Better outcomes start with early access to quality care.
Better outcomes start with early access to quality care
Community Care Plan proudly supports the Agency for Health Care Administration’s (AHCA) From the Start initiative, a statewide effort to improve birth outcomes for Florida Medicaid families. This initiative aligns enhanced services across all managed care plans to make accessing needed care and resources easier from pregnancy through a baby’s first year of life.
AHCA’s Five-Part Maternal Health Initiative Framework
1. Reducing Care Gaps
Focuses on early care and continued support through pregnancy and postpartum to increase prenatal and postpartum care to improve birth outcomes.
2. Enhancing Access to Services
Expands access to services that support a healthy pregnancy and recovery, such as the coverage of doula visits, telehealth, nutrition support, breast pumps, mobile obstetric care, and non-emergency transportation.
3. Increasing Care Options and Coordination for High-Risk Moms
Helps care teams identify high-risk pregnancies early and respond quickly through prenatal risk screening, high-risk prenatal visits, maternal-fetal medicine referrals, behavioral health screening, remote patient monitoring, and targeted care management.
4. Pay for Quality
Targets incentives and provider performance strategies to support evidence-based maternal care, including increasing pregnancy notification, first-trimester prenatal care, postpartum follow-up, and provider education.
5. Breastfeeding Support
Targets incentives and provider performance strategies to support evidence-based maternal care, including increasing pregnancy notification, first-trimester prenatal care, postpartum follow-up, and provider education.
Our Role as a Florida Medicaid Health Plan
As a Florida Medicaid health plan, Community Care Plan supports From the Start by aligning our maternal health programs, provider partnerships, and member supports with AHCA’s statewide goals.
This page brings together maternal health services and supports available through our plan, making it easier for members and providers to find help during pregnancy, postpartum care, and infancy.
Maternal Health Resources
FOR MEMBERS
Find pregnancy, postpartum, and newborn resources, including education, care coordination, and added supports.
FOR PROVIDERS
Access clinical resources, provider program information, and tools that support coordinated maternal care.
Learn more about From The Start
Learn more about AHCA’s statewide maternal health efforts and how From the Start helps improve birth outcomes for Florida Medicaid families. From the Start aligns enhanced services and supports to create a more coordinated system of care for moms and babies.
Overview
From the Start is a statewide maternal health initiative led by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) in partnership with Florida Medicaid and its managed care health plans. The initiative highlights Florida’s commitment to ensuring that every mother—no matter her ZIP code, risk level, or circumstances—has access to the care, support, and resources needed to thrive from pregnancy through the first year postpartum
Better outcomes start with early access to quality care.
Purpose of the Initiative
From the Start was developed to unify and elevate maternal health efforts across the state. It communicates, in a warm and approachable way, AHCA’s drive to improve maternal outcomes, strengthen care coordination, and close persistent gaps that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. With Florida Medicaid covering nearly 40 percent of births statewide, the program showcases the meaningful role AHCA plays in helping mothers and families flourish.
What the Initiative Targets
From the Start organizes its priorities into five core pillars, each addressing a major area of need:
- Closing Care Gaps – Breaking Down Barriers – This pillar focuses on expanding access to maternal services by removing barriers such as limited coverage, transportation challenges, and lack of flexible care options.
- Holistic Support Throughout the Pregnancy – This pillar ensures pregnant women receive emotional, physical, and supportive care, including unlimited access to doula services.
- Early Risk Identification and Intervention – This pillar aims to identify highrisk pregnancies early and provide comprehensive support through monitoring, coordinated care, and nutrition assistance.
- Pay for Quality – This pillar aligns incentives for providers and patients to improve maternal health outcomes by discouraging unnecessary procedures and rewarding quality care.
- Postpartum Well-being – This pillar ensures strong postpartum recovery for mothers and infants through timely follow-up care, mental health screening, and consistent access to breastfeeding support.
A healthier Florida begins with a healthy start for every mother.
The Why and How
Why This Work Matters
Maternal health is a pressing priority in Florida and across the nation. More than 80% of pregnancy related deaths are preventable, and 1 in 5 mothers experience a perinatal mental health condition. Ensuring timely and coordinated care is essential not only for the wellbeing of mothers, but for the development and long-term health of Florida’s children and communities. From the Start directly addresses these challenges through proactive, compassionate, and measurable solutions.
Why From the Start Reflects Positively on the State
From the Start positions Florida as a forward-thinking state that invests in families, leverages data and innovation, and recognizes the essential role of mothers in building a stronger future. Through its clear pillars and collaborative approach, the initiative demonstrates that Florida is committed to more than just delivering health care — Florida is committed to helping every mother thrive.
How From the Start Supports AHCA’s Goals
The initiative strengthens AHCA’s mission by:
- Improving maternal and infant health outcomes through targeted, evidence‑based interventions and coordinated statewide efforts.
- Elevating accountability and transparency by aligning provider incentives with quality‑driven maternal health metrics.
- Closing gaps in care and access by expanding telehealth, transportation support, and services in underserved communities.
- Promoting strong partnerships with providers, community organizations, and Healthy Start coalitions to strengthen Florida’s maternal health ecosystem.
- Championing Florida as a leader in innovative, family‑centered Medicaid initiatives that drive measurable, meaningful results.
Five Pillars
Pillar 1: Closing Care Gaps – Breaking Down Barriers
Objective: Expand access to maternal services and reduce structural barriers to care.
- Maintaining Medicaid coverage throughout the duration of the pregnancy
- Increase the number of prenatal visits pregnant women have
- Health plans will offer standard incentive packages
- Eliminate transportation barriers
- Expand access to mobile OB care
- Expand telehealth opportunities among OB providers
Pillar 2: Holistic Support Throughout the Pregnancy
Objective: Ensuring overall emotional and physical well-being and support for pregnant women
- All health plans will cover unlimited doula services
Pillar 3: Early Risk Identification and Intervention
Objective: Provide comprehensive support for high-risk or rising risk pregnant women to reduce adverse outcomes
- Remote patient monitoring with follow-up by a nurse care manager in partnership with the University of Florida
- Enhanced care coordination, including multidisciplinary team meetings
- Home delivered meals for members with dietary restrictions during pregnancy
Pillar 4: Pay for Quality
Objective: Align provider and patient incentives with improved maternal health outcomes.
- No elective c-sections prior to 39 weeks unless medically necessary
- Health plans will offer standard provider incentives
- Enhanced reimbursement for after-hour availability
Pillar 5: Postpartum Well-being
Objective: Ensuring optimal recovery outcomes post-delivery for both mom and baby
- Postpartum visit scheduled prior to discharge from the hospital
- Reimburse pediatric providers for administering depression screening at baby’s initial visits
- Standard coverage of a breast pump across all health plans
- Reimburse for lactation classes (virtual or in-person)
Community Care Plan is a managed care plan with a Florida Medicaid contract in Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Collier, Desoto, Glades, Hendry, Indian River, Lee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Sarasota, Seminole, and St. Lucie counties.
The benefit information provided is a brief summary, not a complete description of benefits. For more information, contact the Managed Care Plan. Limitations, copayments, and/or restrictions may apply. Benefits, formulary, pharmacy network, premium and/or co-payments/co-insurance may change.