Amerigroup announces successful efforts at preventing premature births

Amerigroup Corporation (NYSE: AGP) announced its successful efforts at preventing premature births – as well its commitment to protecting access to affordable drug therapies for at-risk mothers – at the annual Norfolk/Virginia Beach March of Dimes kick-off breakfast for the March for Babies.

During the breakfast, the chief medical officer for Amerigroup, Dr. Mary McCluskey, shared an inspiring video about an expectant mother at risk for premature birth, and how the Company's commitment to providing access to an affordable drug therapy called 17-P helped her carry her baby to term and deliver a healthy, eight-pound baby boy.  

According to the March of Dimes, premature births cost more than $26 billion a year in the United States. 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate, commonly known as 17-P, is a vital drug therapy for pregnant women to reduce the number of preterm births. Recent studies have shown the use of 17-P reduces preterm delivery by as much as 33 percent.

"Amerigroup has a long history of achieving great results in lowering the incidence of preterm births among our members," McCluskey said. "In addition to reducing barriers to vital medications like 17-P, we are continuously looking for innovative ways to improve access and provide better quality of care for our expectant mothers to ensure more babies get the healthy start in life they deserve." 

Amerigroup has enhanced as well as launched several programs focused on improving birth outcomes including a high-risk case management program that enables case managers to ensure at-risk members have careful monitoring, as well as any therapies including 17-P that help prevent preterm birth. 

Last fall, the Company also launched the Warm Health pilot program in Texas, which provides both automated statewide Obstetrics (OB) assessments to screen for high-risk pregnancies and ongoing calls to mothers, both pre- and post-birth. The calls correspond with important times during a woman's pregnancy and are designed to inform them and encourage healthy behaviors.

Other ongoing Amerigroup programs focused on improving birth outcomes include:

• 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate, or 17-P
  • Provider education, orientation and office detailing
• Prior Preterm Pregnancy Program (P4)
• OB/NICU case management and weekly rounds
• You and Your Baby in NICU
• Outreach sponsorship of Text4Baby
• Taking Care of Baby and Me