State of Arkansas Department of Human Services, Division of Medical Services Selects U.S. Care Management for High-Risk Obstetrics Health Manageme...( JACKSONVILLE Fla. Nov. 20 /- The ...),Health

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Nov. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- The State of Arkansas Department of Human Services, Division of Medical Services has selected U.S. Care Management (formally Specialty Disease Management) to provide obstetrical and infant health management services to assist in improving birth outcomes and reducing costs associated with complicated pregnancies, pre-term births and high-risk infants among Medicaid participants in Crittenden, Phillips and St. Francis Counties, Arkansas. The pilot program, called BirthWait(R), began in June 2007 and will continue for two years.

"High-risk pregnancies and pre-term deliveries often result in poor health outcomes for mother's and their infant's health, and additional costs to the family and our communities," said Roy Jeffus, director, Arkansas Department of Human Services, Division of Medical Services. "U.S. Care Management's intensive obstetrical and high risk infant health management services will contribute to efforts in Crittenden, Phillips and St. Francis counties to potentially reduce these costs and improve health outcomes."

U.S. Care Management, a wholly-owned subsidiary of U.S. Preventive Medicine, will utilize its unique community-based approach to identify persons who are likely to have a high-risk pregnancy and at-risk infants up to one year of age. Each person in the program will be assigned a community-based registered nurse who will provide care coordination, assessments, extensive education and monitoring. BirthWait(R) nurses utilize a case management database system, Casewatch(R) that includes guidelines and indicators for high risk pregnancy as well as other chronic conditions the mother may have including diabetes, hypertension, asthma and others. The system offers the same capabilities for at-risk infants. Nurses enter assessment information, develop individualized care plans, and document and report all contacts and interventions as well as the tracking of key indicators.

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