Healthy Mother Baby Program
Supporting families, improving birth outcomes and reducing avoidable costs
An Innovative Approach to Maternity Management
Pregnancy outcomes matter to families and health plans alike. Yet many pregnancy complications are preventable, and when they do occur, they can significantly increase healthcare costs and place both mothers and babies at risk.
The Healthy Mother Baby Program delivers personalized, high-touch maternity support to promote healthier pregnancies and better outcomes. Through tailored nurse-led engagement, the program supports expectant mothers while helping plans prevent avoidable complications, manage costs, and support workforce productivity and wellbeing.
How We Do It
Clinically focused, proactive, and supportive
ICM’s Healthy Mother Baby program is led by registered nurses with experience in obstetrics. Nurses engage members early in pregnancy to assess risk factors, provide education, and support adherence to provider-recommended care plans.
Once enrolled, members can expect the following:
One-on-One Support
High-Risk Screenings
Education
Postpartum Follow Up
One-on-One Support
A dedicated obstetrical nurse provides one-on-one support during monthly check-ins.
High-Risk Screenings
Two screenings help identify potential concerns early to allow for appropriate escalation and coordination of care.
Education
Enrollees receive three custom educational packets and access to a comprehensive maternity resource library.
Postpartum Follow Up
After the birth, the nurse follows up to assist with well-baby care and preventive services and (if available) employer-provided incentives.
In addition to helping to prevent avoidable and costly complications, the Healthy Mother Baby Program helps plans manage costs by steering patients toward network or contracted providers and providing early notification of potentially high-cost patients.
Pregnancy Complications Take an Emotional and Financial Toll
According to Peterson-KFF, healthcare costs are five times higher during the first 18 to 24 months of enrollment for children who are admitted to the NICU after birth. By identifying risks early and supporting healthy pregnancies, plans have an opportunity to improve outcomes while avoiding thousands of dollars in unnecessary costs.
Pregnancy-related health conditions (maternal morbidity) are on the rise in the U.S., according to The Commonwealth Fund. Between 1998 and 2014, the rate of severe maternal morbidity nearly doubled, from 74 cases per 100,000 hospitalizations to 140 cases per 100,000.
Maternal morbidity leads to worse outcomes for the mother and child, higher medical costs, and higher non-medical costs. For all U.S. births in 2019, it’s estimated that nine common maternal morbidity conditions resulted in $32.3 billion additional costs. This includes $13.7 billion in costs from preterm births.
Many pregnancy complications are avoidable with the right support, education and early intervention.
Healthy Mother Baby Program in Action
A member pregnant with twins enrolled in ICM’s Healthy Mother Baby program due to a history of a medically complicated pregnancy that resulted in preterm delivery, and an extended neonatal hospital stay. During the current pregnancy, the provider recommended bed rest; however, the member faced challenges adhering to this recommendation due to caregiving responsibilities at home.
ICM’s maternity nurse assessed the situation and worked with the provider and the plan to coordinate a benefit exception for temporary in-home support at $1,500 a month, helping the member safely adhere to bed rest and avoid hospitalization. With appropriate support in place, the pregnancy progressed as planned.
As a result, the member delivered healthy, full-term babies, avoiding $400,0000 in NICU admissions and prolonged neonatal care while supporting improved outcomes for both the family and the plan. Learn more about this success story.
Additional Services to Consider
ICM’s Chronic Care Management services are part of our commitment to making healthcare feel more human. Additional services include:
Utilization Management
Our prior authorization services shield members from unexpected medical bills while ensuring that care is safe, effective and medically necessary.
Case Management
When members are facing catastrophic or complex medical conditions, our Case Management program provides education, guidance and compassion.
Chronic Condition Management
This program helps members navigate and coordinate care for chronic conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of support do members receive in the Healthy Mother Baby Program?
As a member enrolled in the Healthy Mother Baby Program, you’ll work with your dedicated obstetrical nurse to complete two telephonic screenings to determine your risk, receive educational materials, and have one-on-one check-ins with your nurse. Support is tailored to your needs, including your language, your availability, and your real-world circumstances.
Do you provide any postpartum support?
Yes, postpartum support is part of our commitment to healthy mothers and babies. After the birth, members receive follow-up outreach from their nurse to help ensure they’re off to a strong start at home, including supporting breastfeeding and infant care. If additional or longer-term support is needed, the nurse can also help connect members to other appropriate programs and resources.
How does the Healthy Mother Baby Program provide support if risks are uncovered?
Uncovering clinical and non-clinical risks is a key part of the program. If risks are discovered, the ICM nurse case manager will work to find tailored solutions, whether that involves providing additional education, coordinating with the primary healthcare provider, or advocating for clinically appropriate, alternative coverage solutions.
What kind of education does the Healthy Mother Baby Program provide?
Members receive three educational packets to help them prepare for each stage of pregnancy, and they also have access to a comprehensive maternity resource library. Additionally, they have the opportunity to ask questions and receive one-on-one guidance during monthly check-ins with a nurse who specializes in helping pregnant and postpartum families.