Mississippi Fights Infant Deaths With New Program Model

Mississippi is implementing a significant redesign of its Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies program to address its alarming infant mortality rate, which reached a decade high in 2024. The program will now pilot in 10 counties identified as having high need and limited resources. This new model prioritizes community health workers for home visitation, supported by registered nurses and social workers, aiming for increased enrollment and community support.

The previous statewide program, while serving many, failed to reduce mortality rates, prompting the overhaul. State Health Officer Dr. Dan Edney stated the change is crucial for improving outcomes and targeting counties with the greatest need. The redesign also seeks to reduce the program's previous $4 million annual cost and adapt to changes in Medicaid payments for high-risk prenatal services.

This initiative is part of a broader public health emergency declared in response to infant mortality rates near twice the national average, with Black infants facing triple the mortality risk. The program's restructuring aims to increase efficacy and accountability, with hopes of significantly moving the needle on infant and maternal health in the targeted pilot areas.