Expand the Maternal Opioid Misuse (MOM) model

Substance use is a leading cause of death in pregnant women and contributes to birth-related complications, including preterm labor. Pregnant people with SUDs often lack access to prenatal and postpartum health care. Additionally, many substance use treatment programs do not accept pregnant clients and/or Medicaid beneficiaries, while maternity care providers often do not have experience with SUDs. These gaps lead to a lack of  evidence-based SUD care for pregnant and postpartum individuals.

The MOM model addresses gaps in care for pregnant and postpartum Medicaid beneficiaries with opioid use disorder. The MOM model provides coordinated and integrated physical health care, behavioral healthcare, and wrap-around services. State Medicaid agencies implement the model with community providers, including hospitals and Medicaid managed care organizations. The MOM model includes services such as well-woman care, medications for opioid use disorder, prenatal and postpartum care, labor and delivery, and neonatal/ infant care.

CMS should expand the coordinated, wraparound care provided in the MOM model to pregnant Medicaid beneficiaries who have other SUDs, such as alcohol use disorder and stimulant use disorder, for which coordinated care is beneficial.[1]