Maven Clinic has released new research showing that members with high-risk pregnancies experienced 32% fewer neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions and 10% fewer C-sections compared with a national benchmark. The findings come from the Maven Clinical Research Institute and examine how earlier virtual interventions and personalized maternity support may influence outcomes among pregnancies with elevated clinical risk.
The study compared outcomes from 9,328 Maven members with 5,872 privately insured participants from the CDC's Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System. Both populations included individuals with conditions such as diabetes or hypertension or other clinical factors associated with increased risk of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes or preterm birth. By focusing on comparable high-risk populations, researchers sought to assess differences in outcomes associated with Maven's maternity care model.
Additional research identified several interventions that may contribute to better outcomes. High-risk members who completed a virtual birth-planning appointment had 59% lower odds of a NICU admission and were nearly four times more likely to actively participate in decisions during labor and delivery. Maven's preeclampsia program was also associated with greater use of low-dose aspirin among eligible members, with 73.9% reporting use compared with a 63% national benchmark.
Virtual doula support was another area associated with improved patient experience. Among Maven members who met with a virtual doula, 99% reported feeling better equipped to participate in decisions about their birth, while 86% reported reduced anxiety. More than half also used non-medical approaches to support labor, which Maven says may help explain lower C-section rates associated with doula-supported care.
Maven's maternity program provides around-the-clock virtual access to OB-GYNs, midwives, doulas, mental health professionals and other specialists throughout pregnancy and postpartum. The company is increasingly studying how targeted interventions delivered earlier in pregnancy can help employers and health plans reduce costly complications while improving maternal and newborn outcomes.
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