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Providing over $2 million in support of community and technology partners

ALBUQUERQUE — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico today announced that it is bringing additional support and resources to make a critical impact on the health of New Mexico moms and babies through the expansion of its Special Beginnings^® maternal and infant health initiative.

“Improving maternal and infant health outcomes in underserved and rural communities in our state is a top priority,” said Dr. Latha Raja Shankar, BCBSNM’s VP of health care delivery and chief medical officer. “Through our enhanced focus on maternal and infant health care, we’re working to create better opportunities for healthier, happier children and families across New Mexico.” 

Efforts will focus on helping women and families through pregnancy planning, childbirth and beyond, concentrating on the county-level maternal vulnerability index as outlined in the most recent March of Dimes Report Card for New Mexico.

The Special Beginnings initiative will prioritize: 

• Promoting enhanced quality in birthing locations across New Mexico, with a focus on health equity; 
• providing resources to community-based organizations that address the social determinants of health; and 
• supporting the expansion of the maternal health workforce, including doulas and midwives to reduce perinatal disparities. 

BCBSNM will leverage the knowledge, experience and talents of trusted community organizations and clinical partners to help support healthier communities, including:

• Changing Woman Initiative, providing culturally centered health care for indigenous families across New Mexico.
• Delfina, helping to improve perinatal and postpartum care for women in New Mexico identified as candidates by their doctors.
• Gallup Community Health, connecting women negatively affected by social determinants of health with supportive services throughout their pregnancy.
• Jardin de los Niños, providing education, therapeutic intervention and comprehensive services to homeless or near homeless mothers and their babies.
• Lovelace Health System (GRACE program), providing comprehensive care to pregnant moms struggling with substance use disorders in rural New Mexico.
• Many Mothers, connecting mothers experiencing perinatal or postpartum disorders with clinical support.
• Perinatal Associates of New Mexico, improving access and availability of care by providing telemedicine visits to pregnant and postpartum women struggling with mental health disorders.
• Postpartum Support International, providing specialized training to address the shortage of perinatal mental health care in New Mexico.
• University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, developing data-driven quality improvement tools in New Mexico birthing hospitals to address maternal morbidity and mortality.
• Vitamin Angels, supporting maternal nutrition by enabling clinics and community organizations to distribute no-cost prenatal vitamins to their clients and patients.

This expanded Special Beginnings initiative is just one of the ways BCBSNM has demonstrated its commitment to improving maternal and infant health:

• In 2023, BCBSNM donated over $110,000 to organizations that support underserved populations to access perinatal, prenatal and postnatal care across New Mexico.
• In 2023, BCBSNM sponsored community baby showers in southeast and northwest New Mexico to provide growing families with resources and no-cost health screenings.
• The BCBSNM Medicaid team provided prenatal outreach, education and support to high-risk mothers as part of the Medicaid Special Beginnings Maternity program, serving over 1,500 New Mexico families in 2023.

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About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico 
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico is one of the largest commercial health insurers in New Mexico with approximately 700,000 New Mexicans carrying a Blue Cross and Blue Shield card. Since 1940, BCBSNM has been committed to promoting the health and wellness of its members and communities through accessible, cost-effective, quality health care. BCBSNM is a Division of Health Care Service Corporation, the country’s largest customer-owned health insurer. Health Care Service Corporation is a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. 

Media Contact

Amanda Douglas
Amanda_Douglas@bcbsnm.com
505.816.2426