Article Summary –
Public health advocates in Montana are advocating for an increase in federal grants for maternal home-visiting programs. Carole Johnson, head of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), announced a $5.4 million grant for home visiting in Montana, an increase of approximately $400,000 from the current allocation. The funds will be used to continue services for pregnant women and those with young children, and discussions are being held with community stakeholders to identify what needs are being met and what areas need more attention.
Montana Advocates Endorse Federal Grants for Maternal Home-Visiting Programs
Public health supporters in Montana are backing increased federal grants for maternal home-visiting programs, urging the Biden administration to maintain funding for services available to pregnant Montanans and parents with young children.
On Tuesday, Carole Johnson, head of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), announced in Bozeman that $5.4 million in grants for home visiting would be available to Montana in the next fiscal year, a nearly $400,000 rise from the current allocation. Johnson expressed that state grants would continue to expand in the coming years based on the program’s 2022 congressional reauthorization.
HRSA’s Discussion with Montana Community Stakeholders
Johnson utilized Tuesday’s discussion as a platform to comprehend the needs currently met by federal funding in Montana, and to identify the issues requiring more focus from health officials.
As part of a Biden administration maternal health initiative tour, the HRSA officials are visiting Montana and 10 other states. During this tour, HRSA representatives discuss with state and local officials about maternal mortality rates and health disparities, particularly among Native American and Black mothers.
Montana’s Maternal Mortality Rate
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data from 2018 to 2022 indicates that Montana’s maternal mortality rate was 30.5 per 100,000 live births, nearly parallel to the national figure. A CDC analysis of 2020 pregnancy-related mortality data from 38 states, including Montana, revealed that 47% of deaths occurred between seven days and one year post-birth, with 84% of deaths being preventable.
Impact of Home-Visiting Programs in Montana
In the 19 Montana counties having home-visiting programs backed by federal HRSA grants, 97% of participants in 2022 were screened for depression within three months of joining. Parents and county health workers shared with Johnson and other HRSA officials how these programs significantly aided new moms in overcoming pregnancy-related difficulties and caring for their newborns and toddlers.
One testimony came from Clayleen Kors, a Belgrade resident who gave birth prematurely. Kors spoke about the mental health toll and isolation she felt, and how she was referred to a home-visiting program that provided a constant line of communication and support.
Local health officials also noted that HRSA grants had allowed for expansion of existing services. Additionally, they highlighted other essential programs for supporting maternal health and early childhood wellness, such as peer support specialists, doulas trained to assist parents dealing with substance use disorders, and strategies to train more health care workers across the state.
Importance of Medicaid Expansion in Montana
Dr. Doug Harrington, Montana’s state medical director, stressed the significance of Medicaid expansion in providing health services for pregnant and parenting Montanans. Despite the state’s expanded Medicaid program being set to end in 2025, Republican Governor Greg Gianforte has expressed his support for reauthorizing a version of the program in the forthcoming legislative session.
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