Improving care for low-income pregnant women through Medicaid ACOs
Official title: Improving Quality of Care for Low-Income Pregnant Women through Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations: A Natural Experiment
Funded at Boston University Medical Campus · NIH-11362231 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large NIH grant analyzes how Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations affect the quality of prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care for low-income pregnant and postpartum women in Massachusetts.
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 28, 2022 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $683,047 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MD017703-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11362231 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Low-income pregnant and postpartum women enrolled in Massachusetts Medicaid.
✕Less likely to help
Pregnant or postpartum women not enrolled in Medicaid ACOs or not impacted by the studied model designs.
What this research studies
This project examines how different Medicaid ACO models influence care quality and coordination for low-income pregnant and postpartum women. It uses a natural experiment design to compare PCP-led and integrated PCP-plus-specialist ACO models across 16 ACOs in Massachusetts. The goal is to identify which design best improves outcomes and experiences across prenatal, delivery, and postpartum periods. The study will analyze medical, behavioral, and social service integrations to inform future policy and implementation choices.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could guide Medicaid reforms to improve care quality and outcomes for low-income pregnant and postpartum women at scale.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows mixed results; this natural-experiment approach aims to provide clearer, policy-relevant evidence.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston University Medical Campus
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gordon, Sarah Hall — Boston University Medical Campus
- Study coordinator: Gordon, Sarah Hall
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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.