Comprehensive programs provide expecting mothers with resources, doula support, and education for a healthier pregnancy and beyond.
Quartz, a health plan dedicated to fostering well-living for all, has announced an expansion in services aimed at improving maternal and infant health outcomes. The Healthy Beginnings, and Healthy Futures programs are available to eligible Quartz members, offering comprehensive support for expecting mothers and families throughout their pregnancy journey and into early childhood.
“We believe in supporting our members through every major life milestone,” said Jami Berger, Chief Clinical Officer at Quartz. “By offering Healthy Beginnings and Healthy Futures, we aim to provide the information and care they need to ensure their families can thrive right from the start.”
The Healthy Beginnings and Healthy Futures programs are designed to provide guidance, education, and personalized care, giving expecting parents the tools they need for a healthier pregnancy and a strong start for their newborn. This program offers various resources such as:
- Preconception planning: Assistance and educational tools for families looking to conceive.
- Pregnancy support: Access to health coaching, online education, and real-time support from clinical experts.
- Postpartum care: Resources for recovery after birth, along with guidance on infant care, feeding, and parental well-being.
As a key feature of this initiative, Quartz has partnered with multiple organizations to offer virtual and in-person doula support through the Quartz Doula Benefit, at no additional cost for eligible members. Partners already engaged in the program include Pacify Health and the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness, who will launch Umama Birthing Services on December 1 to expand its doula services statewide.
Doulas are trained professionals who offer continuous, personalized care to mothers throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. The Quartz Doula Benefit allows members to connect with certified doulas who can assist with birth planning, postpartum healing and recovery, newborn care, and more, ensuring a positive and empowered birth experience.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Quartz to expand access to high-quality maternity care,” said Jennifer Sargent, CEO of Pacify. “Our mission at Pacify is to provide personalized support that meets the needs of every family. This partnership allows us to bring our expertise to more expectant parents, offering both the convenience of virtual care and the reassurance of in-person support.”
Doulas are proven to be effective members of the care team in providing culturally reflective and responsive care in the prenatal and postpartum periods. Doula-assisted parents are significantly less likely to experience birth complications and have statistically lower preterm and cesarean birth rates than non-doula-assisted births. Doulas provided through the Quartz Doula Benefit will work closely with members’ medical teams to encourage adherence to preventive prenatal clinical guidance.
“The Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness is excited to partner with Quartz to provide in-person, full spectrum doula care and perinatal support services to mothers and birthing persons across South Central Wisconsin,” says CEO & President Lisa M. Peyton. “We know the powerful role doulas play in advancing quality maternal and infant care and better birth outcomes, and this partnership will make those benefits more accessible than ever to women and families who deserve the best care we can provide.”
Quartz’s mission — to build proactive solutions together for a life well-lived — is deeply ingrained in the Healthy Beginnings and Healthy Futures programs. This initiative helps provide accessible, inclusive health resources, supporting Quartz’s vision of a future where well-living is within reach for all. Quartz is dedicated to helping our provider partners expand doula services by increasing education and making this impactful service offering available.
The Healthy Beginnings and Healthy Futures programs are available at no additional cost to Quartz members. Quartz is also able to provide the doula benefit to members enrolled in Commercial, Individual and Family and ETF products. For more information about the programs, including information on how to enroll for specific benefits and services, please visit Quartz’s website.
About Quartz
Quartz Health Solutions, Inc. (Quartz) is jointly owned by Advocate Aurora Health, Gundersen Health System, UnityPoint Health, and UW Health. The company manages four provider-owned health insurance plans: Quartz Health Benefit Plans Corporation, Quartz Health Plan Corporation, Quartz Health Plan MN Corporation, and Quartz Health Insurance Corporation. As a third-party administrator, Quartz also services self-funded health plans. Through an extensive provider network, Quartz focuses on local, community-based health care and services for customers who live in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota. Quartz Health Solutions, Inc., Quartz Health Benefit Plans Corporation, Quartz Health Plan Corporation, Quartz Health Plan MN Corporation, and Quartz Health Insurance Corporation are separate legal entities. For more information, visit QuartzBenefits.com.
About the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness
Established in June 2012, the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness is a Wisconsin based health empowerment and advocacy organization committed to advancing better health, birth, and economic outcomes for women and their families. Each year the Foundation supports thousands of women to build healthier lives through health improvement programs, maternal and infant care support, wellness education, and family empowerment initiatives. As a leader in maternal and child health innovation and care, the Foundation provides best in class doula services in partnership with health systems and independent providers.
About Pacify
Pacify is on a mission to build the most comprehensive, diverse, and culturally responsive doula care team across the country, connecting expectant and new parents to skilled and supportive professionals. With over a decade of experience, Pacify partners with public health agencies, health plans, and Medicaid MCOs to ensure every family has access to the personalized support they deserve. Through our innovative digital platform, families receive guidance from certified doulas and lactation consultants. Committed to improving healthcare equity, Pacify is breaking down barriers in maternal health, supporting parents, and transforming outcomes for future generations.
