EmblemHealth has partnered with digital health platform Mae Health to provide Medicaid members with access to pregnancy and postpartum care, including community-based doulas as a covered benefit. Eligible members can use Mae's platform for symptom tracking, personalised care and culturally appropriate resources whilst being matched with certified doulas for support throughout pregnancy. The partnership addresses significant maternal health disparities in New York, where Black women face a maternal mortality rate of 51.6 deaths per 100,000 live births and are twelve times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women in New York City. Mae's doula services provide virtual and in-person pregnancy education, emotional support, labour assistance and postpartum care, interventions shown to improve maternal outcomes whilst reducing healthcare costs.

Mae Health Inc., a startup addressing Black maternal health disparities, has closed an oversubscribed seed funding round led by Jumpstart Nova. The round included investors like Astia Fund and Impact Engine. Mae combines a digital platform with doula support to reduce C-section and preterm birth rates, achieving a 30% reduction in these outcomes. The funding will expand its services and support for doulas, enhancing maternal health equity.