A new defense: the maternity waiver program

The Maternity Waiver Program is a freedom of choice waiver granted by the Health Care Financing Administration. A freedom-of-choice waiver allows certain sections of the Social Security Act to be waived, specifically statewide effectiveness; duration, amount and scope of benefits; and freedom of choice. The waiver allows the state to direct women to whom they can receive prenatal care. By restricting statewideness, the state can set up the program on a county by county basis. By waiving amount, duration and scope, the state can provide additional services to women in waiver counties that are not offered in nonwaiver counties (e.g., home visits). And by waiving freedom-of-choice, the state can set up a primary provider network which ensures that women have access to quality and comprehensive maternity services which are coordinated from the initial encounter through the postpartum period. The end result is a healthier birth outcome.