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State Health Commissioner Kris Box discusses infant mortality with Dr. Nzinga Harrison and Dr. Dipesh Navsaria at the Labor of Love Summit Dec. 11.
Darian Benson/IPB NewsA new state program designed to combat Indiana’s high infant and maternal mortality rates launches in January. The OB Navigator program will start in 20 counties.
The program connects women early in their pregnancy with an OB navigator – someone who provides guidance through at least the first six months after birth.
State Health Commissioner Kristina Box says the program will be available to women on Medicaid in the highest-risk counties. She says the program is an important step in lowering the state’s infant and maternal mortality rates.
READ MORE: ISDH Commissioner Box Supports Bill To Address Infant Mortality
“We are simply trying to identify that 40 percent of women across the state that may not be getting prenatal care and connecting them with OB Navigation within their own communities,” Box says.
The OB Navigator program was established by House Enrolled Act 1007, which was signed into law this year.
The first rollout will include Crawford, Marion, and Lake counties.
Contact Darian at dbenson@wfyi.org or follow her on Twitter at @helloimdarian.
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