Collaborating to Improve Birth Outcomes in New Jersey

In 2006, with support from the Center for Health Care Strategies, Inc. (CHCS) the five Medicaid managed care health plans in New Jersey collaborated to identify high-risk pregnancies and improve birth outcomes in three cities. One year later, key accomplishments include a uniform prenatal risk assessment form (PRA), a central data repository for prenatal care data, an expedited Medicaid enrollment process for pregnant women, and solid plans to take the program statewide

A broad coalition contributed to this quality improvement effort including Family Health Initiatives (FHI) which led the effort to develop and manage a central data repository, community stakeholders and providers, and multiple state agencies and departments. The collaborative workgroup implemented standardized prenatal risk assessment within a quality improvement framework that focused upon improving clinical and administrative practices at the level of the health plan and community providers.

Discussion will include reports of screening and outcome data and strategies to use these data to inform policy changes.