In 2019, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reported that 20% of adults were living with mental illness. In 2020, that percentage doubled. 

Keep in mind, these statistics rely on people with mental health disorders submitting themselves for diagnosis or self-reporting their illness. Due in part to the stigma that continues to surround mental health, there is a high likelihood that these rates are in actuality much higher than reported.

As Covid wanes, lawmakers are considering permanent expansion of pandemic era reimbursement codes; and health systems face competition from new care models taking on capitated risk. Questions of health equity continue to dominate the healthcare industry, and experts push for Medicaid expansion to reduce disparity.  

The use of digital health technology skyrocketed during the pandemic, and the term “telehealth” followed the same trajectory, becoming a buzzword in the healthcare industry and the larger tech community over the past year. 

But what does “telehealth” really mean? 

The term has become equivalent to “video visit” — and many health systems will say they offer telehealth when in fact they simply offer synchronous video visits to replace in-person office appointments. 

In reality, telehealth is much more comprehensive.

In honor of Black Maternal Health Week, we are slightly changing the format of our Friday news-roundup. This week, we've compiled a list of recent news and important resources for understanding the challenges and barriers facing the Black community; and emerging innovations and policies that are seeking to target and address the issues.

With an average of 20.1 maternal deaths/100k live births, the US is the most dangerous developed country in which to give birth. For black women, the most frequent victims of our crisis-level maternal mortality rates, the odds are even worse.

According to the most recent data, the maternal death rate for black women is more than double that of white women: 44.0 deaths per 100,000 live births compared to 17.9. It was also more than three times the rate for Hispanic women at 12.6.

Epic is one of the highest consumer-rated EMRs on the market and remains one of the most popular choices for a system of record and scheduling interface. Many healthcare systems rely on the EMR and its features to fulfill multiple roles, and question the value of specific service line enhancements like Babyscripts’ obstetrics-specific Virtual Maternity Care solution.

Yet a recent survey of hospital C-suite leaders showed that, in a group traditionally committed to EMRs, nearly 60% would look outside their EMR vendor to other health IT vendors to provide new tools. Of the same group, most plan to invest in new solutions to augment their EMR. These numbers confirm the reality that the EMR cannot do everything.

After marking the first anniversary of Covid lockdowns and social distancing, questions about the sustainability, scalability and future of virtual care solutions take front and center in industry news, and the implications for maternal health. Plus, new research on the effect of Covid on maternal and infant health outcomes.

It's no secret that reimbursement is a major barrier to deploying digital health. Providers know the value of solutions like remote patient monitoring, but the question of who will pay for it often holds them back from offering RPM to their patients.

The passage of the Covid stimulus package extends support for maternal health and raises questions about government support for maternal health initiatives. Remote patient monitoring continues to gain traction as the industry recognizes its benefits for issues like blood pressure management, and states expand coverage. Plus, new articles in our consumer corner from Babyscripts Senior Medical Director, Dr. Lauren Demosthenes. 

At the start of 2020, Indiana University Health formed a partnership with Babyscripts to deliver Virtual Maternity Care to the 9,000+ mothers and babies that receive pregnancy care through their hospitals every year. Known for their cutting-edge approach to medicine and treatment options, the six-hospital system and largest network of physicians in the state of Indiana prepared for a slow roll out, eventually planning to offer both the maternal digital education and maternal health monitoring layers of Babyscripts Virtual Maternity Care to all their pregnant patients.