This initiative is a joint effort between the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and the Administration on Children and Families (ACF).
The Strong Start initiative supports reducing the risk of significant complications and long-term health problems for both expectant mothers and newborns.
Strong Start includes two strategies:
- Public-Private Partnership to Reduce Early Elective Deliveries
Building on the work of the Partnership for Patients, this initiative will test ways to encourage best practices and supports providers in reducing early electives deliveries prior to 39 weeks. CMS will also team up with advocacy and professional organizations to increase current public awareness efforts and develop new ones. See the Strong Start Toolkit for ways you can help reduce early elective deliveries.
- Funding Opportunity for Testing New Approaches to Prenatal Care
CMS will make funding available for providers, states and other eligible applicants to test the effectiveness of three enhanced prenatal care approaches to reduce preterm births for women covered by Medicaid or CHIP who are at risk for preterm births.
Background
This initiative builds on decades of work by organizations like ACOG, the March of Dimes, the National Partnership for Women and Families, the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, and Childbirth Connection, showing that elective deliveries before 39 weeks increase the risk of significant complications for both the mother and the baby, as well as long-term health problems. In addition, Strong Start’s goals and focus were identified with the help of experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH), ACF and HRSA.
Babies born prematurely are a growing public health problem with significant consequences for families and an estimated cost to society of at least $26 billion each year. Each year, this is more than half a million infants in the United States, a number that has grown by 36 percent over the last 20 years.
Infants born preterm are at greater risk for mortality and many endure a lifetime of developmental and health problems. In addition to enormous medical needs, these children often require early intervention services, special education and have conditions that impact their productivity as adults.
Additional Information
