Maternal Health

Free Care for Pregnant Women

Women and teens who are pregnant qualify for free prenatal care coverage in California if they do not already have insurance. Presumptive Eligibility for Pregnant Women (PE4PW) is a type of temporary Medi-Cal that is designed to provide immediate, temporary coverage for prenatal care to low-income pregnant patients pending a formal Medi-Cal application. It is available irrespective of immigration status.

Learn more about what this program covers, how your patients can enroll and which providers participate on our maternal mental health page.

Maternal Mental Health

Perinatal depression is one of the most common medical complications during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Ob/Gyns, primary care providers, and other obstetric care providers play a critical role in identifying and initiating treatment for this pervasive complication.

• The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale is a 5-minute questionnaire designed specifically for pre- and post-natal screening. It is available in multiple languages from mcpapformoms.org. (Please note that not all versions are validated – use at your discretion.)
• The PHQ9, a general screening tool for depression, is also used by many providers.
• If you'd like to refer a member for behavioral health services, please use the behavioral health referral form. For screening tools and other resources, please visit our behavioral health provider webpage.
• The California nonprofit organization 2020 Mom is focused on closing gaps in maternal mental health care through education, advocacy, and collaboration. They offer many resources for providers at www.2020mom.org.
• Read more about the economic and population health consequences of untreated maternal mental health conditions. A recent study estimated the societal costs at over $2B annually in California alone

Maternal and Infant Health Disparities

Did you know that in the Bay Area, infant mortality is four times higher for African-American women than White women, and that African-American woman are three to four times more likely to die during pregnancy or childbirth^1,2? Did you know that this alarming disparity exists for women of all education and income levels³? There are many things providers and community organizations can do to help tackle this public health crisis:

Learn more about the underlying causes of this issue and some of the resources available to you and your patients from the Winter 2018 edition of HealthMatters MD.

Get detailed information about several great organizations here in San Mateo County and nationally — you can read more Spring 2019 edition of HealthMatters MD

Watch a 2020 webinar presentation from HPSM and San Mateo County's Black Infant Health program on Barriers to Black Breastfeeding here.

Additional resources

• The Black Infant Health Project
• The Women, Infants & Children (WIC) program  
• Nurse Family Partnership  
• The Black Mamas Matter Alliance  
• The Harvard Chan School’s Maternal Health Task Force  
• The Alliance for Innovation for Maternal Health (AIM)  

HPSM's Baby + Me Program

Our Baby + Me promotes timely care and health from the start of pregnancy to birth and beyond. HPSM members who are pregnant or recently gave birth are eligible for this program.

Through the program:

• HPSM Medi-Cal members can qualify for up to $100 in gift cards for going to two appointments with their pregnancy care provider within specific timeframes.
• Members can learn about programs and services that can support them during and after pregnancy.

Members can join or opt out of the program by calling HPSM’s Health Promotion team at 650-616-2165. Or you can refer members by submitting a contact request through our website. Learn more about the Baby+Me program and refer members.