Background:
The Arizona Internatal Care Task Force was created to enhance the interconception education and support services for those at high risk due to previous pregnancy outcomes, chronic conditions, and other risk factors. Studies have shown a plateau of rates of low birth weight even with increasing the access to prenatal care. Furthermore, Perinatal Periods of Risks (PPOR) approaches have determined that maternal health prior to pregnancy might be an important determinant of poor outcomes and subject to intervention. For these reasons, the task force was formed to address 2 priorities: 1) The lack of financing internatal care, and 2) the lack of a systematic approach to internatal care in Arizona through a demonstration project funded by the Arizona March of Dimes.

Objectives:
1) To develop financing mechanisms for internatal care with Arizona's Medicaid program (AHCCCS-Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System). 2) To create protocols and initiate an Internatal Care Clinic at Maricopa Medical Center, the large public hospital serving Maricopa County in Phoenix.

Methods:
The Arizona Internatal Care Task Force has been charged to work on the objectives listed above. The group comprises of representatives of Public Health at the State and County level, providers, including Obstetrics and Gynecology, Family Medicine, Maternal/Fetal Medicine, clinic & administrative staff, community advocacy groups, health plans, representatives of AHCCCS, and groups representing community services likely needed for patients in the clinic. Beginning in March 2007, bimonthly meetings have been initiated to address these objectives. Plans are underway the opening the clinic in the Summer of 2007.

Results:
The demonstration project will focus on women who have been enrolled in the State's High Risk Pregnancy program, a 32-year old program that provides post-NICU follow-up with public health nurses for those infants requiring at least three days of intensive care. Descriptions of the process of creating the clinic and the Task Force will be presented at the meeting and initial experiences with the clinic will be shared.

Conclusion and implications for practice:
Few broad-based programs of comprehensive internatal care have been developed. Experiences and lessons learned by the Arizona Internatal Care Demonstration Project will be shared with audience members.