Supporting Healthier Beginnings: How Humana Healthy Horizons Is Advancing Maternal Health in Kentucky

Kentucky continues to face some of the most significant maternal and infant health challenges in the nation, with high rates of maternal mortality and preterm birth. For Humana, improving outcomes for mothers and babies means looking beyond traditional clinical care to address the real-life barriers families face every day.

As Dr. Sarah Moyer, MD, Associate Vice President at Humana, has extensive experience caring for Kentuckians with complex health needs. In a recent Becker’s Payer Issues interview, she notes, “It is no secret that Kentucky struggles with maternal and infant health outcomes,” adding that many of the risks families face are rooted in behavioral health needs and access challenges—not just medical conditions. 

A Whole-Person Approach to Maternal Health

Humana Healthy Horizons in Kentucky serves Medicaid members across the Commonwealth, including communities where transportation barriers, substance use disorder, and limited access to support services significantly affect pregnancy and postpartum care. Dr. Moyer emphasizes that addressing these challenges requires compassion, coordination, and strong community partnerships.

This philosophy shapes Humana’s maternal health strategy—one that integrates behavioral health support, substance use treatment, and value-added services that help keep mothers and babies healthy and connected to care. 

Connection is a vital component of Humana Healthy Horizons’ maternal health model. Through the HumanaBeginnings program, experienced, maternity-registered nurses provide education, support and guidance throughout pregnancy. This one-on-one approach allows these care managers to tailor care plans based on a specific individual’s needs, facilitating connections to resources that ensure mothers are supported and babies have a healthy start.

Improving Access Through Doula Support and Transportation

Access to doula care has become an increasingly important focus in Medicaid maternal health, and Humana Healthy Horizons in Kentucky treats doula services as a value-added benefit for members. While doula services are not part of Kentucky’s standard fee-for-service Medicaid schedule, Humana helps connect interested members with doulas and reimburses providers directly.

“We help our members get connected, if they’re interested, then the doula can invoice us directly, and we pay for it,” Dr. Moyer explained. 

To further reduce access barriers, Humana invests in Doula Dash, a maternal transportation initiative led by Granny’s Birth Initiative. Doula Dash provides low cost, doula supported rides to prenatal, postpartum, newborn, and lactation appointments, as well as childbirth education and support services. By pairing transportation with trusted perinatal professionals, the program helps ensure mothers not only reach appointments, but feel supported and informed throughout their care journey. 

Addressing Diaper Insecurity as a Health Issue

Beyond transportation and clinical care, Humana recognizes that unmet basic needs can create stress that directly affects maternal and infant health. One often overlooked challenge is diaper insecurity—when families lack consistent access to diapers for their babies.

To address this need, Humana Healthy Horizons in Kentucky launched a statewide Diaper Pantry Initiative, partnering with community organizations to provide diapers and essential infant supplies to families across the state. When fully implemented, the initiative will fund nine diaper pantries, with the first phase supporting partners in Louisville, Pikeville, Owensboro, and Florence. 

Each pantry distributes diapers through referrals and community events and provides additional necessities such as baby bottles, infant nail clippers, tote bags, and educational resources. The initiative is expected to support approximately 450 families statewide, with ongoing reporting to ensure accountability and measurable impact. 

Dr. Moyer has emphasized that improving outcomes requires addressing these everyday stressors that can compound health risks during pregnancy and early childhood. Programs like diaper pantries provide wraparound support services that complement medical care and help families stay engaged in prenatal, postpartum, and pediatric visits. 

Building Healthier Futures Together

By investing in doula access, maternal transportation, and community-based diaper pantries, Humana Healthy Horizons in Kentucky is working to reduce barriers that prevent families from getting the care and support they need. These efforts reflect Humana’s commitment to addressing social determinants of health and partnering with trusted community organizations to improve outcomes.

As Dr. Moyer notes, improving maternal and infant health in Kentucky requires sustained collaboration and a willingness to meet families where they are—both inside and outside the healthcare system. Through these initiatives, Humana is helping create healthier beginnings for mothers and babies across the Commonwealth.