The Cost and Impact of NICU Stays in Maternity Care

Jacob and Nikhil sit down with Marta Bralic Kerns, Founder and CEO of Pomelo Care, a multispecialty virtual medical practice that cares for mothers and babies from preconception to one year postpartum. They discuss payer contracting and Medicaid, career advice for those joining startups, why maternity care is such a pressing issue in the US, and more.

(0:00) intro

(0:47) maternity outcomes in the U.S.

(5:39) clinician supply issue

(6:56) how Pomelo Care works

(12:20) how patients find Pomelo

(15:21) how Pomelo fits into the healthcare journey after pregnancy

(17:06) pitching Pomelo to payers

(24:16) Pomelo’s Medicaid focus

(26:59) state-by-state differences in maternity care

(30:30) constraints to growing Pomelo

(31:34) team-based maternity care

(34:19) how to sell to payers

(40:43) advice for people early in their health-tech careers

(45:32) Flatiron and EHRs

(51:17) over-hyped/under-hyped

(53:06) NOT hiring Nikhil

Out-Of-Pocket: https://www.outofpocket.health/