The Leading Opportunity for Claim Mitigation is...

48% of health plan leaders identify maternal mental health as the highest potential area for claim mitigation.

Boston MA -- September 22: Maternal health has historically focused heavily on physical outcomes.

But according to contributors to the Women's Health Infrastructure Report 2026, payers are actively shifting their focus toward mental health to control downstream costs.

48% of health plan respondents stated that maternal mental health represents the highest potential for mitigating high-acuity claims over the next two years.

By comparison, pre-term birth and NICU reduction accounted for 39% of responses, while chronic pelvic disease management received 13%.

"Deviations from normal recovery aren't just temporary changes of pregnancy; they are critical warning flags that require attention for up to a full year postpartum. From a health plan perspective, integrating maternal mental health alongside hypertensive monitoring isn't just about clinical oversight - it is essential for long-term claim mitigation and keeping families healthy. Technology is only as effective as the clinical workflow supporting it, which is why structured care coordination between OB-GYNs and primary care is vital."

Dr. Andrea Willis

SVP & Chief Medical Officer, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee

Future investments from health plans will increasingly require solutions that integrate maternal mental health directly with physical and hypertensive monitoring to successfully mitigate high-acuity claims.

This finding represents just one of dozens of insights uncovered through the Women's Health Infrastructure Report 2026, a cross-sector study bringing together perspectives from health plans, providers, employers, clinicians, life sciences organisations and innovators.

The full report features detailed findings, expert commentary, benchmark data and practical implications for healthcare leaders looking to understand where women's health is heading next.

Lead Research Partner