Senator Marshall Celebrates Kansas Receiving Funding for Maternal Health

Washington, DC – Senator Marshall is proud that Kansas is one of 15 states to receive federal funding from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under the Transforming Maternal Health Model. The funding and technical assistance are intended to improve health outcomes for mothers and infants enrolled in the state’s Medicaid program, KanCare, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). He applauds the state agencies for taking a proactive step in improving these initiatives.

“I am glad to see that Kansas has this unique opportunity to address ways to increase access to maternal care,” Senator Marshall said. “We must address maternal health care in a more holistic way, looking at things like chronic disease management, mental health, substance misuse, and nutrition, so that we reduce risks during and after birth. The challenges are particularly difficult in rural areas and places where access to care is more limited.”

The goals of the federal funding are targeted at three main objectives:

• Access to care, infrastructure, and workforce capacity
• Quality improvement and safety
• Whole-person care delivery

In addition to Kansas, the other recipients of the grant are Alabama, Arkansas, California, District of Columbia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, Oklahoma, South Carolina, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The funding totaled $17 million. 

Senator Marshall, M.D. worked as an OBGYN in rural Kansas for almost three decades and delivered over 5,000 babies prior to his service in the US House and Senate. In Congress, he has championed several bills that were signed into law to improve maternal and infant health. These include: the Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act, the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections (PUMP) for Nursing Mothers Act, and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. He has also led annual appropriations efforts to fund vital maternal health programs, such as Title V Maternal and Child Health Block Grant, WIC nutrition programs, and the Healthy Start Program.