Pebrero 4, 2025​​ 

Binabalangkas ng Bagong Roadmap ang mga Istratehiya upang Lumikha ng Mas Patas at Nakasentro sa Pasyente na Sistema para sa mga Miyembro ng Medi-Cal na Buntis at Postpartum​​ 

SACRAMENTO – The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) today released the Birthing Care Pathway report, a comprehensive plan to improve maternity care for Medi-Cal members. This roadmap covers the journey of all pregnant and postpartum Medi-Cal members from conception through 12 months postpartum, aiming to make care accessible, equitable, and patient-centered.​​ 

“The Birthing Care Pathway represents a critical step forward in California’s commitment to improving maternal health,” said DHCS Director Michelle Baass. “By centering member experiences, aligning policies with actionable recommendations, and strengthening partnerships across sectors, we aim to ensure every Medi-Cal member has access to safe, equitable, and comprehensive maternity care.”​​ 

KEY OBJECTIVES: The Birthing Care Pathway report details policies DHCS has implemented or is in the process of implementing to support all pregnant and postpartum members enrolled in Medi-Cal. Additionally, the report identifies opportunities for future exploration.

The Birthing Care Pathway prioritizes:​​ 

• Reducing maternal mortality and morbidity: Establishing evidence-based interventions to save lives.​​ 
• Addressing health disparities: Tackling racial and ethnic inequities in maternal care, particularly for Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Pacific Islander individuals who face the most significant maternal care and outcomes gaps in California.​​ 
• Pagpapabuti ng akses at koordinasyon: Pagpapahusay ng pangangalaga sa buong continuum, kabilang ang mga serbisyong klinikal, pang-asal, at panlipunang suporta.​​ 
• Modernizing payment models: Transitioning to a value-based payment system to incentivize quality care.​​ 

The Birthing Care Pathway will work to achieve these objectives by transforming Medi-Cal’s maternity policy to create a member-centered approach to prenatal and postpartum care that meets members where they are and provides whole-person care that addresses behavioral health and social needs in addition to medical needs. DHCS will revise and modernize existing Medi-Cal policies to provide members with increased choice of types of maternity providers and supports, like doulas, community health workers, and others, and creating critical linkages between health care and other programs across the state to make it easier for members to get the full range of needed services.​​ 

Additionally, DHCS will address the needs of special populations who are pregnant/postpartum, including people involved with the justice system, individuals with severe mental health and substance use needs, LGBTQI+ individuals, and Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Pacific Islander individuals.​​ 

DHCS will continue working with state departments, including the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and Office of the California Surgeon General (OSG), maternity care and social services providers, state and local leaders, Medi-Cal managed care plans (MCP), birth equity advocates, and other partners to implement the Birthing Care Pathway policies outlined in the report. Continuing to engage a diverse set of partners to implement and further develop the Birthing Care Pathway will be vital to align the numerous maternity initiatives occurring so they are not siloed.​​ 

“Through a comprehensive, whole-person approach, California is not just enhancing perinatal health, but we are setting a bold new standard for care that delivers better outcomes for families statewide,” said California Surgeon General Dr. Diana Ramos. “The Birthing Care Pathway is a vital addition to the state’s efforts that advance perinatal health, building on the innovative, collaborative work already underway.”​​ 

“Having served rural communities throughout my career, I know that providing access to services from conception through one year postpartum has always been a challenge,” said Dr. Robert Moore, Chief Medical Officer at Partnership HealthPlan of California. “Collaborations like the DHCS Birthing Care Pathway are vital in bringing together multiple partners and stakeholders to find solutions. The entire community must engage on this issue to make lasting progress.”​​ 

WHY THIS MATTERS: Nearly one in eight U.S. births occur in California, and 40 percent of those births are covered by Medi-Cal. While California currently has the lowest maternal mortality rate in the nation, Medi-Cal members have a higher rate of maternal mortality than individuals with commercial insurance.​​ 

While the Birthing Care Pathway lays out a long-term strategy for transforming maternity care in Medi-Cal, many services and supports are already available to pregnant and postpartum members. Medi-Cal members can access comprehensive maternity care, including prenatal and postpartum visits, doula services, behavioral health care, and lactation support, through their health plan and provider network. DHCS remains committed to improving and expanding these services as part of the ongoing work to implement the Birthing Care Pathway.​​ 

ABOUT THE BIRTHING CARE PATHWAY: The Birthing Care Pathway includes policy recommendations that address the physical, behavioral, and health-related social needs of pregnant and postpartum members. Opportunities include improving access to providers, strengthening clinical care and care coordination, providing whole-person care, and modernizing how Medi-Cal pays for maternity care.​​ 

Ang Birthing Care Pathway ay bahagi ng isang pangakong pangmatagalan sa pagbabago ng kalusugan ng ina sa California, at ang reporma sa kalusugan ng ina ay isinasagawa na. Ipinapatupad ng DHCS ang pederal na sampung-taong Transforming Maternal Health (TMaH) Model sa limang county sa Central Valley: Kern, Fresno, Kings, Tulare, at Madera. Ang TMaH ay isang modelo ng paghahatid at pagbabayad na idinisenyo upang subukan kung ang epektibong pagpapatupad ng mga interbensyon na batay sa ebidensya, na sinusuportahan ng isang modelo ng pagbabayad na nakabatay sa halaga, ay maaaring mapabuti ang mga resulta ng ina at mabawasan ang mga gastusin Program Medi-Cal .

PROSESO NG PAGTUTULUNGAN: Ang Birthing Care Pathway ay sumasalamin sa isang sama-samang pagsisikap ng mga buntis at postpartum na miyembro ng Medi-Cal, mga kasosyo ng estado at iba't ibang tagapagbigay ng pangangalagang pangkalusugan at serbisyong panlipunan, mga organisasyong nakabase sa komunidad (CBO), at mga tagapagtaguyod, na tinitiyak ang isang diskarte sa patakaran na may kaalaman sa komunidad para sa kinabukasan ng pangangalaga sa kalusugan ng ina at panganganak sa California. Bukod pa rito, ang California Health Care Foundation at ang David & Lucile Packard Foundation ay naglaan ng pondo upang suportahan ang pakikipag-ugnayan at pagbuo ng ulat. Ang mga pangunahing pananaw mula sa mga miyembro ng Medi-Cal ay nagbigay-diin sa mga kritikal na pangangailangan, tulad ng paggalang sa mga kagustuhan sa kapanganakan, pag-access sa pangangalagang naaayon sa lahi at nakasentro sa kultura, pinahusay na suporta sa kalusugan ng pag-uugali, at mas mahusay na koordinasyon ng pangangalaga. Direktang humubog ang mga karanasan ng mga miyembro sa mga rekomendasyon sa patakaran ng landas. Para sa karagdagang impormasyon, pakibisita ang webpage ng Birthing Care Pathway.

“Ang pag-aaral tungkol sa Birthing Care Pathway ay nagbigay sa akin ng ginhawa at pag-asa dahil nangangahulugan ito na maaalagaan ko ang kalusugan ko at ng aking sanggol nang hindi nagdaragdag ng stress,” sabi ni M. Thao, ina ng isang 11-buwang gulang na sanggol. “Sa tuwing hihingi ako ng tulong para mahanap ang mga mapagkukunan at makapag-sign up para sa Program, nakakatanggap ako ng malinaw na gabay mula sa Medi-Cal.” Ang pakiramdam na alam kong magiging maayos ka ay isa sa mga bagay na inaasahan kong maaasahan ng bawat magulang na nanganganak sa California.”​​  

A BROADER VISION FOR MATERNAL HEALTH: DHCS will work with MCPs, providers, CBOs, and other stakeholders to implement TMaH Model elements, which are aligned with and complementary to the Birthing Care Pathway. Additionally, DHCS is working with the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative, CDPH, and OSG to develop a Maternal Health Strategic Plan by September 2025 to improve maternal health throughout California.​​ 

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Tanggapan ng Komunikasyon​​ 
(916) 440-7660
DHCSPress@dhcs.ca.gov​​