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BabyCare is a special Medicaid service authorized in 1988 by the Virginia General Assembly, to help high risk pregnant women access the “system.”
BabyCare helps assure high risk pregnant women and infants get all the health care help they need.
BabyCare in the RappahannockRapidan Health District is coordinated by Martha B. Galey, R.N., a Maternal and Infant Care Coorinator(MICC).
“Infant health is a major concern in Virginia,” explained Ms. Galey “A baby’s chances of survival is better in 30 other states.”
“A baby most likely to have health problems is a low birth weight baby — under 5 1/2 pounds at birth. The primary cause of low birth weight is poor prenatal care,” added Ms. Galey.
“Low birth weight babies are expensive. Hospital costs are up to $100,000 per infant. Nearly a quarter of these costs are not reimbursed by any source. These costs continue throughout the life of the child. Often they need special education and long term care amounting to more than $122,000,” Ms. Galey continued.
“Early prenatal care is the key to assuring better health for our infants,” Ms. Galey explained. “There are health programs and services to help pregnant women. However, the ' women most needing help often find tit difficult to get through the system 'to find the health care they need. 'This is where BabyCare comes in.” • “BabyCare helps high risk preg•nant women get complete health tcare. This prenatal care is cost effective, too. For every dollar spent in the prenatal care of high risk pregnant women $3.38 can be saved in ‘later infant health care,” pointed out ; :Ms. Galey.
“BabyCare is a Medicaid-funded program. Services are provided ; through cooperation of the health ■ department, social services and : other health care providers.
The real heart of the program i ,here at the health department is the
^public health nurse. Many of the support health services of BabyCare * have been provided in the past by public health nurses. !• “A pregnant woman is intro k1
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