Twelve percent of births to smokers were low birthweight, compared with almost 7 percent of such births to non-smokers. Designed to meet community needs, the projects include outreach, case management, health education and community consortium. Launched in 1991 as a demonstration in 15 communities, a six-year evaluation of the program showed progress in some communities in increasing prenatal care visits and decreasing preterm births and low birthweight babies. Based on the evaluation, HRSA in 2000 announced a new Healthy Start framework, within which participating communities will build strong linkages with state maternal and child health programs. Medicaid is a state and federal partnership that provides access to prenatal care for eligible mothers and health coverage for millions of infants from low-income families.
States can expand eligibility and services for pregnant women and their infants.
As part of such expansions, states have streamlined application procedures to encourage early and continuous access to prenatal care and added coverage for parenting education. Families are encouraged and offered assistance to obtain well-child screenings that can identify and treat health problems. Toll-free prenatal care hotline. HHS supports a toll-free hotline to assist pregnant women and others seeking information on prenatal care, including referrals to local clinics and physicians. Childhood immunization initiative.