Meridian Health Plan of Illinois and Centene Foundation Award $1.5 Million to OSF HealthCare for New Mobile Maternity Care Unit
Meridian Health Plan of Illinois and the Centene Foundation (NYSE: CNC) have awarded $1.5 million to OSF HealthCare to expand its pregnancy and postpartum program through a new mobile maternity care unit. The three-year grant aims to serve Central Illinois communities across eight counties where access to maternal care is limited.
The initiative addresses a critical healthcare gap, as 34.3% of Illinois counties are considered maternity healthcare deserts, with some residents needing to travel up to 59 miles to reach a birthing hospital. The mobile unit will provide comprehensive prenatal and postpartum services including sonograms, lab work, vaccinations, and blood pressure monitoring, starting operations in July 2025.
Meridian Health Plan of Illinois e la Centene Foundation (NYSE: CNC) hanno assegnato 1,5 milioni di dollari a OSF HealthCare per ampliare il suo programma dedicato alla gravidanza e al periodo post-partum tramite una nuova unità mobile di assistenza materna. Il finanziamento triennale mira a servire le comunità dell'Illinois centrale in otto contee dove l'accesso alle cure materne è limitato.
L'iniziativa risponde a una grave carenza nel sistema sanitario, dato che il 34,3% delle contee dell'Illinois sono considerate deserti di assistenza materna, con alcuni residenti costretti a percorrere fino a 95 chilometri per raggiungere un ospedale per il parto. L'unità mobile offrirà servizi completi prenatali e post-partum, inclusi ecografie, analisi di laboratorio, vaccinazioni e monitoraggio della pressione sanguigna, con inizio attività previsto per luglio 2025.
Meridian Health Plan de Illinois y la Fundación Centene (NYSE: CNC) han otorgado 1,5 millones de dólares a OSF HealthCare para ampliar su programa de embarazo y posparto mediante una nueva unidad móvil de atención materna. Esta subvención de tres años tiene como objetivo atender a las comunidades del centro de Illinois en ocho condados donde el acceso a la atención materna es limitado.
La iniciativa aborda una brecha crítica en la atención médica, ya que el 34,3% de los condados de Illinois se consideran desiertos de atención materna, con algunos residentes que deben viajar hasta 95 kilómetros para llegar a un hospital de maternidad. La unidad móvil brindará servicios integrales prenatales y posparto, incluyendo ecografías, análisis de laboratorio, vacunaciones y monitoreo de la presión arterial, comenzando operaciones en julio de 2025.
Meridian Health Plan of Illinois와 Centene 재단(NYSE: CNC)은 OSF HealthCare에 150만 달러를 지원하여 새로운 이동형 산부인과 케어 유닛을 통해 임신 및 산후 프로그램을 확장합니다. 3년간의 이 보조금은 산모 케어 접근성이 제한된 8개 카운티에 걸쳐 일리노이 중부 지역 사회를 지원하는 것을 목표로 합니다.
이 사업은 중요한 의료 격차를 해소하는데, 일리노이 카운티의 34.3%가 산부인과 의료 사각지대로 분류되며 일부 주민은 출산 병원까지 최대 95km를 이동해야 합니다. 이동형 유닛은 초음파 검사, 실험실 검사, 예방접종, 혈압 측정 등 포괄적인 산전 및 산후 서비스를 제공하며, 2025년 7월에 운영을 시작할 예정입니다.
Meridian Health Plan of Illinois et la Centene Foundation (NYSE : CNC) ont attribué 1,5 million de dollars à OSF HealthCare pour étendre son programme de grossesse et post-partum grâce à une nouvelle unité mobile de soins maternels. Cette subvention de trois ans vise à desservir les communautés du centre de l’Illinois dans huit comtés où l’accès aux soins maternels est limité.
L’initiative répond à une lacune critique dans les soins de santé, puisque 34,3 % des comtés de l’Illinois sont considérés comme des déserts de soins maternels, certains résidents devant parcourir jusqu’à 95 kilomètres pour atteindre un hôpital de maternité. L’unité mobile offrira des services complets prénataux et postnataux, incluant échographies, analyses de laboratoire, vaccinations et surveillance de la tension artérielle, avec un début d’activité prévu en juillet 2025.
Meridian Health Plan of Illinois und die Centene Foundation (NYSE: CNC) haben OSF HealthCare 1,5 Millionen US-Dollar zur Verfügung gestellt, um das Schwangerschafts- und Nachsorgeprogramm durch eine neue mobile Geburtsversorgungseinheit zu erweitern. Der Dreijahreszuschuss zielt darauf ab, Gemeinden in Zentral-Illinois in acht Landkreisen zu bedienen, in denen der Zugang zur Mutter-Kind-Versorgung eingeschränkt ist.
Die Initiative schließt eine kritische Versorgungslücke, da 34,3 % der Landkreise in Illinois als Geburtsversorgungswüsten gelten, wobei einige Bewohner bis zu 95 Kilometer fahren müssen, um ein Geburtskrankenhaus zu erreichen. Die mobile Einheit wird umfassende pränatale und postnatale Leistungen anbieten, darunter Ultraschalluntersuchungen, Laborarbeiten, Impfungen und Blutdrucküberwachung, mit Betriebsbeginn im Juli 2025.
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Insights
Centene's $1.5M grant for mobile maternity care demonstrates strategic investment in rural healthcare access while addressing Medicaid service gaps.
Centene Corporation's
This initiative has dual benefits for Centene: it addresses social determinants of health while potentially reducing long-term costs associated with pregnancy complications. By focusing on Medicaid patients in rural areas who face documented higher risks of pregnancy-related complications, the company is targeting a population where preventive interventions can yield significant cost savings. The mobile unit providing prenatal services like sonograms, lab work, and vaccinations represents a proactive approach to maternal care that typically reduces expensive emergency interventions and NICU stays.
From a business perspective, this investment strengthens Centene's Medicaid managed care positioning in Illinois by enhancing service delivery to a vulnerable population. The timing is strategic as states increasingly emphasize maternal health outcomes in Medicaid managed care contract requirements. This investment also aligns with Centene's broader ESG initiatives while potentially improving quality metrics that influence performance-based payments from state Medicaid programs.
The three-year funding commitment suggests Centene is taking a long-term view on this healthcare intervention, likely anticipating measurable improvements in maternal health outcomes that could inform similar initiatives across its multi-state Medicaid business.
Mobile Unit to Deliver Much Needed Perinatal Care for Women, Enhancing Health Equity for Patients throughout
In
"These mobile units represent a meaningful step toward bringing pregnancy and postpartum care directly to communities that need it most." said Cristal Gary, Meridian Plan President and CEO. "By working with OSF HealthCare, we hope to help ensure that more mothers and babies have the opportunity to thrive."
The OSF OnCall Connect pregnancy and postpartum program is available to women who have Medicaid and are pregnant or are in the first month of the postpartum period, with the mobile clinic serving the identified counties in
"Faced with numerous operational challenges, many rural hospitals in
The mobile unit will begin operating in July 2025, following a blessing event on July 15, 2025, at Dream Center Peoria. Eligible patients can self-enroll in the OSF OnCall Connect pregnancy and postpartum program or be referred by their provider or health plan. From there, the OSF OnCall Connect team will assist with program enrollment, connection to an in-person care team and scheduling appointments for the mobile clinic as appropriate.
Services include:
- Education and information for each week of pregnancy
- Regular check-ins by chat
- 24/7 virtual access to a care team specially trained to support pregnant women and their babies
- Blood pressure monitoring and reporting
- Lab work
- Screening for postpartum depression
- Support to close drivers of health gaps
- Breastfeeding support
For more information, visit osfoncall.org/pregnancy for OSF OnCall pregnancy and postpartum services or ILmeridian.com to learn more about Meridian's benefits and services.
About Meridian Health Plan of
Meridian Health Plan of
About the Centene Foundation
The Centene Foundation (the "Foundation"), a private nonprofit focused on investing in economically challenged communities, is the philanthropic arm of Centene Corporation ("Centene"). The Foundation supports projects and initiatives strategically aligned with Centene's mission-driven culture and enhances the work Centene is doing to remove the barriers to wellness underserved and low-income populations face. The Foundation is committed to addressing social determinants of health and improving health equity in three distinct areas of focus: healthcare access, social services and education. To learn more, visit the Centene Foundation's website.
About OSF HealthCare
OSF HealthCare is an integrated health system founded by The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis. Headquartered in
About OSF OnCall
As part of
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FAQ
What is the value of Centene's (CNC) grant to OSF HealthCare for mobile maternity care?
When will the OSF HealthCare mobile maternity unit begin operations?
What services will Centene's funded mobile maternity unit provide?
Which Illinois counties will be served by the CNC-funded mobile maternity unit?
Who is eligible for the OSF OnCall Connect pregnancy services?
