Symposium to Strengthen Maternal Health Research

News
Research Area:
Pediatrics and Maternal/Child Health

Payer strategies to improve maternal health care

Funded by the Donaghue Foundation through the Collective to Strengthen Pathways for Health Research

Wednesday, June 4, 2025 | 8:30 am – 3:30 pm

Harvard Medical School

Maternal morbidity and mortality is an urgent and escalating health crisis nationwide and in Massachusetts (MA), despite the presence of internationally recognized medical schools, public health schools, and medical centers. A 2023 report from the MA Department of Public Health revealed that severe maternal morbidity (SMM) nearly doubled from 2011 to 2020, with significant and widening disparities by race/ethnicity and disability status. In response, there has been growing political will to make improvements. For instance, in August 2024, Governor Maura Healey signed the “Momnibus Act,” to overhaul maternal health practices in MA and expand coverage for midwifery, birth centers, doulas and screening and treatment for postpartum depression, among several other initiatives. 

In light of these alarming trends and recent legislative momentum, the newly-created  Maternal Health Center of Excellence  at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute is pleased to host the Symposium to Strengthen Maternal Health Research: Payer strategies to improve maternal health care to explore how payers can play a larger role in improving maternal health outcomes. 

The event will convene approximately 80 cross-sector collaborators including researchers, public and commercial payers, policymakers, clinicians, community organizations, and research foundations for panels and discussions aimed at identifying solutions in the following areas: 

  1. Current payer initiatives to improve maternal health
  2. Areas where payers can innovate in maternal health care
  3. Innovative ideas for funding and conducting implementation and effectiveness research focused on how payers can improve maternal health care

The goals of the Symposium are to: develop an agenda for high priority maternal health implementation and effectiveness research; develop creative models to fund this research; and build cross-sector research collaborations. 

Our confirmed panelists include internationally renowned maternal health experts including medical school and public health school professors, practicing clinicians, and health plan leaders from the Greater Boston area. 

Schedule

Wednesday, June 4th
TimeSession

8:30 - 9:00 am

Check in and breakfast

9:00 - 9:30 am

Introduction

  • Welcome: Emily Oken, MD, MPH,  Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute
  • Introduction of Maternal Health Center: Margaret McConnell, PhD, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

  • State of maternal health and focus on payer strategies:

    Laura Garabedian, PhD, MPH, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute

9:30 - 9:45 am

Intro Breakout: getting to know your table

9:45 - 10:15 am

Panel 1: Current payer strategies to improve maternal health 

  • Viveka Prakash-Zawisza, MD, MBA, MassHealth
  • L'Tricia Chery, MD, Point32Health
  • Facilitated by Laura Garabedian, PhD, MPH, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute

10:15 - 10:45 am

Panel 1 Breakout 

10:45 - 11:00 am

Break

11:00 - 11:45am

Panel 2: Areas where payers can innovate in maternal health care I

  • Mark Clapp, MD, MPH, Massachusetts General Hospital
  • Leena Mittal, MD, FACLP, MS, MCPAP for Moms
  • Sarah Gordon, PhD, MS, Boston University School of Public Health
  • Facilitated by Megan Cole Brahim,  PhD, MPH, Boston University School of Public Health

11:45 - 12:30 pm              

Panel 2 Breakout: Working Lunch 

12:30 - 1:15 pm

Panel 3: Areas where payers can innovate in maternal health care II

  • Vanessa Nicholson Robinson, DrPH, MPH, Tufts University School of Medicine
  • Megan Cole Brahim, PhD, MPH, Boston University School of Public Health
  • Chloe Zera, MD, MPH, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
  • Facilitated by Margaret McConnell, PhD, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

1:15 - 1:45 pm

Panel 3 Breakout 

1:45 - 2:00 pm

Break: Light refreshments 

2:00 - 2:45 pm

Panel 4: Innovative ideas for funding and conducting research on payer strategies to improve maternal health care 

  • Margaret McConnell, PhD, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
  • Amber Weiseth, DNP, MSN, RNC-OB, Ariadne Labs
  • TBD
  • Facilitated by Emily Oken, MD, MPH,  Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute

2:45 - 3:15 pm

Panel 4 Breakout 

3:15 - 3:30 pm

Closing remarks

  • Emily Oken, MD, MPH,  Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute
  • Laura Garabedian, PhD, MPH,  Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute

Space is limited. Please complete this form to express your interest in attending: Symposium to Strengthen Maternal Health Research Interest Survey

 

For any questions, please email [email protected]