MedCity FemFwd Comparing maternal health in employer-sponsored populations vs. Medicaid with Emily Lindemer - Episode 17
Jan 31, 2025
Emily Lindemer, Executive Director of Data and Healthcare Innovation at Morgan Health, shares her insights on maternal health disparities. She discusses a report that contrasts outcomes in employer-sponsored insurance with those on Medicaid. The conversation highlights the financial burden of childbirth and the lack of support services like doulas. Lindemer calls for innovation to address higher unnecessary C-sections among privately insured women and shares key recommendations for employers to improve care quality, especially for diverse communities.
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Focus on Employer-Sponsored Births
- Half of U.S. births occur under commercial insurance, distinct from Medicaid experiences.
- Understanding differences in maternal health issues can refine targeted interventions.
High Childbirth Costs in Commercial Insurance
- Childbirth costs around $3,000 out-of-pocket for those with employer-sponsored insurance.
- Additional costs like doulas, often $2,000, make childbirth unaffordable for many in this group.
Surprisingly High C-section Rates
- Women on commercial insurance have higher C-section rates for low-risk pregnancies than those on Medicaid.
- Paying more doesn't correlate with better maternal health outcomes in the commercial sector.