MAY 19, 2026 — Today, the Agency for Health Care Administration held a roundtable at Broward Health Medical Center to continue discussions about the From the Start maternal health initiative, which is aimed at strengthening maternal and infant health outcomes throughout Florida.
Led by the Agency and their Medicaid managed care health plans, From the Start is focused on improving access to prenatal and postpartum care by removing barriers to care and covering additional wrap around supports for women on Florida Medicaid.
These supports include unlimited doula services, remote patient monitoring for high-risk pregnancies, and incentives for achieving critical prenatal and postpartum milestones.
Following the announcement in Jacksonville earlier this month, the Agency is continuing conversations and collaborative efforts through regional engagement. These intentional opportunities are designed to identify barriers to care, strengthen support systems, and advance solutions to help mothers and babies thrive.
“A healthy beginning is essential to creating a stronger future for families and communities, and our goal is to ensure access to quality health care, support, and resources from pregnancy through postpartum,” said Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Shevaun Harris. “Under the leadership of Governor DeSantis, our Agency will continue to evaluate opportunities to improve access to care and reduce administrative burdens in order to raise the bar on quality. We are so grateful for the partnership of all of our Medicaid health plans and community partners on this initiative.”
These resources and benefits will be universally covered by all Medicaid health plans to ensure positive outcomes for mothers and infants throughout Florida. With Florida Medicaid covering more than 42 percent of births statewide, coordinated maternal health services are essential and From the Start will support:
- Earlier engagement in prenatal care
- Strengthening care coordination for high-risk pregnancies
- Increased screening for behavioral health conditions
- Reduced adverse outcomes (e.g., pre-term births, low-birth weight, etc)
- Improved postpartum care
From the Start reflects Florida’s commitment to innovative and family centered initiatives that produce real outcomes.
“Every mother deserves access to quality care, compassionate support, and the resources needed to thrive before, during, and after childbirth. The ‘From the Start’ initiative reflects our collective responsibility to reduce disparities, strengthen healthy outcomes, and ensure that every baby in Florida has the opportunity for a strong and healthy beginning. When we invest in mothers, we invest in the future of our communities,” said Florida Senator Rosalind Osgood.
“Pregnancy and childbirth can become more complex in just a short matter of time, which is why expanding access to care, identifying risks and intervening proactively are vitally important to improve maternal health outcomes,” said Mary C. Mayhew, President and CEO of the Florida Hospital Association. “Florida’s hospitals are committed to delivering high-quality maternal health care services and connecting patients and their families to community-based services. Through the ‘From the Start’ initiative, we are honored to work alongside our statewide partners to strengthen care coordination and health care delivery so the most vulnerable Florida families can receive the care and support they need to flourish.”
“From the Start seamlessly aligns with initiatives and programs already in place at Broward Health to enhance maternal-fetal patient outcomes in South Florida,” said Shane Strum, President and CEO of Broward Health. “We are proud that our efforts mirror the statewide priorities being set by Secretary Harris to ensure every expectant mother has access to exceptional prenatal care, and we thank the payors who are enabling us to deliver strong outcomes for mothers and their children.”
“We thank Secretary Harris for her leadership in advancing maternal health as a statewide priority. The Broward Healthy Start Coalition plays a central role in Broward County as the safety net for maternal and child health—working across providers, payers, and community organizations to close gaps in care. Our focus is on reaching mothers early, coordinating services effectively, and ensuring Medicaid families can navigate the system with confidence. This is how we build a more responsive and accountable system that delivers better outcomes for mothers and infants,” shared Monica Figueroa King, President and CEO of Broward Health Start Coalition.
“Sunshine Health appreciates AHCA Secretary Shevaun Harris’ transformative leadership in advancing maternal health,” said Charlene Zein, CEO of Sunshine Health. “We continue to invest in engaging mothers through remote patient monitoring and addressing health‑related social needs, recognizing that families can’t prioritize their health when more urgent needs go unmet. This initiative provides critical support for mothers and babies and removes barriers to improving health outcomes across the system of care.”
“Molina Healthcare supports this collaborative effort with AHCA, providers, community organizations, and fellow Medicaid plans to improve outcomes for Florida’s mothers and babies. ‘From the Start’ builds on Molina’s whole-person approach by addressing medical, behavioral, and social factors through strong community partnerships. We appreciate Secretary Harris’ leadership in aligning resources to give every parent and child a healthy start,” said Bill Hinsdale, Plan President of Molina Healthcare.
“We believe that all mothers should be supported throughout pregnancy, the postpartum period, and the early years of development. When we, collectively, surround women with care, support, and resources, regardless of where they live or circumstances, we don’t just improve outcomes; we strengthen families and change futures. It takes a village, and CCP is committed to being a part of that village,” said Jessica Lerner, President and CEO of Community Care Plan.
The new maternal health initiative reflects the Agency’s ongoing commitment to increasing quality health care access throughout Florida. For more information, visit fromthestart.org.
The Agency for Health Care Administration is Florida’s chief health policy and planning entity with a mission of ensuring all Floridians have access to high-quality, sustainable health care. The Agency is responsible for administering the Florida Medicaid program, licensing and regulating nearly 50,000 health care facilities statewide, and empowering consumers through health care transparency initiatives.
