Mercy's Integrated Care Model Drives Missouri Maternal Mental Health Improvements
Event summary
- Missouri's maternal mental health scores improved from failing to passing in the 2026 report cards, with Mercy playing a key role.
- Mercy's integrated behavioral and women's health programs contributed significantly to these improvements.
- The system completed 3,613 perinatal psychiatry visits in fiscal year 2025.
- Mercy is Missouri's largest obstetrics care provider by volume.
The big picture
Mercy's success demonstrates the impact of integrating behavioral and women's health services, a trend gaining traction as healthcare systems seek to improve maternal outcomes. As one of the nation's largest health systems, Mercy's approach could influence statewide policies and become a benchmark for other regions facing similar challenges in maternal mental health.
What we're watching
- Program Scaling
- Whether Mercy can sustain and expand its integrated care model across all service areas.
- Outcome Measurement
- How the state will track long-term improvements in maternal mental health metrics.
- Competitive Positioning
- The pace at which other Missouri healthcare systems adopt similar integrated care approaches.