Innovations

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Centering Pregnancy

Centering Pregnancy is a evidence-based, group prenatal care model that enhances patient satisfaction and care experiences while reducing preterm births, low birth weights, NICU stays, and healthcare costs. This model challenges the systems and structures that contribute to poor health, fostering communities where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive.

CenteringPregnancy reduces healthcare costs by improving maternal and infant outcomes, including a 33%–47% drop in preterm births. This lowers NICU admissions, which can cost $50,000–$100,000 per infant. Group care boosts prenatal visit attendance, self-management, health literacy, and compliance, leading to fewer Emergency Room visits and complications. It’s a cost-effective model that benefits payers, providers, and families.

Doula with pregnant woman

Maternal Warning Signs

Most maternal deaths in Mississippi occur after childbirth. Because of healthcare deserts, pregnant and postpartum women often seek care in nontraditional settings, where many providers may lack the familiarity and resources to manage pregnancy and postpartum care effectively. Training these providers to recognize maternal warning signs can raise awareness of potential emergencies and improve the quality of care that women receive.

See also:

Hispanic mother kissing baby

Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs)

Many Mississippi mothers suffer from behavioral health challenges and go untreated. MSPHI is working with multiple partners to increase mental health screening, diagnosis, and treatment, as well as increasing provider cultural competency and patient access to appropriate care.

Associated Resouces

  • CHAMP4Moms (503.18KB)

    Connects providers for pregnant and postpartum women to mental health specialists.

  • Postpartum Support International homepage

    Postpartum Support International

    The purpose of the organization is to increase awareness among public and professional communities about the emotional changes that women experience during pregnancy and postpartum.

  • Perinatal Mental Health Resources (83.68KB)

    This resource list connects pregnant and postpartum individuals to trusted mental health supports, including counseling services, crisis resources, peer support, and community-based programs. Designed to make help easier to find, it includes options for postpartum depression, anxiety, substance use recovery, and emotional wellness during pregnancy and the first year after birth. The goal is to ensure mothers and families can quickly access compassionate, appropriate care when they need it most.

pregnant woman on sofa in pain

Medicaid Redetermination

Through the Mississippi Maternal Health Innovation (MHI) initiative, we are working to prevent pregnant and postpartum women from losing health insurance during the Medicaid redetermination (“unwinding”) process. After pandemic-era continuous coverage ended, thousands of Mississippians lost Medicaid — often due to paperwork barriers rather than ineligibility. Because Medicaid covers a large share of births in Mississippi, coverage gaps can disrupt prenatal care, postpartum checkups, mental health treatment, and care for chronic conditions that directly affect maternal and infant health.

Our team provides education, reminders, and one-on-one navigation support to help eligible women complete renewals, submit documentation, and stay connected to care. This work supports Mississippi’s maternal health strategy by expanding access to coverage, strengthening maternal mental health supports, and reducing barriers that disproportionately affect Black women and families in under-resourced communities. Our goal is simple: moms and babies who qualify for care should stay covered and supported.