Mama And Baby Bus Keeps Rolling In Prince George's Thanks To $50K Grant

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — The Mama and Baby Bus will continue to cruise the streets of Prince George's County and Washington, D.C., thanks to a $50,000 grant from UnitedHealthcare to March of Dimes.

The Mama and Baby Bus, which is a collaboration between March of Dimes and the University of Maryland Capital Region Health, expands access to quality care for pregnant women who are uninsured or underinsured and to those living in maternity care deserts. The grant from UnitedHealthcare will increase access and address barriers to care in Wards 7 and 8 in the district and in Prince George’s County.

In Prince George’s County, 29.4 percent of pregnant women receive inadequate prenatal care, reports March of Dimes. As a result of the funding from UnitedHealthcare, the Mama and Baby Bus will continue to travel locally three days a week and see women of childbearing age, pregnant people and babies up to 24 months old.

“UnitedHealthcare’s generous donation to the Mama and Baby Bus is crucial to our efforts to expand our services and accommodate women and babies on the waitlist with lifesaving medical care,” Tina Cavucci, senior executive director for March of Dimes, said. “Not only do our midwives help approximately 1,000 patients annually, nearly all of them are uninsured and many are considered high-risk patients with more expensive healthcare needs. This important funding will allow us to address the incredible need in our community that has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The Mama and Baby Bus is equipped with two private exam rooms and staffed by a team of certified nurse midwives. Health services offered include:

• Well-woman exams and education
• Pregnancy testing
• Pregnancy care education
• Birth control consultation
• Infant care and well child visits
• Maternal and child health education
• Care coordination and social support services

All services are provided free of charge. Appointments are encouraged but are not required.