Meridian, a Michigan-based managed care group and wholly-owned subsidiary of Centene Company, is partnering with Mae, a digital well being platform that focuses on the scientific, social and cultural necessities of underserved pregnant moms.
Mae goals to attach Meridian’s Medicaid members with its community of greater than 50 Michigan-based doulas for digital and in-person assist in a wide range of areas, together with lactation, labor schooling, advocacy and postpartum oversight.
Doula is nonmedical assist for pregnant folks and their households previous to, throughout and after childbirth.
In assist of Meridian members, Mae integrates a digital engagement and risk-tracking platform with community-based doula assist to coordinate supplier assist groups and heart the pregnant particular person all through the perinatal interval.
The primary purpose is to cut back disparate maternal well being outcomes, together with preterm births and medically pointless C-sections.
“We’re happy to supply this much-needed extra service to our eligible members and doulas,” Dianalynn Smith, Meridian’s vice chairman of high quality enchancment, stated in an announcement.
“As a serious supply of protection for low-income folks, Medicaid has a vital function to play in decreasing well being disparities, each regionally and nationally. Meridian is accountable for practically 10%, or 1 in 9, of all births in Michigan. Whereas being pregnant is usually a lovely journey, it can be a really anxious time, each bodily and mentally.”
Smith added: “Group-based doulas present culturally and racially resonant care by way of a shared background, tradition and language with pregnant folks.”
Maya Hardigan, chief government officer of Mae, stated that over the previous two years Mae has constructed a big presence in Michigan by becoming a member of forces with a rising workforce of remarkable community-based doulas to serve the wants of Medicaid beneficiaries throughout the state.
“We’re thrilled to launch our partnership with Meridian to develop our attain to birthing people in Michigan and to drive enhancements in maternal well being outcomes and fairness. We stay up for the influence we’ll make collectively,” Smith stated in an announcement.
The bigger pattern
In 2021, Mae was launched with $1.3 million in pre-seed funding. The spherical was led by SteelSky Ventures with participation from Happiness Fund, Social Begins Well being, Rhia Ventures, MBX Capital and Avestria Ventures.
In Could, Meridian and the Centene Basis, the philanthropic department of Centene Company, introduced a $1.1 million grant to the Detroit-based Neighborhood Service Group (NSO), an built-in well being and human service company. The grant was used to assist NSO’s Medical Respite program, which will increase entry to well being and recuperative take care of homeless folks.
