Page 8 - BabySocietyMagazineIssue31

UNITEDHEALTHCARE HEALTH PLAN OF NEVADA COMMITS FUNDING TO HELP EXPAND NEVADA’S DOULA WORKFORCE IN 2023
BABYSOCIETYMAGAZINE.COM
The United States 􏰀ares worse in preventin􏰁 pre􏰁nancy-related deaths than most other developed nations. In Nevada, pre􏰁nant women and new mothers 􏰀ace similar challen􏰁es: severe maternal mortality in the state rose 29% in recent years (accordin􏰁 to UnitedHealth Foundation’s 2022 America’s Health Rankin􏰁s Report)
In 2022, one o􏰀 Nevada’s key recommendations to reverse this trend included ensurin􏰁 the widespread use o􏰀 doulas. A doula is a pro􏰀essional childbirth assistant who also provides personalized care, education, and emotional support. This certi􏰀ied pro􏰀essional attends to a pre􏰁nant mother’s needs throu􏰁hout their pre􏰁nancy and beyond.
UnitedHealthcare Health Plan o􏰀 Nevada created its Medicaid Doula Pro􏰁ram in partnership with Ve􏰁as Family Doulas to support women o􏰀 color, 􏰀ill a current 􏰁ap in care, and ensure these women are not just survivin􏰁 but thrivin􏰁 in their pre􏰁nancy, delivery, and post-partum. A􏰀ter a year and a hal􏰀 collaboration, there are many success stories to be told.
UnitedHealthcare Health Plan o􏰀 Nevada is announcin􏰁 a $10,000 donation to Ve􏰁as Family Doulas to institute a scholarship assistance pro􏰁ram that will 􏰀und trainin􏰁 and state certi􏰀ication 􏰀or approximately a dozen new doulas in the Las Ve􏰁as area. In the short and lon􏰁 term, this initiative could help our community see a decrease in cesarean sections, decrease the number o􏰀 low birth wei􏰁ht in􏰀ants, and achieve an overall lower cost o􏰀 care. Learn more about the pro􏰁ram here: Nevada doula pro􏰁ram helps support women o􏰀 color throu􏰁h pre􏰁nancy | UnitedHealthcare (uhc.com)