Humana Healthy Horizons to Support Maternal Health of Black Moms in Kentucky via Programs, Grants

Rhea-AI Summary

Humana's Kentucky Medicaid Plan, Humana Healthy Horizons, announced a grant of $120,000 to three local organizations to enhance maternal health for Black mothers in Louisville. This initiative aims to address significant barriers, including access to prenatal care, reflected in Kentucky's low maternal health ratings. Black women experience a 2.9 times higher maternal mortality rate than white women in the U.S., underscoring the need for these efforts. The grants will support telehealth services, transportation for appointments, and training for community doulas, contributing to health equity in the region.

Positive

• Humana awarded $120,000 in grants to improve maternal health for Black mothers in Louisville.
• Grants support telehealth and transportation initiatives, addressing key barriers to prenatal care.
• Efforts align with Humana's commitment to health equity and community-centered solutions.

Negative

• None.

LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Humana Healthy Horizons in Kentucky, Humana’s (NYSE: HUM) Kentucky Medicaid Plan, is pleased to announce that three local community-based organizations will receive grants totaling $120,000 from Humana Inc. to improve maternal health outcomes for Black moms in Louisville. This support will help remove existing barriers and improve access to quality prenatal care in Kentucky for Black moms.

Humana’s support is in response to the state of Kentucky’s failing grade in the 2022 March of Dimes Report Card, which highlights the latest key indicators to describe and improve maternal and infant health. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Black women have a 2.9 times higher maternal mortality rate in the U.S. compared to white women. Transportation and access to care are two specific barriers for Louisville pregnant mothers.

“Through healthcare coverage, and funding innovative pilots like these, Humana is in a position to help eliminate unjust, avoidable and unnecessary barriers in health and healthcare to achieve health equity,” said Sarah Moyer, MD, Chief Medical Officer for Humana Healthy Horizons Kentucky. “This includes providing resources through grants such as these as well as the breadth of resources for families within Humana Healthy Horizons in Kentucky, our Medicaid health plan.”

Grants supporting maternal health of Black women in the Louisville community include direct support of:

• Melanated Healthcare ($70,000) – Maternal telehealth initiative will connect Humana members with health professionals who share the same racial or cultural background as well as provide patient support through supplemental virtual visits.
• Granny’s Birth Initiative ($30,000) - Doula Dash maternal transportation initiative will provide rides for Humana members who otherwise would be unable to access obstetrical or pediatric medical care. Funding will also support training of doula drivers, who are also certified car seat technicians, sibling support and program marketing.
• Healthy Babies Louisville ($20,000) - Doula co-operative will allow community doulas - shown to provide support to birthing persons for improved health - a place to access continuing education, new certifications and trainings, support for billing insurance companies and networking opportunities.

“There are so many challenges as an expecting mother,” said Brooklyn Johnson, new mom and Humana member. “To know that my insurance can help connect me with access and transportation, from individuals with a similar background, is a huge barrier lifted.”

Humana Healthy Horizons Kentucky, formerly Humana Kentucky Medicaid, helped facilitate the grant application process. Plan enrollees receive dental, hearing, medical, and vision coverage; behavioral health benefits; and extra benefits. Grants were specifically awarded from Humana’s health equity team.

“We are prioritizing areas where the evidence around health disparities is compelling and overwhelming- specifically in maternal and child health for populations insured through Medicaid,” said J. Nwando Olayiwola, MD, MPH, Chief Health Equity Officer and Senior Vice President for Humana. Because the causes of inequities for Black women and their babies are multi-factorial, the solutions must be innovative and holistic, leveraging digital, social, behavioral and clinical care and solutions while empowering a diverse and community-centered workforce. “Humana is committed to creating an equitable healthcare ecosystem within each of our communities so that every person has an opportunity to reach their full health potential.”

About Humana Healthy Horizons

Humana manages Medicaid benefits for more than 1 million members nationally under the Humana Healthy Horizons™ brand, which reflects our expertise in managing complex populations, our commitment to creating solutions that lead to a better quality of life for our members, and our efforts to deliver human care that makes the healthcare experience easier, more personalized and more caring.

During more than two decades of serving people with Medicaid, Humana and Humana Healthy Horizons have developed a wide range of capabilities to serve children, parents, childless adults, and beneficiaries that are aged, blind or disabled. We integrate physical health, behavioral health, pharmacy, long-term care, and social services for a whole-person approach to improve the health and well-being of our members and the communities we serve.

Humana Healthy Horizons serves Medicaid enrollees through the following programs:

• Medicaid Managed Care (MMC)
• Managed Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS)
• Medicare Advantage Dual-eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs)

Humana Healthy Horizons is a Medicaid Product offered by affiliates of Humana Inc.

About Humana

Humana Inc. is committed to helping our millions of medical and specialty members achieve their best health. Our successful history in care delivery and health plan administration is helping us create a new kind of integrated care with the power to improve health and well-being and lower costs. Our efforts are leading to a better quality of life for people with Medicare, families, individuals, military service personnel, and communities at large.

To accomplish that, we support physicians and other health care professionals as they work to deliver the right care in the right place for their patients, our members. Our range of clinical capabilities, resources and tools – such as in-home care, behavioral health, pharmacy services, data analytics and wellness solutions – combine to produce a simplified experience that makes health care easier to navigate and more effective.

More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the company’s web site at www.humana.com, including copies of:

• Annual reports to stockholders
• Securities and Exchange Commission filings
• Most recent investor conference presentations
• Quarterly earnings news releases and conference calls
• Calendar of events
• Corporate Governance information

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230207005190/en/

Lindsay Wehr

Humana Corporate Communications

(502) 528-5450

e-mail: LWehr@humana.com

Source: Humana Inc.

FAQ

What is the purpose of the grants awarded by Humana (NYSE: HUM) in Kentucky?

Humana awarded $120,000 in grants to improve maternal health outcomes for Black mothers in Louisville.

How much funding did Humana provide for maternal health initiatives in Louisville?

Humana provided a total of $120,000 in grants to three local organizations for maternal health initiatives.

What disparities does Humana aim to address with its maternal health grant program?

Humana aims to address the significant maternal health disparities faced by Black women, including a 2.9 times higher mortality rate compared to white women in the U.S.

Which organizations received grants from Humana for maternal health support?

The organizations that received grants include Melanated Healthcare, Granny's Birth Initiative, and Healthy Babies Louisville.

What specific barriers to prenatal care are being targeted by Humana's funding?

The funding aims to tackle barriers such as transportation and access to quality prenatal care for Black mothers in Louisville.