Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan launched a new program Thursday that aims to ease the financial stress of becoming a new parent.
Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan, a managed care organization that offers Medi-Cal, has about 580,000 members in Los Angeles and San Diego counties.
The new program, called the Promising Start Program, is available to members in San Diego County during a baby’s first year of life. To be eligible, members must be pregnant or have given birth within the last 11 months. The program is an extension of the insurer’s Medi-Cal maternity program, offering support and education for members during the perinatal period, connection to community resources, care management support, and resources for those experiencing pregnancy loss.
Provides Promising Start kits that include postpartum and newborn supplies such as diapers, diaper rash cream, and nursing pads. These are delivered to eligible members around the expected delivery dates.
Additionally, these deliveries will provide information on preventive care, scheduling appointments for postpartum checkups and visits to the pediatrician. Members can also receive Amazon vouchers to purchase diapers and other items during the child’s first year. They can access these vouchers after completing a series of postpartum care and well-child visits.
The insurer estimates that more than 800 pregnant members will receive kits during the first year of the program. In addition to tracking enrollment in the program, the organization will measure the number of preventive care visits participants make, anticipating that participants will have better health outcomes, according to Kristen Cerf, president and CEO of Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan.
“This program is designed to be a key point of contact to encourage members to utilize preventive care options, such as postpartum visits and maternal depression screenings, and schedule vital well-child visits during their baby’s first year of life,” Cerf said in an email. “Through these touchpoints, the Promising Start Program aims to help support the member and close any gaps in care for mothers and their babies.”
Currently, diapers and other baby items can cost around $80 a month, which can be significant for new parents. This initiative can reduce that financial burden, according to Cerf.
“While having a baby is one of the most transformative and exciting experiences for a family, it can also be incredibly stressful and exhausting… We are excited to help ease the financial strains of welcoming a baby into the family,” she said.
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