Add maternity management to help cut costs and raise productivity

Integrating a maternity management program into a health plan is a win-win for moms-to-be and employers. Employees and employee spouses who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant can join the program to get the support they need to help them have healthier pregnancies and healthier babies.
“Every pregnancy is unique, that is why maternity management programs offer personalized support from the start of the pregnancy until after the birth of the baby,” says Judy Dawson, HealthLink sales and retention executive. “This support can help keep pregnant employees healthy, reduce their need for unscheduled or emergent care and keep their medical costs down.”
Smart Business spoke with Dawson about the benefits of maternity management.
What are the overall goals of a maternity management program?
The No. 1 goal of a maternity management program is to reduce risks associated with preterm delivery and low birth weight, and encourage employees to be more active in health-related decisions during pregnancy. To achieve this, the program focuses on educating and supporting pregnant employees from prenatal to newborn care.
Employees who enroll are sent educational materials and can receive customized help from nurse care managers so they can understand what is best for them and their babies. They also get access to a 24-hour, toll-free nurse line so they can connect with someone who can answer their questions or direct them to their best option for care.
How does a maternity management program impact employees?
A maternity management program can have a great impact on an employee’s pregnancy and her newborn. Once they join the program, they are assigned a nurse care manager who can provide a number of services, including giving moms-to-be information on healthy eating and exercise, providing education and information on labor options, helping smokers quit, checking for health risks, screening for depression during and after pregnancy, and more.
Every service is focused on healthier moms and healthier babies and can be customized to fit the unique needs of the mom-to-be. The educational materials alone can really impact the decisions a pregnant employee makes during the course of her pregnancy and delivery — and the added support can make a big difference in helping parents-to-be feel prepared and confident as they approach parenthood. For employees who may not have all the support they need at home, a maternity management program can make a huge impact.
What are the benefits to the employer?
Like many supplementary cost-management programs, a maternity management program can help employees achieve optimal health outcomes in a cost-effective and timely manner. This can lower costs for the plan and for the employee. A variety of studies show that maternity management can lower inpatient costs, reduce the number of low-birth-weight babies that require additional care and lower neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) costs by reducing NICU admissions.
In addition to the cost-reduction benefits, offering a maternity management program is a great way to provide additional support to employees as they go through a series of life-changing events. When employees feel supported, it can boost morale and even productivity, and in the case of moms-to-be, it can positively impact their overall health and their transition back into the workforce.
What else should employers know?
Maternity management programs may not be a good fit for all companies. Employers should consider the potential impact offering the program will have on employees before implementing a maternity management program. For example, if a company has a largely older or all-male population, it may not make sense to add the program. Many maternity management programs are purchased on a per employee per month, or PEPM, basis, so it’s important for employers to determine if the outcome is worth the investment.

Employers should talk to their broker or network partner to explore all of their health and wellness and cost management options.

 
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