Peer Support Counseling Available to Parents of Intensive Care Newborns in Lehigh Valley
New parents of NICU babies can navigate shared experiences with others in new support program for Medicaid members
August 17, 2023 - Harrisburg, Pa.
AmeriHealth Caritas Pennsylvania, a Medicaid managed care plan serving central, northeastern, northwestern and southwestern Pennsylvania and part of the AmeriHealth Caritas Family of Companies, is teaming up with a non-profit organization to provide peer support counseling to Medicaid parents of babies who are admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) within the St. Luke’s Health Network in the Lehigh Valley region.
The Medicaid health plan contracted with a Flourtown, Pa., based non-profit organization called, “Today is a Good Day,” to provide emotional support and advocacy for parents on Medicaid, who – in addition to the anxiety of having a sick newborn – are also dealing with the daily stressors exacerbated by their socioeconomic status. The non-profit group will also work with these parents and the health plan’s care coordinators to help identify and address their health-related social needs; specifically housing instability, food insecurity, utility needs, interpersonal violence, and transportation needs.
“Experiencing a premature birth is a traumatic and incredibly stressful time for parents,” said AmeriHealth Caritas Pennsylvania Market President Marge Angello. “We wanted to provide a specialized service for parents to help them cope with their anxiety and learn how to deal with the range of emotions of seeing their child in an ICU.”
Angello, who is also a registered nurse, said the Medicaid health plan wants to integrate this parent counseling component into its Bright Start® maternal health care program for its members. The Bright Start® program is designed to improve prenatal care for pregnant members by promoting healthy behaviors and controlling risk factors during pregnancy, with the ultimate goal of members delivering healthy, full-term infants.
In Pennsylvania, nearly 1 in 10 babies (9.6% of live births) was born preterm in 2020, according to the March of Dimes1.
Martha and Paul Sharkey, founders of Today is a Good Day, were inspired to help parents like themselves due to their experience with their twins, Claire and Mary, who were born four months premature in 2010.
“We realized there was a big gap in care for parents of premature babies,” Paul Sharkey said. “Martha and I knew we wanted to give back and that’s really how the idea of Today is a Good Day started.”
“Today is a Good Day contributes to a strong start for babies in the NICU by supporting those who are closest to them - their parents and families,” said Martha Sharkey.
The Sharkeys experienced the many highs, lows, twists, and turns on their 103-day journey in the NICU at Abington Hospital, located in a western suburb of Philadelphia.
Their daughter Mary was not able to recover and lost her fight on Nov. 28, 2010. Their other daughter, Claire, survived despite a devastating prognosis due to her prematurity. The medical team would often provide the couple good news about her recovery by letting them know “Today is a Good Day” for Claire.
Claire graduated from the NICU on February 25, 2011 and has come a long way since her traumatic birth and devastating prognosis. Claire is now an energetic, happy, and caring 12-year-old who loves to sing and play outside.
Jessika Haynos, St. Luke's Pediatric Service Line Manager, said the Sharkeys’ willingness to share their experiences – the joy and the pain – have made an enormous impact on parents who have had a child in a neonatal intensive care unit. When these families know that they are not alone, they gain hope, she said.
“We are very proud to partner with the Sharkeys and AmeriHealth Caritas Pennsylvania to provide additional support to parents of NICU babies,” Haynos said. “Enabling parents to learn from other parents who have been where they are is a regular reminder that healing and hope are real.”
About AmeriHealth Caritas Pennsylvania
AmeriHealth Caritas Pennsylvania is a Medical Assistance (Medicaid) managed care health plan serving 62 counties in central, northeastern, northwestern and southwestern Pennsylvania. Headquartered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, AmeriHealth Caritas Pennsylvania is a mission-driven company dedicated to helping members get care, stay well and build healthy communities. For more information, visit www.amerihealthcaritaspa.com.
About AmeriHealth Caritas
AmeriHealth Caritas is one of the nation’s leaders in health care solutions for those most in need. Operating in 13 states and the District of Columbia, AmeriHealth Caritas serves approximately 5 million Medicaid, Medicare, and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Health Insurance Marketplace® members through its integrated managed care products, pharmaceutical benefit management and specialty pharmacy services, and behavioral health services. Headquartered in Pennsylvania, AmeriHealth Caritas is a mission-driven organization with nearly 40 years of experience serving low-income and chronically ill populations. For more information, visit www.amerihealthcaritas.com.
About Today is a Good Day
Inspired by their experience at a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in a suburban Philadelphia hospital, Martha and Paul Sharkey founded the non-profit organization Today is a Good Day in 2014. Today is a Good Day’s mission is to provide personal and financial support for families who experience the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). www.todayisagoodday.org
References
1 State Summary for Pennsylvania. https://www.marchofdimes.org/peristats/state-summaries/pennsylvania?lev=1&obj=3®=99&slev=4&sreg=42&stop=55&top=3