NASHVILLE, Tenn (WTVF) — If you’re a parent then you know having a baby can be expensive. Vanderbilt Medical Center is making it less costly for its employees and Metro Nashville Public School employees.
Lisa Shadrick and her husband received an email from Metro Nashville Public Schools saying the birth of their son was going to be free. The two teachers and expectant parents couldn’t believe the news.
"The bill was like $12,000 for the labor and delivery and we didn’t have to pay anything," said Shadrick.
It’s all through a program with Vanderbilt Medical Center called my maternity health bundle. So far, Vanderbilt and MNPS employees depending on their insurance are eligible.
MyMaternityHealth includes coordinated, proactive maternity care for the entire length of the pregnancy, from the initial prenatal care visit through the delivery, and 12 weeks after delivery. Services include:
- Concierge service with a dedicated patient navigator
- Your choice of Vanderbilt Health midwives and physicians
- Continuity of primary provider throughout your prenatal care
- Convenient telehealth services for qualified patients covering select pre and postnatal appointments as well as diabetic and genetic consults
- Free educational classes, including lactation and childbirth programs
- Newly redesigned and remodeled labor, delivery and triage facilities
- On-demand room services during hospital stay
- Enhanced postpartum care
As of January 1, VUMC began offering the MyMaternityHealth Bundle to Metro-Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) Cigna health plan beneficiaries and VUMC employees covered under Aetna Plus or Aetna Select medical plans.
By the end of January, more than 50 expectant mothers had enrolled, with 20 of those being expectant mothers from MNPS.
"We got to choose between traditional or Vanderbilt midwives, we chose the midwives and we were told all the co-pays were going to be covered and all the delivery was covered," said Shadrick.
Shadrick says she even had to go in for an emergency ultrasound because her son had some complications which were also free.
Doctors say it’s a risk they’re willing to take.
"We’re going to take some of the risk off the employers, off the employees, our patient and take it on ourselves and deliver a really outstanding clinical experience and outstanding service experience," said C.J. Stimson, MD, JD, medical director of the VUMC Office of Episodes of Care and assistant professor of Urology.
Stimson says it’s all about delivering a better health care experience.
"It’s not just about the money, that’s important but really the care is different and people are going to feel like Vanderbilt is walking right beside them through their journey and that’s the most important to me and our team."
Vanderbilt is looking to bundle more medical procedures starting next year, like hand knee replacement, three different Spine surgeries, two different bariatrics, and a cochlear implant procedure
The medical center is also working to add more employers to the programs as well.
