The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service (CMS) is launching the next phase of the Maternal and Infant Health Initiative (MIHI) today to support state Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) agencies in their efforts to improve maternal and infant health outcomes. The launch includes the announcement of instructional webinars and tools designed to support states as they address the MIHI’s new three focus areas: postpartum care visits, well-child visits, and decreasing rates of cesarean section births in low-risk pregnancies.

Six years into the MIHI and in light of increasing rates of maternal and infant mortality and morbidity, CMS identified a need to assess the progress of the MIHI and to chart a course for the next five years. The recommended focus areas in this next phase were a result of an expert workgroup with the ultimate goal to improve performance and quality in healthcare for mothers and children. The workgroup represented a variety of stakeholders including physicians, hospitals, state Medicaid agencies, federal partners, health insurance plans, and other related health care providers.

This next phase of the MIHI offers new webinars and tools designed to help states improve the use, access, and quality of care for women and infants. In addition, MIHI provides technical assistance and gives support to state Medicaid and CHIP agencies and their partners as they focus on each of the new recommended areas.

For the full report of the Expert Workgroup recommendations and to access instructional webinars and tools, visit: https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/quality-of-care/improvement-initiatives/maternal-infant-health-care-quality/index.html.

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Contact: CMS Media Relations
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