| The study evaluates the effectiveness of a pregnancy intervention model (PIM) developed to improve first trimester prenatal care utilization in a population of 2,694 low-income Medicaid women. Engagement in prenatal care is critical before prenatal care can occur. Early initiation of prenatal care is important for low income pregnant women at risk for poor birth outcomes and the Medicaid managed care organizations that enroll them. Once identified and enrolled the health plan utilization medical management staff assessed these women for a myriad of high risk and socially detrimental behaviors in order to facilitate, in a sensitive manner, their access to drug treatment or any needed service. Interventions included a real time identification, reporting, incentive model using medical informatics to supplement existing clinical based assessment of high risk pregnant women and nursing care coordination that included outreach, enrollment assistance, support services, interagency coordination, home visits, transportation and medical home assignment.{09}A difference was found in the utilization of first trimester prenatal care visits for all women who conceived after the intervention compared to those who conceived prior to the intervention date. A difference was also noted in the "no prenatal care" category due a decrease in the number of women who did not receive prenatal care. PIM appears to be a cost effective, simple solution to a real world problem. |
