The following definitions and those found in WAC 182-500-0005 apply to maternity support services (MSS) and infant case management (ICM) (see WAC 182-533-0360 through 182-533-0386 for ICM rules).

"Basic health messages" - For MSS, the preventive health education messages designed to promote healthy pregnancies, healthy newborns and healthy parenting during the first year of life.

"Care coordination" - Professional collaboration and communication between the client's MSS provider and other medical and/or health and social services providers to address the individual client's needs as identified in the care plan.

"Care plan" - A written statement developed for a person that continues throughout the eligibility period and outlines any medical, social, environmental or other interventions to achieve an improved quality of life, including health and social outcomes.

"Case conference" - A formal or informal consultation used by the MSS interdisciplinary team to consult with each other and, when needed, other pertinent providers and/or the client to optimize the client's care.

"Case management" - Services to help individuals access needed medical, social, educational, and other services.

"Childbirth education (CBE)" - A component of the First Steps program to provide educational sessions offered in a group setting that prepares a pregnant woman and her support person(s) for an upcoming childbirth and healthy parenting.

"Department of health (DOH)" - The state agency that works to protect and improve the health of people in Washington state.

"First Steps" - The program created under the 1989 Maternity Care Access Act.

"Infant case management (ICM)" - A component of the First Steps program to provide parent(s) with information and assistance in accessing needed medical, social, educational, and other services that improve the welfare of infants.

"Infant case management (ICM) screening" - A brief in-person evaluation provided by a qualified person, under WAC 182-533-0375, to determine whether an infant and the infant's parent(s) have a specific risk factor(s).

"Linking" - Assistance to clients for identifying and using community resources to address specific medical, social and educational needs.

"Maternity cycle" - An eligibility period for maternity support services that begins during pregnancy and continues to the end of the month in which the sixtieth-day post-pregnancy occurs.

"Maternity support services (MSS)" - A component of the First Steps program to provide screening, assessment, basic health messages, education, counseling, case management, care coordination, and other interventions delivered by an MSS interdisciplinary team during the maternity cycle.

"Maternity support services (MSS) interdisciplinary team" - A provider's group of qualified staff consisting of at least a community health nurse, a certified registered dietitian, a behavioral health specialist, and, at the discretion of the provider, a community health worker. Based upon individual client need, each team member provides maternity support services and consultation. (See WAC 182-533-0327(3).)

"Medicaid agency" - The health care authority.

"Parent(s)" - A person who resides with an infant, provides the infant's day-to-day care, and meets the legal description under WAC 182-533-0370 (1)(c).

"Risk factors" - The biopsychosocial factors that could lead to poor birth outcomes, infant morbidity, and/or infant mortality.

"Screening" - A method for systematically identifying and documenting risk factors and client need.

"Washington apple health (WAH)" - The public health insurance programs for eligible Washington residents. Washington apple health is the name used in Washington state for medicaid, the children's health insurance program (CHIP), and state-only funded health care programs. (See WAC 182-500-0120.)

PDFWAC 182-533-0315

Maternity support services—Definitions.