University of Minnesota School of Public Health
Presentation Abstract
Policy To Improve Postpartum Health Equity
Half of all maternal deaths occur in the postpartum period, and limited access to care is a top contributor to postpartum maternal deaths. Rural residents face declining access to care, and racially minoritized rural communities are at greatest risk of losing access to maternity care services. Rural residents and racialized people are also over-represented among Medicaid beneficiaries, all of whom are low income.
This presentation will provide data on postpartum health at the confluence of racism, poverty, and geography, highlighting both access to care and content of care. Specifically, we examine severe maternal morbidity and mortality during childbirth hospitalization, the content of postpartum care, and maternity care availability in rural communities.
This presentation will also describe current policy initiatives designed to improve postpartum health and discuss the equity implications of efforts to improve access to care for people who give birth. Medicaid is the primary payer for nearly half of all births in the U.S. As such, state Medicaid programs have an opportunity to contribute to efforts to improve maternal health through reimbursement and coverage policies that address disproportionate risk among Medicaid beneficiaries as a whole, and among particular groups that experience heightened risks based on geography and race and ethnicity. This policy discussion will highlight current efforts and future directions to improve postpartum health equity across race and rurality.
About Dr. Kozhimannil
Dr. Katy Backes Kozhimannil is a Distinguished McKnight University Professor in the Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health. She is Director of the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center and University of Minnesota Rural Health Program. She also serves as the Senior Advisor to the Founding Director at the Center for Antiracism Research for Health Equity.
Dr. Kozhimannil conducts research to inform health policy that impacts critical times in the lifecourse, including pregnancy and childbirth. The goal of her work is to contribute to the evidence base for clinical and policy strategies to advance racial, gender, and geographic equity.
Dr. Kozhimannil disclosed the following conflict of interest: Consultant for Mission Analytics regarding the Rural Maternal and Obstetrics Management Strategies Program.