Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois Marks Two Years of Progress Through Expanded Special Beginnings Program

CHICAGO - Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois announced the second anniversary of its expanded Special Beginnings^® Maternal and Infant Health Initiative, highlighting investments and partnerships supporting healthier outcomes for moms and babies statewide. The initiative aims to improve the health of moms and babies with increasing focus on access to quality care, reducing resource and care gaps and supporting families across the state.

Maternal health remains a critical issues as Illinois ranks 27th in the United States for preterm births. According to the 2025 March of Dimes report, the state's maternal mortality rate stands at 20.0 deaths per 100,000 live births, higher than the national average, while 15.4% of women lack adequate access to prenatal care.

"As we celebrate another year of the initiative, we are proud of the impact we've made through our partnerships," said Dr. Angela Moemeka, chief medical officer for government programs at BCBSIL. "Our commitment continues as we help moms, babies and families access the care, resources and services they need to achieve healthier outcomes."

Since expanding in 2024, the initiative has strengthened maternal health resources and services statewide, including:

• Serving more than 61,000 people through community and clinical partners specializing in maternal health services.
• Screening for nearly 17,500 for sexually transmitted diseases and cervical cancer among preconception and prenatal patients.
• Helping program partners deliver more than 1,300 healthy babies.

The initiative is helping address maternal health challenges statewide through sustained investment and collaboration. Learn more about BCBSIL's impact in its 2025 Maternal and Infant Health Impact Report.

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About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois is the largest health insurer in Illinois, serving nine million members and operating in all 102 Illinois counties. BCBSIL is a division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.