressing Maternal Mortality in Medicaid by Focusing on Mental Health
On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with Inland Empire Health Plan, a managed care plan serving more than 1.4 million residents on Medi-Cal in California, about a new maternal mental health program aimed at supporting new mothers, both before they give birth and afterward.
Mental health issues and substance use disorder are some of the contributing factors to America’s high maternal mortality rates, in addition to poverty, racism, and lack of access to adequate health care. Last year, the CDC reported that suicide accounts for 9% of the maternal mortality rate 1 year postpartum. Anxiety, perinatal and postpartum depression, and birth-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are the most common complications of pregnancy and childbirth, affecting 1 in 5 individuals, and for those affected, 75% do not get treatment. Women of color are both more likely to experience these conditions and less likely to seek help.
On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with Heather Waters, LCSW who leads the maternal health and children’s health services team at Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP), a managed care plan serving more than 1.4 million residents on Medi-Cal in California.
She tells us about a new maternal mental health program at IEHP aimed at supporting new mothers, both before they give birth and afterward.
Infertility Coverage Boosts ART Use and Pregnancy Success: Richard A. Brook, MS, MBA
August 26th 2025In this episode, Richard A. Brook, MS, MBA, discusses his study showing that infertility treatment coverage increases assisted reproductive technology (ART) use and improves pregnancy outcomes.
Listen
Affirmative Action Repeal Decreases Minority Acceptance and Matriculation in Medical Schools
August 27th 2025Medical school application and matriculation rates decreased for underrepresented racial and ethnic minorities in medicine after the 2023 Supreme Court affirmative action repeal.
Read More
The Breakdown: Breast Cancer Research Awareness Day
August 19th 2025Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in the US. In light of Breast Cancer Research Awareness Day, The American Journal of Managed Care® breaks down the most recent advancements in breast cancer prevention, screening, and therapies.
Listen
