Governor O’Malley’s 15 Strategic Policy Goals

14. Reduce Infant Mortality in Maryland by 10% by 2012

To ensure the health and well being of Maryland’s infants, the O’Malley-Brown Administration has set a goal and is implementing a plan to reduce infant mortality in Maryland by 10% by 2012. The achievement of this goal would give Maryland an infant mortality rate that would be the lowest in Maryland’s history. 

Progress to Date

The 10% reduction in infant mortality goal was achieved in 2009, and exceeded in 2010. In 2010 the infant mortality rate for black Marylanders decreased for the first time since 2008.

(2010 national #'s just released Jan 2012)

infant mortality graphStrategies

Before Pregnancy - Expand Access to Women’s Comprehensive Health and Wellness Services

  • Require admission within one business day of the request for all pregnant women that present themselves to a behavioral health or disabilities programs.
  • Mandate use of evidence-based practices for pregnant women and women of child-bearing age.
  • Assist with the training of community obstetrician-gynecologists regarding substance abuse, mental and developmental disabilities services.
  • Support behavioral health programs identified for implementation to combat infant mortality.

During Pregnancy - Earlier Entry into Prenatal Care

  • Process applications for pregnant women in a more quickly.  For example, Family Investment Aides within local Departments of Social Services (funded by ARRA) will screen all applications for services for pregnant women so they can be prioritized and processed in a timely manner.  In addition, the Medicaid-only application will be changed to instruct all pregnant women to submit their applications to the local health department for processing in 10 days.
  • Monitor department performance of eligibility determinations for pregnant women to ensure 10 day requirement.
  • Send a letter to all prenatal providers encouraging uninsured pregnant women to apply for Medicaid.
  • Train substance abuse and mental health providers concerning Medicaid eligibility and services for pregnant women.

After Pregnancy - More Comprehensive Follow Up Care

  • Increase the number of Medicaid women of childbearing age receiving Family Planning services.
  • Increase the number of Medicaid postpartum women receiving follow-up services.
  • Increase the number of hospitals that have adopted standardized discharge protocols and plan.

Read the more detailed plan to achieve this important public safety goal...

Delivering Results

  • Launched Comprehensive Women’s Health Centers to expand the services of family planning clinics, serving over 500 women per month in Baltimore City, Prince George’s County, and Somerset County.
  • Developed protocols to ensure that pregnant women applying for Medicaid receive prenatal care as early as possible, serving over 550 women in the first three months of the new protocols.
  • Funded Perinatal Navigators to assist at-risk women in navigating through the prenatal and perinatal care systems to insure infant and maternal health.

Progress toward delivery is monitored by the GDU, and assessed regularly at agency and cross-agency Stat meetings.