A Collaborative Solution for Preterm Birth

Molina® Healthcare of Nevada, in a precedent-setting partnership with GrowBaby® Health (GBH), will bring their proven Pregnancy Care Model to the OB Medicaid population. GrowBaby® Health is personalized and precise. It integrates unique genomic and nutrient biomarker assessment into the current OB standard of care excellence, incorporating trimester-by-trimester group education with empowering nutrition, nutrient, and lifestyle interventions. This collaborative care model radically reduced the occurrence of preterm birth. From 2011-2017 (n=400), GrowBaby® Health showed the number needed to treat (NNT) to prevent one preterm birth is just over 17. Simply speaking, for every 17 births, GrowBaby® Health can decrease 1 preterm birth. 

Preterm birth predicts increased disease vulnerability & disproportionately impacts women of color and those who qualify for Medicaid. In 2019, the Nevada Medicaid preterm birth rate was 11.9% - 2,541 preterm births. On average, a preterm birth costs $65,000.00. If applied statewide, this partnership will yield a significant reduction in associated healthcare costs, and improve health resilience across the lifespan. 

1.    2022 - Performance Improvement Project to Decrease Preterm Birth in the Molina® Healthcare in the Nevada Medicaid OB Population

a.    Offered to all OB providers & their patients who accept Molina®  

b.    Performance Improvement Project (PIP) design – 100 pregnancies [<18-weeks gestation], voluntary, IRB exemption complete 

2.    Outcome Measures 

Primary: Decrease Preterm Birth (PTB) 

Secondary: Decrease Neonatal small & large for gestational age (SGA/LGA), Maternal hypertensive disorders (GH, PIH, PE), Maternal gestational diabetes (GDM), & Maternal pregnancy/postpartum depression & anxiety 

Tertiary: Maternal bacterial vaginosis (BV) incidence in high-risk OB population 

GrowBaby® Core Clinical Team

·      Leslie Stone, MD, FP/OB, Fellowship High-Risk Obstetrics, IFMCP & co-founder of GrowBaby® Health – principal investigator & author of Customized nutritional enhancement for pregnant women appears to lower incidence of certain common maternal and neonatal complications: an observational study (PMID: 25568832)

·      Emily Rydbom, CN, BCHN, CNP & co-founder of GrowBaby® Health – principal investigator & author of Customized nutritional enhancement for pregnant women appears to lower incidence of certain common maternal and neonatal complications: an observational study (PMID: 25568832)

GrowBaby® Implementation & Research Team 

·      Michael Stone, MD, MS, IFMCP & Director of Medical Research  

·      Darlene Bernard, MD, FACOG, OBGYN & Structural Competency Advisor (In Memorium)

·      Lisa Portera-Perry, DC, IFMCP & Education Implementation Advisor 

·      David Dzielak, PhD & Senior Medicaid Advisor

·      Sheila Clough, CEO of Mercy Flights 501(c)(3) & Systems Integration Advisor  

Supporting Partners

 Metagenics®

·      Targeted Nutrient Support 

·      PlusOne, Prenatal Vitamin Pack, 12-month supply for each participant  

·      UltraFlora Women’s Probiotic, 12-month supply for each participant 

DNALife® & DNAnalyis®

·      Unique Biomarker Assessment 

·      GrowBaby Gene Test - 44 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 27 genes involved in 11 key biological processes associated with maternal and fetal health outcomes – maternal dried blood sample

OmegaQuant ® Analytics

·      Unique Biomarker Assessment 

·      Maternal DHA – Dried Blood Samples, 1st and 3rd Trimesters

·      Breastmilk DHA 

·      Breastmilk Vitamin D