New program aims to reduce early elective deliveries

Kaiser Health News' Capsules blog: HHS Seeks To Cut Preterm Births
The Obama administration launched a $40 million effort Wednesday to reduce premature births, especially early elective deliveries,  but it has no plans to stop Medicaid from paying for those deliveries (Galewitz, 2/8).

KQED's State of Health blog: New Federal Plan to Reduce Early Elective Births
Data show that delivering early without a valid medical reason increases the risk of complications to babies, including breathing and feeding problems and blood infections. According to HHS, up to 10 percent of all deliveries are scheduled during weeks 37 and 38 without a medical reason (Bazar, 2/9).

Modern Healthcare: HHS Aims To Curb Pre-Term Births
The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation will award about $40 million in grants to test approaches that can help reduce the rising number of pre-term births in the U.S... The new "Strong Start" initiative will focus on preventing pre-term births and also on reducing early elective deliveries that can result in a variety of health problems for mothers and infants (Zigmond, 2/8).

CNN: New Initiative Targets Preterm Births/Elective Deliveries
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, during the last 20 years, premature births have risen 36 percent. ... March of Dimes President Jennifer Howse calls the initiative the single most important step towards preventing prematurity to date. "Working together to eliminate medically unnecessary early deliveries will reduce the emotion and financial burden of prematurity for thousands of families" (Young, 2/8).

CQ HealthBeat: CMS Aims to Reduce Premature Births Through New Grants
[The program] will test three approaches, including group prenatal care, case management at birth centers and coordinated services at maternity care homes (Bristol, 2/8).