Meridian is a managed care group headquartered in Michigan An entirely owned subsidiary of Centene Company is partnering with Mae, a digital well being platform centered on the medical, social and cultural wants of underserved pregnant girls.
Mae goals to attach Meridian’s Medicaid members to its community of greater than 50 Michigan doulas, offering digital and in-person help in a wide range of areas together with emotional and lactation, labor training, advocacy and postpartum supervision.
A doula is the non-medical help offered to pregnant girls and their households earlier than, throughout and after childbirth.
To help Meridian members, Mae combines a digital engagement and danger monitoring platform with community-based doula help to coordinate supplier help groups and focus pregnant girls all through the perinatal interval.
The first aim is to cut back disparate maternal well being outcomes, in addition to preterm births and non-medically mandatory caesarean sections.
“We’re happy to supply this much-needed extra service to eligible members and midwives,” Dianalynn Smith, Meridian’s vp of high quality enchancment, mentioned in an announcement.
“Because the main supply of protection for low-income folks, Medicaid performs a important function in lowering well being disparities regionally and nationally. Meridian is answerable for practically 10 %, or one in 9, of births in Michigan. Whereas being pregnant can It’s a beautiful journey, however it may also be a worrying time each bodily and mentally.
“Group-based doulas present culturally and ethnically resonant care by way of a shared background, tradition and language with pregnant girls,” Smith added.
Over the previous two years, Mae has established a major presence in Michigan, working with a rising crew of proficient neighborhood doulas to satisfy the wants of Medicaid beneficiaries throughout the state, mentioned Mae CEO Maya Hardigan.
“We’re excited to associate with Meridian to increase our influence on folks giving start in Michigan and drive enhancements in maternal well being outcomes and fairness,” Smith mentioned within the assertion. “We look ahead to the influence we will make collectively.”
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2021, Mae launched with $1.3 million in pre-seed funding. The spherical was led by SteelSky Ventures, with participation from Happiness Fund, Social Begins Well being, Rhia Ventures, MBX Capital and Avestria Ventures.
in Might, The Centene Basis, the philanthropic arm of Meridian and Centene Company, introduced a $1.1 million donation to Detroit-based Neighborhood Providers Group (NSO), a complete well being and human companies company. The grant helps the NSO’s medical respite program, which will increase entry to well being and restoration look after homeless folks.