Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Group Prenatal Care Results in Medicaid Savings with Better Outcomes: A Propensity Score Analysis of CenteringPregnancy Participation in South Carolina

  • Published:
Maternal and Child Health Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objectives This study was undertaken to determine the cost savings of prevention of adverse birth outcomes for Medicaid women participating in the CenteringPregnancy group prenatal care program at a pilot program in South Carolina. Methods A retrospective five-year cohort study of Medicaid women was assessed for differences in birth outcomes among women involved in CenteringPregnancy group prenatal care (n = 1262) and those receiving individual prenatal care (n = 5066). The study outcomes examined were premature birth and the related outcomes of low birthweight (LBW) and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) visits. Because women were not assigned to the CenteringPregnancy group, a propensity score analysis ensured that the inference of the estimated difference in birth outcomes between the treatment groups was adjusted for nonrandom assignment based on age, race, Clinical Risk Group, and plan type. A series of generalized linear models were run to estimate the difference between the proportions of individuals with adverse birth outcomes, or the risk differences, for CenteringPregnancy group prenatal care participation. Estimated risk differences, the coefficient on the CenteringPregnancy group indicator variable from identity-link binomial variance generalized linear models, were then used to calculate potential cost savings due to participation in the CenteringPregnancy group. Results This study estimated that CenteringPregnancy participation reduced the risk of premature birth (36 %, P < 0.05). For every premature birth prevented, there was an average savings of $22,667 in health expenditures. Participation in CenteringPregnancy reduced the incidence of delivering an infant that was LBW (44 %, P < 0.05, $29,627). Additionally, infants of CenteringPregnancy participants had a reduced risk of a NICU stay (28 %, P < 0.05, $27,249). After considering the state investment of $1.7 million, there was an estimated return on investment of nearly $2.3 million. Conclusions Cost savings were achieved with better outcomes due to the participation in CenteringPregnancy among low-risk Medicaid beneficiaries.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Barr, W. B., Aslam, S., & Levin, M. (2011). Evaluation of a group prenatal care-based curriculum in a family medicine residency. Family Medicine, 43(10), 712–717.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Blackstone, E. H. (2002). Comparing apples and oranges. Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 123(1), 8–15.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2015). Preterm birth. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/MaternalInfantHealth/PretermBirth.htm.

  4. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2015). Strong start for mothers and newborns: General information. Retrieved from https://innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/strong-start/.

  5. Cook, R. J., & Sackett, D. L. (1995). The number needed to treat: A clinically useful measure of treatment effect. British Medical Journal, 310(6977), 452–454.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Garg, V., Shen, X., Cheng, Y., Nawarskas, J. J., & Raisch, D. W. (2013). Use of number needed to treat in cost-effectiveness analyses. Annals of Pharmacotherapy, 47(3), 380–387.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Gaudion, A., Menka, Y., Demilew, J., Yiannouzis, K., Schindler, S., & Bick, D. (2011). Findings from a UK feasibility study of the Centering Pregnancy® model. British Journal of Midwifery, 19(12), 796–803.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Grady, M. A., & Bloom, K. C. (2004). Pregnancy outcomes of adolescents enrolled in a CenteringPregnancy® program. Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health, 49(5), 12–420. doi:10.1016/j.jmwh.2004.05.009.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Hale, N., Picklesimer, A. H., Billings, D. L., & Covington-Kolb, S. (2014). The impact of Centering Pregnancy Group Prenatal Care on postpartum family planning. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 210(1), 50.e1-7. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2013.09.001.

  10. Ickovics, J. R., Earnshaw, V., Lewis, J., Kershaw, T. S., Magriples, U., Stasko, E., et al. (2016). Cluster randomized controlled trial of group prenatal care: Perinatal outcomes among adolescents in New York City health centers. American Journal of Public Health, 106(2), 359–365.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Ickovics, J. R., Reed, E., Magriples, U., Westdahl, C., Rising, S. S., & Kershaw, T. S. (2011). Effects of group prenatal care on psychosocial risk in pregnancy: Results from a randomised controlled trial. Psychology and Health, 26(2), 235–250.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Ickovics, J. R., Kershaw, T. S., Westdahl, C., Magriples, U., Massey, Z., Reynolds, H., & Rising, S. S. (2007). Group prenatal care and perinatal outcomes. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 110(2 Pt 1), 330–339.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Ickovics, J. R., Kershaw, T. S., Westdahl, C., Rising, S. S., Klima, C., Reynolds, H., & Magriples, U. (2004). Group prenatal care and preterm birth weight: Results from a matched cohort study at public clinics. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 102(5), 1051–1057. doi:10.1016/S00297844(03)00765-8.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Kornhauser, M., & Schneiderman, R. (2010). How plans can improve outcomes and cut costs for preterm infant care. Managed Care, 19(1), 28–30.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Kowlessar, N. M., Jiang, J., & Steiner, C. (2013). Hospital stays for newborns, 2011. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, Statistical Brief, 163. Retrieved from http://www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov/reports/statbriefs/sb163.pdf.

  16. Kurth, T., Walker, A. M., Glynn, R. J., Chan, K. A., Gaziano, J. M., Berger, K., & Robins, J. M. (2006). Results of multivariable logistic regression, propensity matching, propensity adjustment, and propensity-based weighting under conditions of nonuniform effect. American Journal of Epidemiology, 163(3), 262–270.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. McDonald, S., Sword, W., Eryuzlu, L., Neupane, B., Beyene, J., & Biringer, A. (2016). Why are half of women interested in participating in group prenatal care? Maternal and Child Health Journal, 20(1), 97–105.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Mooney, S. E., Russell, M. A., Prairie, B., Savage, C., & Weeks, W. B. (2008). Group prenatal care: An analysis of cost. Journal Health Care Finance, 34(4), 31–41.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Muraskas, J., & Parsi, K. (2008). October). The cost of saving the tiniest lives: NICUs versus prevention. American Medical Association Journal of Ethics, 10(10), 655–658.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Nguyen, N., Allen, A., Gorman, M., Hersh, S., Frias, A., Cooper, A., & Caughney, A. (2014). Group prenatal care for women with pre-gestational type II diabetes mellitus: A cost-effectiveness analysis. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 210(1), D290. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2013.10.408.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Novick, G., Reid, A. E., Lewis, J., Kershaw, T. S., Rising, S. S., & Ickovics, J. R. (2013). Group prenatal care: Model fidelity and outcomes. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 206, 112e1–112e6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Ohno, M., Rodriguez, M. I., Wiener. S., & Caughey, A. B. (2012, October). CenteringPregnancy ® for the prevention of preterm birth: A cost effectiveness analysis. Presented at the 34th Annual Meeting of the Society for Medical Decision Making Phoenix, AZ. Retrieved from https://smdm.confex.com/smdm/2012az/webprogram/Paper6929.html23.

  23. Petrou, S., Sach, T., & Davidson, L. (2001). The long-term costs of preterm birth and low birth weight: Results of a systematic review. Child Care Health Development, 27(2), 97–115.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Picklesimer, A. H. & Craine, J. (2015, November 12) Centering outcomes and payment reform: Shifting resources to prevention. Presented at the Northeast Centering Symposium at the Massachusetts Medical Society. Retrieved from http://www.marchofdimes.org/massachusetts/news_13422.html.

  25. Picklesimer, A. H., Billings, D., Hale, N., Blackhurst, D., & Covington-Kolb, S. (2012). The effect of CenteringPregnancy® group prenatal care on preterm birth in a low-income population. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 206, 415e1–415e7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Rosenbaum, P. R., & Rubin, D. B. (1983). The central role of the propensity score in observational studies for causal effects. Biometrika, 70(1), 41–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Rowley, R., Phillips, L., O’Dell, L., Husseini, R., Carpino, S., & Hartman, S. (2016). Group prenatal care: A financial perspective. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 20(1), 1–10.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Sheeder, J., Yorga, K. W., & Kabir-Greher, K. (2010). A review of prenatal group literature: The need for a structured theoretical framework and systematic evaluation. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 16(1), 177–187. doi:10.1007/s10995-010-0709-1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. South Carolina Department of Health & Human Services. (2015). CenteringPregnancy: A successful model for group prenatal care. South Carolina Birth Outcomes Initiative Webinar. Retrieved from https://www.scdhhs.gov/organizations/boi.

  30. Tandon, D. S., Cluxton-Keller, F., Colon, L., Vega, P., & Alonso, A. (2013). Improved adequacy of prenatal care and healthcare utilization among low-income Latinas receiving group prenatal care. Journal of Women’s Health, 22(12), 1056–1061. doi:10.1089/jwh.2013.4352.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Tanner-Smith, E. E., Steinak-Fry, K. T., & Lipsey, M. W. (2013). Effects of CenteringPregnancy® group prenatal care on breastfeeding outcomes. Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health, 58(4), 389–395. doi:10.1111/jmwh.12008.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Tanner-Smith, E. E., Steinka-Fry, K., & Lipsey, M. W. (2012). A multi-site evaluation of the CenteringPregnancy® programs in Tennessee: Final report presented to the Tennessee Department of Health. Nashville, TN: Peabody Research Institute, Vanderbilt University. Retrieved from https://my.vanderbilt.edu/emilytannersmith/files/2012/02/Contract19199-GR1030830-Final-Report.pdf.

  33. Tanner-Smith, E. E., Steinak-Fry, K. T., & Lipsey, M. W. (2014). The effects of CenteringPregnancy® group prenatal care on gestational age, birth weight, and fetal demise. Maternal Child Health Journal, 18(4), 801–809. doi:10.1007/s10995-013-1304-z.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Trotman, G., Chhatre, G., Darolia, R., Tefera, E., Damle, L., & Gomez-Lobo, V. (2015). The effect of Centering Pregnancy versus traditional prenatal care models on improved adolescent health behaviors in the perinatal period. Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, 28(5), 395–401.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. United Health Foundation. (2016). America’s health rankings: South Carolina. Retrieved from http://www.americashealthrankings.org/SC.

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was done under the contract between the Institute for Families in Society, University of South Carolina, and the SC Department of Health and Human Services, Medicaid Program. The Institute for Families in Society at the University of South Carolina also receives funding through the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The views expressed in this article are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the SC Department of Health and Human Services, Medicaid Program, nor those of the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The authors thank staff at Greenville Health System and the Institute for Families in Society for their technical assistance and the SC DHHS Birth Outcomes Initiative for its support of this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Medicaid Policy Research, Institute for Families in Society, University of South Carolina, 1600 Hampton Street, Suite 507, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA

    Sarah Gareau, Ana Lòpez-De Fede, Brandon L. Loudermilk, Tammy H. Cummings & James W. Hardin

  2. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 948 Greene Street, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA

    James W. Hardin

  3. Greenville Health System Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 890 W. Faris Road, Suite 470, Greenville, SC, 29605, USA

    Amy H. Picklesimer & Sarah Covington-Kolb

  4. Health Services Policy and Management, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 615 Greene Street, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA

    Elizabeth Crouch

Authors
  1. Sarah Gareau
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ana Lòpez-De Fede
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Brandon L. Loudermilk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Tammy H. Cummings
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. James W. Hardin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Amy H. Picklesimer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Elizabeth Crouch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Sarah Covington-Kolb
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ana Lòpez-De Fede.

Appendix of Codes

Appendix of Codes

Preterm Birth

ICD-9 Codes

  • 765.01–765.09: Disorders relating to extreme immaturity of an infant

  • 765.11–765.19: Disorders relating to other preterm infants

  • 765.21–765.28: 36 weeks or less of gestation

Low Birthweight

ICD-9 Codes

  • 764.00–764.08: Light for dates without fetal malnutrition, <2500 g

  • 764.10–764.18: Light for dates with fetal malnutrition, <2500 g

  • 764.91–764.98: Fetal growth retardation, <2500 g

  • V21.3-V21.34: Low birthweight status

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Visit

Revenue Codes

0173, 0174: Special care or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

CPT Codes

99291–99296, 99298, 99300, 99468–99469, 99477–99482: Pediatric or neonate critical care

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Gareau, S., Lòpez-De Fede, A., Loudermilk, B.L. et al. Group Prenatal Care Results in Medicaid Savings with Better Outcomes: A Propensity Score Analysis of CenteringPregnancy Participation in South Carolina. Matern Child Health J 20, 1384–1393 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-016-1935-y

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-016-1935-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation