NC infant mortality rate reaches lowest rate, decreases for third straight year
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) recently announced that infant deaths in NC in 2018 reached the lowest rate recorded since the metric was first tracked 31 years ago. This marks the third year straight the rate declined.
In an article by WECT News, Nicholas Bodenheimer, MD, mentioned CCNC’s efforts: “I think North Carolina as a whole is doing a good job. I think Community Care of North Carolina [and its Medicaid program reach] a lot of women of diverse backgrounds [with] the pre-natal care and support they need.” Bodenheimer is an OBGYN at Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center.
CCNC’s Pregnancy Medical Home program aims to improve birth and maternal health outcomes by offering incentives to medical practices to help patients understand medical terminology and encourage them to keep postpartum appointments. Women facing a high risk of pregnancy-related complications are paired with a pregnancy care manager to coordinate care between providers and evaluate non-medical barriers to care, such as substance abuse or barriers to secure housing.
Analysis of CCNC’s model has shown lower rates of low-birth weight babies, a decrease in the amount of C-section deliveries, and an increase in rural access to obstetrical care for program participants in North Carolina.
