ADRIENNE McGIBBON: Virginia maternal healthcare advocates are calling for change after a new secret shopper survey exposed dismal results when it came to caring for pregnant people who rely on Medicaid.

Members of the PUSH Coalition for Maternal Health held a press conference Tuesday to address the findings.

LaKEISHA COOK: As a Black mother, I am deeply disturbed and concerned by these findings.

It is unimaginable that people across the Commonwealth who need prenatal and maternal health care cannot receive adequate services from providers receiving state resources.

ADRIENNE McGIBBON: The study, released of Medical Assistance Services, which administers Medicaid in the state, found that fewer than 5% of participants were able to schedule a prenatal appointment.

36% of callers were unable to reach managed care organization or MCO provided doctors.

30% of the care providers didn't offer prenatal services, and 12% of OB-GYNs weren't accepting new patients.

Maternal care advocates say this lack of available care most impacts Black and Hispanic women.

NICOLE WARDLAW: They feel like they’re a number.

They feel like no one is listening to them.

They tell their providers about what's happening with them and they also are not heard.

It's dismissed.

And that is why we are having the disparities that we have in our community.

ADRIENNE McGIBBON: Advocates are pushing to improve care by recruiting and retaining a more diverse workforce.

They're also calling on Virginia Medicaid to require MCOs provide monthly public reports for improved transparency.

Adrienne McGibbon, VPM News