Oral healthcare during pregnancy is important to the health and development of the baby. The Oral Health & Pregnancy Working Group meets on a quarterly basis with the goal of increasing access to adequate oral healthcare for pregnant women covered by Medicaid in Georgia. The group focuses on the following three areas:

• Perinatal Provider Education: Increase the number of perinatal providers who serve women with Medicaid who will assess oral health care behaviors & provide oral health education during pregnancy by 2021.

• Patient Education: By the end of 2021, 50% of pregnant women covered by Medicaid will receive oral health education/awareness during pregnancy.

• Administrative Barriers: Increase the number of oral health providers who serve pregnant women with Medicaid by 2022.

The Doula Access Working Group meets quarterly to ensure all women in Georgia will have affordable access to culturally appropriate doula care. This group works on the following three strategies

• Reimbursement Pathways: Implement a feasible insurance reimbursement plan (Medicaid and/or private insurance) for doula services offered in Georgia

• Hospital Buy-In: Integrate a full spectrum doula care model into at least one Georgia hospital system

• Research: Conduct and complete additional Georgia-based research on cost savings for hospitals based on the integration of full spectrum doula care (including postpartum doulas), benefits of doula care, and family demand for doulas in hospital settings

We support legislation that provides for Medicaid coverage for doula services which improves maternal and infant outcomes in Georgia through increased, equitable awareness and access to full spectrum doula care for birthing person, especially those with the fewest resources.

The Perinatal Mental Health Taskforce is a partnership between PSI Georgia and HMHBGA. We aim to convene a diverse, inclusive, and action-oriented group of key stakeholders dedicated to creating and implementing a unified vision for equitably improving perinatal mental health in Georgia.