MCC finds barriers to prenatal care in Philadelphia
The Status of Maternal Care in Southeastern Pennsylvania
NEW REPORT: Survey of Prenatal Care Availability for Medicaid Managed Care Recipients in Philadelphia. As follow-up to MCC's comprehensive look at maternity care in our Childbirth at a Crossroads report, MCC surveyed the three managed care organizations' (MCOs) provider directories and found that, in the summer 2007, they were more than 85% inaccurate. Often, listed providers were no longer available; the phone number was wrong; or the site listed no longer offered prenatal care. Out of more than 1,500 listings, only 139 providers at 61 prenatal care sites were available. The wait time for an appointment averaged just above the two-week standard.
Since the summer, MCC met with all three MCOs and the Pennsylvania Department of Welfare. The unintended consequences of inaccurate information was recogized and changes were made by some of the MCOs to assure consumers have accurate and easily accessible information.
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Over the years, staff at MCC and Philadelphia Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY) have conducted research solely on the Philadelphia Health Care Centers. Overall, the average wait time has decreased by one week, from 5 to 4 weeks. However, there is a wide range of availability for a prenatal care appointment, from 3 days to up to 7 weeks.
enatal Appointments in Philadelphia Health Centers |
HEALTH CARE CENTER |
First Available date calling
March 20, 2007* |
First Available date calling
August 7, 2006 |
First Available date calling August 5, 2005 |
First Available date calling February 2005* |
#2
1720 S. Broad
19145 |
Refers clients to Health Center # 2 |
7 weeks (September 19) |
14 weeks
(November 15) |
8 weeks |
#3
553 S. 43rd
19104 |
5 weeks (April 19) |
*contacted 8/8
3 days (August 10) |
3 weeks
(August 25) |
6 weeks |
#4
4400 Haverford
19104 |
3 weeks (April 12) |
5 weeks (September 7) |
3 weeks
(August 22) |
10 weeks |
#5
1920 N 20th
19121 |
1.5 weeks (March 30) |
2 weeks
(August 18) |
2 weeks
(August 19) |
4 weeks |
#6
321 W. Girard
19123 |
4.5 weeks (April 18) |
4 weeks
(August 30) |
2 weeks
(August 17) |
2 weeks |
#9
131 E. Chelten
19144 |
3 weeks (April 9) |
6 weeks (September 11) |
3 weeks
(August 29) |
2 weeks |
#10
2230 Cottman Av
19149 |
3 weeks (April 9) |
*contacted 8/8
3 weeks
(August 23) |
3 weeks
(August 24) |
4 weeks |
Strawberry Mansion
2840 Dauphin
19132 |
1 week (March 27) |
2 weeks
(Prenatal Class: August 15) |
Two days
(August 9) |
One day |
Average wait time
for Health Centers |
3 weeks |
4 weeks |
4 weeks |
5 weeks |
*Data collected by PCCY staff |
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Please visit our Childbirth Crisis News page to read recent articles covering the issues brought up in our Childbirth at a Crossroads report.
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