Study finds Arkansas loses $1.8 billion from poor maternal healthcare

Elena Ramirez
·3 min read

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — A report from Heartland Forward showed the impact of pregnancy-related issues on four states. The data showed that Arkansas employers lost 1.3% of the state’s gross domestic product from undesirable outcomes in a woman’s pregnancy.

An undesirable outcome is defined in the study as “adverse birth outcomes such as preterm birth and low birth weight.”

The study looked at Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana and Ohio. Louisiana had the largest impact on GDP.

“Maternal health care is about protecting the health and life of mother and child during and after pregnancy the nation loses $27.43 billion from potential,” the study said.

  • ES TABLE 4: PRODUCTIVITY LOSS DUE TO PRETERM AND LOW BIRTH WEIGHT – ARKANSAS, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, OHIO AND U.S., 2020
    ES TABLE 4: PRODUCTIVITY LOSS DUE TO PRETERM AND LOW BIRTH WEIGHT – ARKANSAS, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, OHIO AND U.S., 2020
  • ES TABLE 3: ESTIMATED AVERAGE ANNUAL LOSS OF POTENTIAL HUMAN CAPITAL DUE TO MATERNAL AND INFANT MORTALITY – ARKANSAS, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, OHIO AND U.S., 2018-2020
    ES TABLE 3: ESTIMATED AVERAGE ANNUAL LOSS OF POTENTIAL HUMAN CAPITAL DUE TO MATERNAL AND INFANT MORTALITY – ARKANSAS, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, OHIO AND U.S., 2018-2020
  • TABLE 1: ESTIMATED LOST POTENTIAL HUMAN CAPITAL DUE TO MOTHERS DYING DURING PREGNANCY – SELECTED STATES AND U.S., 2018-2020
    TABLE 1: ESTIMATED LOST POTENTIAL HUMAN CAPITAL DUE TO MOTHERS DYING DURING PREGNANCY – SELECTED STATES AND U.S., 2018-2020

In Arkansas:

  • The estimated annual cost of undesirable birth outcomes is around $878 million.

  • The state could save an estimated $300 million a year with a 50% reduction in preterm births and low birth weight.

  • This translates to savings of $16,490 per prevented preterm births and/or low birth rate

The calculations were on the direct medical and related nonmedical expenses, and a combination with the broader indirect economic losses (human capital, reduced work hours and productivity).

“By preventing just half of these avoidable outcomes, the U. S. could realize savings of approximately $78.6 billion annually equating to 0.36% of the nation’s GDP. Specific to Arkansas, such preventative measures would translate to an annual economic savings of $872 million, or 0.63% of the state’s GDP,” the study states.

The study found that women who had complications in their pregnancy and lived in rural areas suffered the most due to traveling to receive better medical care. This resulted in higher medical cost, more time traveling, transportation and lodging costs. This disproportionally impacted low-income minorities.

Read the report here.

The report broke down the four main impacts of higher medical costs for pregnancies:

  • the number of unplanned pregnancies, particularly among young women;

  • mental health challenges, including substance abuse;

  • metabolic syndrome, worsened by obesity, diabetes and hypertension; and

  • lack of availability and access to maternal health resources (health insurance coverage)

U.S. ranks 66th out of 197 countries in maternal death rates; it ranks 11th and 12th for maternal and infant death rates, respectively, out of 15 nations with a GDP over $1 trillion; and 13th among those same countries in preterm births. This places the U.S. behind Brazil, Mexico and Russia

Heartland Forward Maternal Health Report

Heartland Forward is recommending an action plan with four things:

  1. Supporting and advocating for community health workers who support adequate care for mothers

  2. Expanding access to telehealth

  3. Addressing shortages in healthcare by expanding a pilot program to other states

  4. Continuing to collect data

The 52-page report goes in-depth on the four states. More information and data can be found on Heartland Forward’s website.

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