The Health Resources and Services Administration announced Oct. 9 that it will award approximately $19 million to 15 states to develop and implement maternal health strategies. The fund is part of HRSA’s Maternal and Child Health Strengthening Initiative, which helps states identify the key drivers of maternal mortality in each state, develop strategies, and implement new interventions to address those issues. It is planned to support the Maternal and Child Health Innovation Program. State programs have implemented a variety of interventions to address maternal health challenges, including early detection and treatment of hypertension to reduce pre-eclampsia and other risks; This includes providing mobile simulation training to prepare health care providers for adverse occupational events and expanding access to health care. These include training rural and remote hospitals without specialized obstetrics departments and creating resources to improve the ability of first responders to care for patients with substance use disorders during and after pregnancy.
