Exploring how health centers can improve care for pregnant and postpartum women on Medicaid
Official title: Assessing the role of Federally Qualified Health Centers in advancing quality of care for pregnant and postpartum Medicaid enrollees
Funded at Boston University Medical Campus · NIH-11170041 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how community health centers help low-income pregnant and new moms, especially those from underserved backgrounds, and aims to find ways to improve their care by better connecting maternity and regular health services.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University Medical Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 14, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $687,606 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MD019661-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11170041 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are low-income pregnant and postpartum women, especially those who are Medicaid enrollees and from communities of color.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or postpartum, or those who do not utilize Medicaid services, may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in providing quality care to low-income pregnant and postpartum patients, particularly those from marginalized communities. It aims to understand how these centers can better integrate maternity and primary care services while addressing social needs that affect health outcomes. By using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods, the research will assess the impact of FQHCs on maternal health and identify strategies for improving care delivery. The findings could inform policies to enhance services at these health centers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women by enhancing access to quality care.
How similar studies have gone: While there is evidence that FQHCs improve care quality in general, the specific impact of these centers on pregnancy outcomes is not well-documented, making this research a novel exploration.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston University Medical Campus
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cole, Megan B. — Boston University Medical Campus
- Study coordinator: Cole, Megan B.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Wearable tech to track blood loss during childbirth
A wearable device monitors cardiovascular signals to detect postpartum hemorrhage early so clinicians can act quickly to protect mothers.
-
HIV treatment and postpartum weight help after birth in South Africa
A small, patient-friendly study is testing a lay health worker–led program to support postpartum women living with HIV in staying on ART and managing weight.
-
HIV-positive mothers in South Africa: a first look at keeping HIV treatment and healthy postpartum weight
A small, lay health worker–led pilot aims to help postpartum women living with HIV stay on treatment and manage weight to improve health after birth.
-
Group-based postpartum depression prevention: in-person vs. virtual delivery
A large study is testing whether the ROSE group program delivered virtually to pregnant people is just as helpful as the in-person version in preventing postpartum depression.
-
Improving contraception decisions for women with substance use disorders after childbirth
A patient-centered decision tool called MyPath aims to help postpartum women with substance use disorders choose and keep effective contraception after giving birth.
-
CREBRF gene and diabetes risk in American Samoan pregnancies
This project follows 350 pregnant American Samoan women to understand how a specific gene variant may influence diabetes risk during and after pregnancy.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.