November 3, 2025
Molina Healthcare of Iowa Awards Funding to EveryStep for Innovative Suitcase Clinics
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Molina Healthcare of Iowa Awards Funding to EveryStep for
Innovative Suitcase Clinics
Suitcase Clinics created to improve maternal and child health access in Central Iowa
DES MOINES, Iowa (Nov. 3, 2025) — EveryStep announced it had received funding from Molina Healthcare of Iowa to launch its new Suitcase Clinics initiative, aimed at reducing health disparities among women in Polk, Dallas, Madison and Warren counties.
Through this initiative, EveryStep’s nurses bring vital health services and education straight to the community, meeting uninsured and under-insured families where they already live, work and play.
The Suitcase Clinic offers comprehensive care to support individuals through every stage of reproductive health, including preconception, pregnancy, postpartum and child health. Services are offered outside traditional clinics and homes, in trusted and convenient community spaces such as human service agencies, churches and faith-based centers, food banks, and WIC offices.
In addition to direct care, EveryStep nurses:
- Connect each client with a primary care provider and dentist
- Facilitate care coordination and referrals to community resources
- Screen for Medicaid eligibility, linking families with an on-site enrollment support
“These clinics were designed to eliminate barriers,” said Molly Gosselink, EveryStep Vice President of Community Health. “By meeting families in community spaces where they already feel at ease, we were able to provide earlier support, prevent health crises and help build stronger, healthier futures.”
The U.S. continues to see rising maternal mortality rates — approximately 1,200 women die each year from pregnancy, delivery, and post-partum complications. Nearly 84% of these deaths are considered preventable with timely, adequate care.
In Iowa, Black women face a risk of dying during pregnancy or within the year postpartum that is six times higher than that of white women. Barriers such as lack of insurance, limited clinic hours, transportation challenges, and cultural or language differences continue to prevent many families from accessing the care they need.
The financial support from Molina Healthcare of Iowa will expand access to care for underserved families, helping to improve maternal and child health outcomes, and address preventable health disparities.
“Molina’s work to improve the wellness of the community begins with closing health gaps for traditionally underserved populations and this investment in the Suitcase Clinics aligns with that effort,” said Jennifer Vermeer, plan president, Molina Healthcare of Iowa. “Reducing disparities begins with removing barriers and we proudly support EveryStep’s work to make care more accessible.”
To learn more about EveryStep, its leadership and board members, please visit www.everystep.org.
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About EveryStep
One of Iowa’s oldest and most trusted nonprofits, EveryStep has been providing health care and community services since 1908. We are committed to delivering exceptional care and support when it matters most. From hospice care and home health services to programs for growing families and grief and loss support, our dedicated team walks alongside individuals and families during life’s most challenging times, ensuring compassion, dignity and empathy. To learn more about EveryStep and its more than 30 programs and services, please visit www.everystep.org.
About Molina Healthcare of Iowa
Molina Healthcare of Iowa, Inc. provides government-funded, quality health care, serving members through the Medicaid program in Iowa. Through its locally operated health plans, Molina Healthcare, Inc., a Fortune 500 company, provides managed health care services under the Medicaid and Medicare programs, and through state insurance marketplaces. For more information about Molina Healthcare of Iowa, visit MolinaHealthcare.com