Count the Kicks Announces Partnership with Healthy Blue in Idaho

State Expansion

• Rachel Peterson
• 09.01.26

Community Care Health Plan of Idaho, Inc., doing business as Healthy Blue, is collaborating with Count the Kicks, an evidence-based stillbirth prevention program, to help educate expectant parents in Idaho about the importance of paying attention to their baby’s movements in the third trimester of pregnancy. 

Research shows 25% of stillbirths are potentially preventable. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) lists a change in a baby’s movements as one of its 15 urgent maternal warning signs. Research shows a change in a baby’s normal movement pattern is sometimes the first or only indication there may be an issue developing during the pregnancy. 

Goal of the Partnership

Thanks to a grant from Healthy Blue, maternal health providers, birthing hospitals, social service agencies, childbirth educators and other providers in Idaho will have access to Count the Kicks educational materials at no cost to help them have a conversation about baby’s movement patterns with expectant parents. Healthy Blue recently announced plans to pursue participation in the state’s upcoming Medicaid managed care contract to help meet the health needs of Idahoans, including pregnant women.

“We are honored to collaborate with Count the Kicks to expand access to vital maternal health education across the state,” said Matthew Bell, president, Healthy Blue in Idaho. “Through provider training and public awareness efforts, we’re empowering healthcare professionals and expectant parents with tools to recognize early warning signs and help ensure a healthy birthday.”

Impact of Stillbirth in Idaho

Stillbirth is commonly defined as the loss of a baby at 20 weeks or greater gestation during pregnancy. It is a national public health crisis that impacts more than 20,000 families in the U.S. every year, according to the CDC. Every year 112 Idaho families experience the tragedy of stillbirth. For expectant parents in the state, one in every 205 births ends in stillbirth. 

Data shows Idaho women travel 14 miles on average to reach a hospital providing obstetric care. In Idaho, 32% of counties are considered maternity care deserts, and the state ranks 38th for coverage, access, and affordability of care. Women living in maternity care deserts travel 2.9 times farther than women who live in an area with full access. By making movement monitoring easy and accessible for moms in Idaho, Count the Kicks and Healthy Blue are working together to improve birth outcomes for moms and babies, sending in the right moms at the right time.

Research on Count The Kicks

After a few days using the Count the Kicks digital and analog tools, expectant parents will begin to understand the normal amount of time it takes their baby to get to 10 movements. If their baby’s “normal” changes during the third trimester, this could be a sign of potential problems and is an indication that the expectant parent should call their healthcare provider right away. 

Count the Kicks helps improve birth outcomes for moms and babies. Research published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology demonstrates the effectiveness of Count the Kicks as a method for stillbirth prevention. The results have led researchers to call for urgent action to address the stillbirth crisis in the U.S. and to study Count the Kicks on a national level. 

Healthy Blue is joining communities across the country in reducing the rate of stillbirth through the evidence-based Count the Kicks program. The goal is to save approximately 28 babies in Idaho each year.

About Healthy Blue

Healthy Blue in Idaho is a collaboration formed by Gemstone Holdings, Inc., parent company of Blue Cross of Idaho and Anthem Partnership Holding Company, LLC (Anthem), specifically to serve Idaho Medicaid enrollees. Anthem has over 35 years of Medicaid experience through its parent and affiliated companies, serving more than 8 million Medicaid enrollees across 24 markets. Its expertise – combined with Blue Cross of Idaho’s over 80 years of service to Idahoans and longstanding provider relationships – positions Healthy Blue to bring both innovation and improved outcomes to the Idaho Medicaid program as it transitions to managed care for the new contract.