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The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences has received a federal grant of nearly $4 million to use toward reducing maternity-associated health problems and deaths in Ashley and Union counties in south Arkansas. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration grant will fund a rural maternity and obstetrics management program called HEART Moms, which stands for Helping Expand Access to Rural maternal health care Transformation for Moms. "HEART Moms will directly serve rural women who are pregnant or are hoping to become pregnant by bringing comprehensive, team-based care closer to home and building a maternal health system that lasts beyond the grant period," said Dr. Nirvana Manning, the grant recipient and chair of the UAMS College of Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. "Our goal is to ensure that every woman in Arkansas can access the best maternal care, regardless of her geographic location," Manning added. "Collaboration is key. Through partnerships with hospitals, clinics and communities, we're creating a statewide system that elevates care, informs policy and strengthens communities." Arkansas has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the United States and is one of the most rural and impoverished states in the nation. The federal agency offered the grants to address urgent gaps in access to obstetric care and perinatal behavioral health in Health Resources and Services Administration-designated rural and medically underserved areas affected by hospital closures, a shortage of providers, long travel distances to receive care, and a propensity of chronic conditions that increase pregnancy risks, including hypertension, diabetes and obesity. Ashley and Union counties, both of which are located in south Arkansas, fit the bill in part because Ashley County Medical Center in Crossett recently closed its labor and delivery unit, leaving women in the region with limited local access to obstetric care. "The HEART Moms network was shaped by Arkansas Medicaid's and the Arkansas Department of Health's priorities to provide maternal support to Ashley and Union counties," the grant application said. "Input from the Arkansas Department of Health and network partners helped create this proposal." The network includes UAMS, South Arkansas Women's Health Clinic in El Dorado, the UAMS Family Medicine Clinic in El Dorado, South Arkansas Regional Hospital in El Dorado, Ashley County Medical Center in Crossett, the Arkansas Department of Health and the Arkansas Department of Human Services' Medicaid Division. "We'll be working to expand and strengthen maternal health services using a combination of mobile health, digital health and workforce development strategies that we hope can be replicated in other rural areas across Arkansas," Manning said. Specifically, the initiative seeks to increase access to services by: Deploying mobile maternal health clinics that rotate between the counties to reduce geographic and transportation barriers. Establishing group prenatal care at partnering rural sites to enhance prenatal education, peer support and health outcomes. Embedding a second full-time obstetrics fellow in the area to provide direct care, support mobile outreach and support rural providers. Standardizing maternal risk screening for conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and behavioral health that increase risks to pregnancy, and integrating follow-up care through home and virtual visits. Expanding digital health access for local obstetric emergency preparedness and mental health treatment. Training community health workers and mental health therapists to provide culturally responsive outreach, screen for nonmedical factors that influence health and well-being, help patients navigate benefits and provide general patient education. Establishing a sustainable, regionally coordinated maternal health network with robust governance, a referral infrastructure and Medicaid-aligned payment strategies. The project is expected to begin in 2026, following an onboarding and planning phase this fall.
