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Sunflower's Start Smart for Your Baby® Program Provides Birth Defect Prevention Resources in Kansas

Date: 01/28/20

During National Birth Defects Prevention Month, mothers should feel empowered and informed

Hands resting on pregnant bellyJanuary is National Birth Defects Prevention Month, a nationwide effort to raise awareness about birth defects, their causes, and prevention resources to help reduce the risk. Although not all birth defects can be prevented, Sunflower Health Plan’s Start Smart for Your Baby® pregnancy care management program can help improve maternal and newborn health in order to reduce the likelihood of birth defects.

Launched seven years ago, the Start Smart for Your Baby® program has helped to reduce the rate of low birth weight deliveries in the Medicaid population through the use of the Sunflower Notification of Pregnancy (NOP) practice. The NOP provides members with an effective pregnancy-related risk assessment as early as possible in order to establish a relationship between the health plan member, healthcare provider, and Sunflower staff.

Through Start Smart for Your Baby®, Sunflower Health Plan has supported more than 17,000 deliveries, helping to reduce the number of babies born with severe health and development difficulties. Additionally, members enrolled in the program are less likely to have a baby born at a very low birth weight of less than three pounds, five ounces.

“As we observe National Birth Defects Prevention Month, Sunflower Health Plan remains committed to providing extra support to mothers and newborns who need it every step of the way,” said Dr. Scott Latimer, Sunflower chief medical director. “We want to raise awareness about the resources available through the Start Smart for Your Baby® program to provide additional support and help improve health outcomes for women and their babies.”

The Start Smart for Your Baby® program leverages insight and advice from Sunflower’s medical experts, while also providing pregnant members with a comprehensive, supportive care management network of clinical teams, care coordinators and community partners.

For more information, Sunflower members can find Start Smart for Your Baby® program offerings and enrollment details at www.sunflowerhealthplan.com.