The CMS Innovation Center is hosting a conference call to discuss important updates regarding the Strong Start funding opportunity. Due to numerous questions and suggestions we have received from stakeholders, CMS is revising the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to respond to the important issues stakeholders have raised. CMS will extend the application deadline to allow potential applicants the time they need to develop innovative models. More at: http://www.innovations.cms.gov/resources/StrongStart_ConferenceCall.html - - - CMS Innovation Center http://innovation.cms.gov We accept comments in the spirit of our comment policy: http://newmedia.hhs.gov/standards/comment_policy.html CMS Privacy Policy http://cms.gov/About-CMS/Agency-Information/Aboutwebsite/Privacy-Policy.html

1. Strong Start for Mothers and Newborns:
Funding Opportunity Update
June 20, 2012
Seth Edlavitch, MPH
Erin Smith, JD
Susan Jackson, DrPH

2. Strong Start Initiative:
Two Strategies to Improve Birth Outcomes
This one “Strong Start” initiative has two different but related
strategies:
1. Reducing Early Elective 2. Delivering Enhanced Prenatal
Deliveries Care
A test of a nationwide public- A funding opportunity for
private partnership and awareness providers, States and other
campaign to spread the adoption applicants to test the
of best practices that can reduce effectiveness of specific
the rate of early elective deliveries enhanced prenatal care
before 39 weeks for all populations approaches to reduce pre-term
births in women covered by
Medicaid
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3. Delivering Enhanced Prenatal Care:
Funding Opportunity Overview
Cooperative agreement funding opportunity for:
Providers, states, managed care organizations, and
conveners.
• Test evidence-based approaches to delivering
enhanced prenatal care that improves health outcomes
for mothers and infants in Medicaid.
– Specifically interested in reducing preterm births.
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4. Delivering Enhanced Prenatal Care:
Initiative Description
Three models: All of the approaches will share common elements
including case management, counseling, and psychosocial support,
and will be delivered in addition to the standard prenatal care:
1. Centering/Group Care – Group prenatal care that incorporates peer-
to-peer support in a facilitated setting for three components; health
assessment, education and support.
2. Birth Centers – Comprehensive prenatal care facilitated by midwives
and teams of health professionals including peer counselors and
doulas. Focus includes building relationships with patients.
3. Maternity Care Homes – Enhanced prenatal care at traditional
prenatal sites expanding access and continuity, care coordination, and
content.
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5. Delivering Enhanced Prenatal Care:
Funding Opportunity Updates
The Strong Start initiative maintains the goal of reducing
prematurity through enhanced prenatal care models.
Updates:
• CMS is revising the Funding Opportunity Announcement
(FOA) in order to address stakeholder issues.
• The revised FOA will be released as soon as possible.
• CMS will extend the application deadline and provide
applicants with an opportunity to respond to the revised FOA.
• Letters of Intent (LOI) will no longer be required in order to
apply.
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6. Delivering Enhanced Prenatal Care:
Funding Opportunity Updates
We are committed to the goal of a diverse and competitive
applicant pool.
• Extending the deadline will help us reach our evaluation
needs of 90,000 women under the care of the 3 enhanced
prenatal care models.
• Optional LOIs allow us to address the barriers to submitting
an LOI, and opens the application process to all eligible
applicants.
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7. Questions?
Additional information available on CMMI website:
http://innovation.cms.gov/
Project email: StrongStart@cms.hhs.gov
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