Governor Kelly Announces $17M to Transform Maternal Health

TOPEKA - Governor Laura Kelly announced on Wednesday that Kansas has been selected by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as one of 15 states to participate in its Transforming Maternal Health (TMaH) Model program, which includes a $17 million grant award over the next 10 years. The goal of the TMaH Model is to improve maternal and child health care for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) members. 

“It is a tremendous honor for Kansas to be selected for this important program,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “This funding provides the resources necessary for us to continue to grow and increase access to maternal health care to underserved Kansans throughout the state.” 

The TMaH selection will enhance the work the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has initiated through its Kansas Medicaid and Maternal and Child Health programs to improve maternal health outcomes for members.

“We have made great strides towards improving maternal health in Kansas through Medicaid and our Maternal Child Health Program,” said KDHE Secretary Janet Stanek. “This grant positions us to take on the important work outlined in the pillars of the TMaH Model.”  

The TMaH model will support KDHE in the development of a whole-person approach to pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care. The goal of the model is to reduce disparities in access and treatment, a key focus of the KanCare 3.0 contracts which took effect Jan. 1, 2025.  

“The TMaH Model provides Kansas Medicaid with the funding and support necessary to improve maternal and child health outcomes,” said Christine Osterlund, KDHE Deputy Secretary of Agency Integration and Kansas Medicaid Director. “Through stakeholder input and support, especially from our partners at the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, Kansas submitted a strong and ultimately successful grant application with a clear vision for the program.” 

The model is centered on three pillars, which include access to care, infrastructure and workforce capacity, quality improvement and safety, and whole-person care delivery.   

The grant will allow KDHE to build upon its work in the following: 

• Hospital Engagement for Birthing-Friendly Designation: KDHE, in collaboration with the Kansas Perinatal Quality Collaborative, the Kansas Maternal Mortality Review Committee, and other partners, is recruiting and educating facilities to achieve CMS’s birthing-friendly designation status. TMaH will align with these key public health initiatives to further address barriers and increase quality services and patient safety. 

• Whole-Person Care: KDHE’s Kansas Connecting Communities and Maternal Anti-Violence Innovation and Sharing programs will be pivotal in enhancing the patient education and universal screening components of the TMaH model. These programs offer provider consultation, training, and technical assistance for perinatal mental health, substance use, and intimate partner violence. Resources will be scaled to ensure the behavioral health and social determinants of the health needs of all patients. 

• Telehealth and Telemonitoring Prioritization: TMaH will enhance telehealth services to overcome geographic barriers, improving access to specialists and reducing travel. KDHE will implement robust telemonitoring for hypertension and gestational diabetes and collaborate on a State Plan Amendment to expand covered services under Medicaid. 

• Home Visiting Program Expansion: The TMaH payment model will make home visiting sustainable by addressing funding gaps. KDHE’s strength-based approach improves outcomes in pregnancy, parenting, and early childhood health while TMaH funding expands reach and quality. 

The funding will support Kansas’ efforts to address disparities among underserved populations at higher risk for poor maternal outcomes. More information on the program is available at CMS TMaH Model.