Philips has teamed up with Amerigroup, CareSource Georgia, and Peach State Health Plan to introduce a remote monitoring program for high-risk pregnancies in Georgia. This initiative, aligned with the Georgia Healthy Babies Act, will initially serve 50 counties across the state, focusing on pregnant and postpartum women diagnosed with maternal hypertension and diabetes.
This program offers Medicaid-covered pregnant women access to monitoring devices and personalized health coaching provided by Philips’ licensed nurses, dietitians, and diabetes care specialists. The service includes real-time alerts if readings fall outside of a healthy range and continues for up to 90 days after delivery.
This program addresses significant healthcare needs in Georgia. Medicaid covers nearly half of all births in the state, but Georgia ranks 31st out of 40 states in maternal mortality rates. The program is particularly timely, considering that 62% of U.S. pregnancies are categorized as high-risk. There has also been an 81.3% surge in hypertension cases and a 50% rise in diabetes cases nationally. Furthermore, more than 35% of US counties are considered maternity care deserts.
“Amerigroup is proud to collaborate on this important initiative, which aims to significantly improve maternal health outcomes in Georgia through innovative remote monitoring solutions,” said Dr. Truddie Darden, Chief Medical Director for Amerigroup Georgia. “Together, we strive to make transformative progress and have a life-changing impact on vulnerable mothers and babies across the state.”
Laquanda Brooks, Senior Vice President, Population Health and Clinical Operations at Peach State Health Plan, added, “Peach State Health Plan is dedicated to moving the needle for Georgian moms by working with strong partners and implementing innovative solutions that support and improve their care. Through remote patient monitoring and by taking a personalized approach to care, we’re better positioned to support mothers and their babies and improve maternity outcomes in Georgia.”
Lisa Pennington, senior manager of population health, CareSource Georgia, noted, “Our members are working moms, moms who face challenges with childcare or transportation, and moms in rural Georgia who have limited access to healthcare. By bringing care right to their homes through connected devices, we’re offering them timely, personalized healthcare that can make a real difference in the health and well-being of moms and babies, no matter where they live in the state.”
Key Features of the Program:
- Remote patient monitoring for high-risk pregnancies.
- Focus areas: maternal hypertension and diabetes.
- Personalized health coaching by licensed professionals.
- Real-time alerts for at-risk readings.
- Postpartum care up to 90 days.
Philips’ initiative responds to the growing need for maternal health support by providing remote monitoring and personalized care. The use of technology, combined with the support of experienced medical professionals, aims to improve health outcomes for mothers and babies. The program’s focus on high-risk pregnancies will support the health of mothers and babies in the targeted Georgia counties.
