Missouri Invests $4.3 Million to Improve Maternal Care

Published Jan 3, 2024

Missouri will invest $4.3 million to develop five projects to improve quality of maternal care. The funding, requested by Gov. Mike Parson and approved by the General Assembly, will go toward the Department of Health and Senior Services, as well as its partnerships with the Missouri Perinatal Quality Collaborative (MO PQC) and University of Missouri Health Care.

The five projects, which will be tackled by a combination of those three organizations, aim to provide best practices for health care providers to follow in treating mothers during and after pregnancy, according to a news release from the governor’s office.

Maternal mortality in Missouri from 2018-20 increased significantly over 2017-19, according to the Missouri Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review Board’s report this year. The latest rate of pregnancy-related deaths for women during or within a year of pregnancy was 32 per 100,000 live births, according to the report.

Behavioral health conditions, including overdoses and suicides, were among the top underlying causes for maternal mortality. Other major causes were cardiovascular disease and homicide by a current or former partner.

“Last year during my State of the State Address, we declared that it was unacceptable for Missouri to be ranked near the bottom when it comes to maternal care, and we’re taking action,” Parson stated in the news release. “By recognizing the need to do better for Missouri mothers, this funding will help us implement a new plan to provide needed support and save lives.”