RICHARDSON, Texas, Aug. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross and
Blue Shield of Texas is
celebrating the one-year anniversary of its expanded Special
Beginnings® Maternal and Infant Health Initiative. Special
Beginnings is focused on improving maternal and infant health
outcomes by increasing access to care, reducing care gaps and
educating and engaging residents on a community level. Through the
implementation of quality-based maternal health programs, the
initiative raises awareness and supports women and their babies
from preconception through postpartum.
Since last August, almost 50,000 Texans have been served by
Special Beginnings through community investments and
collaborations. 1,700 healthy babies were born to women who engaged
with the program. More than 14,000 prenatal vitamin
bottles were distributed to community partners to share with
the women they serve. This past year almost 40,000 women were
screened for sexually transmitted infections, which can affect
fertility and possibly harm the unborn child, if not treated.
"We are so proud of the impact we've seen over the last year and
look forward to continuing the work of improving health outcomes
for Texas moms and babies," said
Dr. Mark Chassay, BCBSTX VP and
chief medical officer. "We remain committed to reducing preventable
pregnancy-related deaths, and helping make sure moms have the
support they need at every point of their journey."
Initiative Highlights:
- Collaborating with Huston-Tillotson University to train
doulas, midwives, lactation consultants and support maternal health
education.
- Funding a March of Dimes Mom & Baby Mobile Health
Center to increase access to maternal and infant care in
Houston.
- Working with tech-enabled platforms Delfina and InovCares to
support maternal health providers and mothers with tools to promote
healthier pregnancies and birth outcomes.
- Collaborating with the Texas Pediatric Society to offer
professional education for primary care providers and
pediatricians, along with other resources, with the shared goal to
improve outcomes for mothers and babies statewide.
- Listening sessions through Bracane to engage mothers of
all backgrounds and experiences across the state, including
pregnant women, as well as maternal health care providers.
- Funding up to 15 new CenteringPregnancy sites across
Texas, an evidence-based, group
prenatal care service delivery model shown to improve birth
outcomes.
- Partnering with Walmart to focus on maternal and infant care
through Wellness My Way/Baby Days
events providing community services, resources, health screenings,
and engagement with medical professionals.
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas — the only statewide, customer-owned
health insurer in Texas — is the
largest provider of health benefits in the state, working with more
than 168,000 physicians and health care practitioners, and more
than 550 hospitals to serve nearly 8 million members in all 254
counties. BCBSTX is a Division of Health Care Service Corporation
(which operates Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Texas, Illinois, Montana, Oklahoma and New
Mexico). Health Care Service Corporation is a Mutual Legal
Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and
Blue Shield Association.
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bcbstxs-maternal-and-infant-health-initiative-serves-nearly-50-000-texans-in-year-one-302220070.html
SOURCE Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas