HFS – 2011 Annual Report Page 29
• During the first six years of IHW, the percentage of women with interpregnancy intervals of greater than 24 months increased 1.2 percentage points.
• The percentage of HFS covered women who received timely prenatal care increased from 53.6 percent in 2008 to 55.5 percent in 2010.
• The number of perinatal depression screenings has continued to increase from 2009 to 2010. Women who received only prenatal screenings increased from 31 percent to 33 percent; women who received only postpartum screenings increased from 26 percent to 28 percent; and women who received both prenatal and postpartum depression screenings increased from 17 percent to 19 percent.
• The percentage of HFS covered women diagnosed with depression is substantially higher than non-HFS covered women (11.2 percent and 6.6 percent respectively in 2009). To address this issue, a provider training/engagement initiative on treating perinatal depression continues.
• During calendar year 2008 and 2009 among women enrolled in HFS nine months pre- and post-delivery who experienced an adverse birth outcome, as defined by low birth weight, very low birth weight, or infant death within the first year of life), nearly 97 percent of these women had one or more pre-existing conditions.
The data above illustrates the need for continued focus on improving birth outcomes. HFS continues to work on developing and implementing strategies to address these findings. Pursuant to P. A. 93-0536, the Department reports on the status of prenatal and perinatal healthcare services to the legislature every two years. The January 2012 Perinatal Report can be found in its entirety at: http://www.hfs.illinois.gov/mch/report.html
Several of the Department’s maternal and child health initiatives are described below.
Perinatal Depression Initiative
Perinatal depression encompasses a wide range of mood disorders that can affect a woman during pregnancy and after the birth of her child. If untreated perinatal depression adversely affects a mother’s health and mental well-being, may cause pregnancy complications, impact adversely on birth weight, may lead to infant mortality and poor parent/infant bonding, and have a negative impact on infant development. Perinatal depression is under-recognized and under-treated.
Since December of 2004, the Department has operated a comprehensive perinatal depression initiative, funded by private grants and federal financial participation, as allowed, as well as reimbursement for perinatal depression risk assessment as a covered service. The initiative includes, but is not limited to, the following: provider consultation services; provider education services, including a perinatal antidepressant medications chart and free primary care provider training; a statewide24-hour crisis hotline available for eligible women experiencing perinatal depression, including referral resource assistance; training of the mental health community to identify and treat mental disorders in pregnant and postpartum women; and collaborative efforts with DHS (Lead agency), advocates and other state agencies to implement Public Act 95-0469, Perinatal Mental Health Disorders Prevention and Treatment Act. As part of the initiative, the Department has a grant agreement with the University of Illinois at Chicago partner to operate a mental health consultation service for physicians serving the Medicaid population on perinatal depression.
