• MHSP Priority Area: Improving Rural Health and Maternity Care Deserts
• Recommendation: Collaborate with state agencies and other partners supporting rural healthcare development to leverage existing groups, venues and resources around rural health to assess available resources, determine needs, and work to create collaborative efforts in counties and regions and across payors to address lack of maternal care.
• Actionable Strategies: Expanding the Role of Pharmacists in Maternity Care
• Lead: University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, with Pennsylvania Pharmacists Care Network
• Lead Web Site: https://cpesn.com/blog/ppcn-highmark-wholecare-launch-maternal-health-program
• Progress: In Progress

Rural and Maternity Care Deserts Actionable Strategies Plan

University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy was awarded $149,897 to expand access to maternal health services within pharmacies in rural counties and maternal health deserts. The School of Pharmacy provides program evaluation and implementation support for the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Care Network (PPCN). PPCN is a statewide clinically integrated network of nearly 200 community pharmacies in 48 counties across Pennsylvania that provide enhanced patient care services. In May 2025, the PPCN launched a pharmacy-based maternal health program which provides pregnant and postpartum individuals with blood pressure screenings, safe medication guidance, social needs assessments, and prenatal nutrition advice. The program also connects them to additional services, including doulas, postpartum behavioral health support, diaper and milk banks, and home-visiting programs. These funds will expand the implementation support of the pharmacy-based maternal health program to an additional eight pharmacies serving counties with moderate, low, or no access to maternal healthcare access with a focus on Greene, Mercer, Venango, Clarion, and Clearfield counties.