Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Director Elizabeth Hertel spoke with Detroit-area families about the personal impacts of the state’s current plan designed to address maternal and infant health and equity and to seek input on the updated plan during a town hall meeting at Focus: HOPE in Detroit on April 19. Hertel also shared information about the success of the Gov. Gretchen Whitmer-supported Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies initiative, and what the future holds for this program in the current budget proposal.
The meeting was part of a series of events being hosted in every region of the state to gather input for the next version of the Mother Infant Health & Equity Improvement Plan. Topics include an overview of successes under the current plan and opportunities to provide feedback on the next version of the plan.
“Michigan has made strides in implementing a multi-faceted approach to improve maternal and infant health outcomes and has reduced the state’s infant mortality rate to a new record-low,” said Hertel. “However, we can and must do more for Michigan families. All Michigan mothers, infants and families should have access to quality and timely care, and to resources that help them thrive.”
Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies is an initiative that began in 2021 and includes the expansion of postpartum Medicaid coverage, the addition of Medicaid doula services and the implementation and expansion of evidence-based home visiting programs. The 2024 budget proposal builds on those investments by expanding evidence-based services to improve outcomes by addressing inequity.
“The Southeast Michigan Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative is pleased to join Director Hertel and Governor Whitmer as we jointly strive to improve birth outcomes and reduce disparities in maternal and child health,” said Vernice Anthony, Southeast Michigan Perinatal Quality Improvement Coalition Lead Consultant and Public Health Expert. “The data and evidence informs us that 60% of maternal deaths are preventable, Black women die at three to four times the rate of white women and reducing sleep-related deaths can significantly reduce infant deaths in all babies.”
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