State Policy · CA
California Launches Birthing Care Pathway to Improve Medicaid Maternity Outcomes
California's Department of Health Care Services has implemented a Birthing Care Pathway as part of a multi-pronged state initiative to improve maternity care delivery. The pathway is one of three current California programs targeting maternal health outcomes, alongside the Transforming Maternal Health Model and Rural Health Transformation Program. The initiative affects Medicaid managed care organizations operating in California and their contracted maternity care providers. This is part of California's broader strategy to address maternal mortality and morbidity through structured care delivery frameworks.
Why it mattersCalifornia MCOs must align care management, network design, and provider contracting with new state maternity care pathways that establish structured delivery expectations and may affect capitation rate negotiations.