HBP Program Details
What HBP staff members will you find on the patient's care team?
Nurse, Social Worker, Dietician.
True/False: Healthy Beginnings Plus bills for prenatal appointments.
FALSE. MGA bills for any prenatal appointment for the patient.
What is the name of the group prenatal care offered by Healthy Beginnings Plus?
Centering Pregnancy. Centering brings patient together with similar gestations for a 1.5 hour session. The session includes a belly check and then education in a group setting where they can connect with others who are in similar situations.
The Centering Pregnancy group includes an HBP nurse, HBP Patient Care Assistant, a midwife, and the patients.
What is the STEPS program?
STEPS is a part of the Healthy Beginnings Plus program. Their focus is to support pregnant and postpartum women with a history of substance use.
How early is a patient enrolled into the Healthy Beginnings Plus program?
When is the patient discharged from the program?
A patient is enrolled as early as the confirmation of pregnancy or a home positive pregnancy test.
The patient can be enrolled up until 36 weeks gestation.
The patient is discharged at 8 weeks postpartum.
If the patient calls in with an MCO that MGA does not accept (Health Partners, Amerihealth Caritas, or Geisinger), can they enroll with Healthy Beginnings Plus?
Yes, the patient can schedule an intake with HBP to initiate their prenatal care. At that time, HBP staff will assist the patient in switching their insurance to an accepted plan.
Name the lactation support group for Healthy Beginnings Plus patients.
Baby Weigh Cafe! This is a lactation support group for HBP parents where they can get their baby weighed, lactation supplies, and ask any lactation related questions.
Every Monday at 10am at 527 N. Lime Street.
When is a patient discharged from the STEPS program?
When the infant turns 1 year old.
TRUE/FALSE: Once enrolled, the patient must go to the HBP office for prenatal care.
FALSE. The patient can seek prenatal care at her preferred office. The nurse and social worker will visit the patient at her home or in the community.
If a patient has private primary insurance, can they be enrolled with Healthy Beginnings?
Yes! If the patient has primary private insurance, but is below income guidelines, they can apply for Medical Assistance and become enrolled with Healthy Beginnings Plus.
We can help with this process!
A patient has private primary insurance and medical assistance as secondary insurance. Can this patient go to HBP at 531 N. Lime St for prenatal appointment?
No. Due to credentialing of providers, all patients with a private primary insurance must be seen at an MGA office.
TRUE/FALSE: A STEPS patient must have Medical Assistance to qualify for the program.
FALSE. Due to grant funding through the Department of Drug and Alcohol, the patients do not need to qualify for Medical Assistance.
TRUE/FALSE: The patient must qualify for Medical Assistance to be enrolled in Healthy Beginnings Plus?
TRUE: HBP is a Medicaid program. If the patient is self-pay & below income guidelines, HBP can assist the patient in applying for Medical Assistance.
Who can refer a patient to Healthy Beginnings Plus?
Anyone! The referral can come from any employee within MGA. Patient can also self-refer to HBP.
TRUE/FALSE: Healthy Beginnings Plus offers a nutrition class?
TRUE! HBP recently restarted our Nutrition Class and Walking club. This occurs on Wednesday from 9/14-10/17 for all HBP patients.
The group walks with a Registered Dietician around the city, stopping at a different location each week. The the patient attends a nutrition class with hands-on cooking (smoothies, guacamole, salads, etc.) and education.
How do you refer a patient to STEPS?
You refer the patient the same way you would refer a Healthy Beginnings Plus patient (message to HBEG front desk).
What services can the nurse and social work provide to the patient?
The nurse and social worker will meet the patient where they are at (as much or as little as they need).
Nurse: Education, tracks appointment compliance, childbirth education, contraception plan, smoking cessation counseling, breastfeeding support
Social Worker: short term counseling, insurance assistance, transportation needs, community referrals (housing, food, baby supplies, clothing, childcare, etc.), collaborates with Children and Youth agency
How do you send a referral to Healthy Beginnings Plus?
Through PrimeSuite (Greenway), send an email to HBEG-Desk. Healthy Beginnings Plus front desk staff will contact the patient and schedule an intake appointment.
If a patient enrolls in Healthy Beginnings Plus, can that patient also become a Nurse Family Partnership patient?
Yes! At intake, the nurse will offer a referral to NFP if the patient is a first time mother.
The patient will continue to be followed by the HBP social worker until 8 week postpartum and with the NFP nurse until 2 years postpartum.
TRUE/FALSE. The STEPS team provides a recovery group once a week.
TRUE! Every Friday, the STEPS team holds a virtual recovery support group with patients. They often include guest speakers.