Pregnancy can be an overwhelming time for mothers. Even with regular medical care, they may have questions that go unanswered or risk factors that go unnoticed. In the worst-case scenarios, avoidable complications may contribute to premature births and health issues that put both mother and baby in jeopardy.
But mothers don’t have to navigate pregnancy alone. When they receive the support they need to increase the likelihood of a healthy delivery, everyone wins.
The Value of a Healthy Delivery
As a parent, you can’t put a price tag on a healthy delivery. As a healthcare payer, you absolutely can. Pregnancy complications can drive up medical costs, especially when a premature baby requires prolonged time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Many pregnancy complications are avoidable, and by giving pregnant women the support they need, healthy plans can improve outcomes and save thousands of dollars in unnecessary costs. That’s what we call a win-win.
According to JAMA Pediatrics, babies that need time in the NICU were typically born premature, have health problems and/or had a difficult birth. Babies born prematurely typically need longer NICU stays. A full-term baby with health problems that require NICU care may need to stay there for a few days to a week, while babies born prematurely may need to stay in the NICU for weeks.
This care can be lifesaving, but it doesn’t come cheap. The exact cost of NICU care varies depending on a number of factors, including the level of care required. According to the Health Cost Institute, in 2021, the average daily cost for NICU care was $2,216 for Level II care, $2,811 for Level III care, and $3,741 for Level IV care. At these rates, 30 days of NICU care would cost between $66,480 and $112,230. The actual costs could be much higher since healthcare costs have been rising steadily, and a difficult delivery may incur additional costs.
According to Peterson-KFF, insurers pay an average of $17,654 in costs associated with pregnancy. Research published in the Journal of Perinatology shows that preterm deliveries result in medical costs of $76,153 on average and deliveries associated with low-birth weights result in medical costs of $114,437 on average. Infants born at 24 weeks have average costs of $603,778.
The Benefits of a Healthy Pregnancy and Delivery: Three Perspectives
Nothing is free. Providing pregnant mothers with education and support requires resources, and that costs money. However, it’s also important to consider the costs that are avoided.
With pregnancies, the stakes are much higher. Every group involved can benefit from comprehensive prenatal care. For the expecting parents, pregnancy complications and premature delivery can be an emotional and financial disaster. For the healthcare payer, avoiding pregnancy complications makes financial sense. Employers also benefit financially from keeping healthcare costs down, and they can see additional benefits in the form of higher employee engagement, retention and productivity. These goals are particularly crucial for self-funded employers.
Insights from a Nurse Case Manager
ICM’s Healthy Mother Baby Program provides personalized, high-touch care to support healthy pregnancies and deliveries. If you’re thinking about adding this program as an employee benefit, you may have questions.
To learn more about ICM’s Healthy Mother Baby services, we interviewed ICM Nurse Case Manager, Heike Flaxa. Heike is an RN and Certified Case Manager with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, as well as 17 years of experience with an extensive OB, labor and delivery, pediatric, and NICU background. Here’s what she had to say …
1. Is the Healthy Mother Baby Program designed for all pregnancies, or just high-risk ones, and how are candidates identified?
The Healthy Mother Baby Program is designed to support all types of expecting mothers, experiencing all types of pregnancies. The program is inclusive of everyone – regardless of age, experience or risk level.
2. When you reach out to pregnant mothers, do most welcome your services?
It really depends on the individual. Some mothers feel it’s greatly beneficial. Others are hesitant because they believe the internet can answer their questions. However, information found online isn’t always reliable, researched, or evidence-based, and each case is unique, so individualized information can make a difference.
The service typically involves a 10-minute appointment once a month with a call in between. We also discuss the birth plan when we’re nearing the birth date. We provide information on evidence-based best practices and help the mother identify details that should be discussed with her provider. Our goal is to be supportive of the mother as an individual.
3. What are the initial questions that pregnant mothers usually ask?
The assessment includes a health history, questions about prior experience, and an assessment of the mother’s knowledge and understanding. Mothers often have questions about things like diet and classes.
4. Do mothers pay to participate?
The program is free for mothers. Some employers offer incentives for participating in the Healthy Mother Baby program, such as reimbursement for the cost of childbirth classes. One employer we work with provides reimbursement of the deductible after the baby is born.
5. Are other parents also involved with the Healthy Mother Baby Program?
Yes, the second parent often joins our calls, and we have educational materials to help the second parent support the mother and baby.
6. During the process, where do you feel that you typically have the most impact?
The program helps first-time moms be comfortable with their choices and decisions. The post-partum support and advice on breast feeding is also really helpful for a lot of first-time moms.
7. What do your services look like after the baby is delivered?
The program provides six weeks of post-partum support, and it can go longer if needed. We also provide resources on post-partum depression, breast feeding, and circumcision care. For example, if the child isn’t gaining enough weight initially, we can reach out to the lactation specialist at the hospital to secure extra help and support mothers during a stressful time.
8. How can employers encourage participation in the Healthy Mother Baby Program?
Incentives are highly effective. They can also place fliers or posters in their breakrooms, and when they find out a plan member is pregnant, they can provide a brochure about the program.
Interested in learning more about how the Healthy Mother Baby Program can control costs while providing superior prenatal care?
Download the Solution Brief or reach out to us for more information.