Expanding Center M From Six to Twelve Oregon Health Systems: A State Level Implementation Pilot to Define Perinatal Mental Health Medicaid Innovation Solutions
Maternal mental health issues are currently the leading cause of US death during pregnancy or the first year postpartum due to suicide or overdose. Effective solutions exist but are not available as part of routine prenatal care. Designed to overcome implementation barriers and increase access to care, Center M is a ‘light-touch/low-stigma’ adaptation of a strongly evidence based mindfulness CBT intervention for preventing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Center M pilot testing confirms efficacy and appeal of the model. With JTMF support, they will expand pilot testing across the state with particular emphasis on FQHCs, rural populations and underserved pregnant women. Findings from this research will be shared with the Oregon legislature as part of a proposal for state Medicaid funds to launch a statewide innovation trial as well as with federal funders for wider research into maternal/child dyadic outcomes and targeting precision-medicine targets to better refine care delivery based on patient risk. More information about this work can be found here and more information about the Center M model can be found here.