United States and territory policies supporting maternal and neonatal transfer: review of transport and reimbursement

Abstract

Summarize policies that support maternal and neonatal transport among states and territories. Systematic review of publicly available, web-based information on maternal and neonatal transport for each state and territory in 2014. Information was abstracted from published rules, statutes, regulations, planning documents and program descriptions. Abstracted information was summarized within two categories: transport and reimbursement. Sixty-eight percent of states and 25% of territories had a policy for neonatal transport; 60% of states and one territory had a policy for maternal transport. Sixty-two percent of states had a reimbursement policy for neonatal transport, whereas 20% reimbursed for maternal transport. Thirty-two percent of states had an infant back-transport policy while 16% included back-transport for both. No territories had reimbursement or back-transport policies. The lack of development of maternal transport reimbursement and neonatal back-transport policies negatively impacts the achievements of risk-appropriate care, a strategy focused on improving perinatal outcomes.