Improving Maternal Hypertension Control and Cardiovascular Health

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is common during pregnancy, effecting about 5% to 10% of all pregnancies. Uncontrolled hypertension can lead to complications for the pregnant person, including transfusions, intensive care stays, and even death, and for the baby, including pre-term birth and low birth weights . Hypertension continues to impact health even decades after delivery.  Hypertension disorders in pregnancy disproportionately effect Black and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) individuals. As the largest public payer of births nationwide,  Medicaid and CHIP programs have a significant role in enhancing systems of care to improve maternal and infant health, reduce preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity, and support equitable outcomes for all.

CMS is please to launch new Maternal and Infant Health technical assistance opportunities focused on helping states improve maternal hypertension control and cardiovascular health: a content-driven webinar series and an action oriented affinity group. 

During the Maternal Health Summer 2024 Webinar Series, attendees will hear about the challenges of recognizing and managing hypertension before, during, and after pregnancy. Participants will hear from states agencies, federal partners, and subject matter experts about the unique solutions that Medicaid and CHIP programs can put in place to improve maternal health outcomes.  The webinar series will also address maternal mental health and substance use.

The webinars series will begin in May and conclude in August 2024. CMS invites all interested staff from state Medicaid and CHIP agencies, along with their hospital and obstetrical providers, Medicaid and CHIP managed care plans, public health agencies, and other QI partners, to take part in the summer 2024 maternal health webinar series. Register here for one or more of the webinars.

Improving Maternal Hypertension and Cardiovascular Health Affinity Group

Beginning in fall 2024, CMS will convene an affinity group focused on improving maternal hypertension. State teams, led by Medicaid or CHIP program staff, may consider joining this action-oriented affinity group to learn through workshops and one-on-one coaching, and work alongside peers focused on improvement projects in their states. CMS will also convene an affinity group focused on addressing maternal mental health and substance use; for more information on that affinity group see below.

• Coming soon! Improving Maternal Hypertension Control and Cardiovascular Health Affinity Group Fact Sheet

Informational Webinar:  Overview of the “Addressing Maternal Mental Health and Substance Use” and “Improving Maternal Hypertension Control” Affinity Groups and the Expression-of-Interest Process (Date: August 6, 2024, 2:00 pm ET) To register for this webinar, click here.

Questions

Please submit your questions to the QI technical assistance mailbox at  MedicaidCHIPQI@cms.hhs.gov.