EXPAND POSTPARTUM BENEFITS FOR PEOPLE ON MEDICAID
Current Medicaid coverage for pregnant people must be expanded to confront the maternal mortality crisis and ensure that pregnant people and their babies have access to the care they need. 700 women die each year in the US from pregnancy-related complications, a far higher rate than any other country in the Global North. This rate is 2-3 times higher for Black and indigenous women. Medicaid covers 43% of births nationwide, but Medicaid frequently does not cover birth center births or access to adequate postpartum care.
For many people with low risk pregnancies, the safest way to give birth is in an out-of -hospital setting, such as a birth center. Reimbursement for birth center births is required under the Affordable Care Act, yet many birth centers struggle to participate in Medicaid. Birth centers often have difficulty obtaining contracts with Medicaid-managed care organizations, and Medicaid reimbursement rates may be too low for the birth center to cover the cost of care.
All pregnant people need at least a year of health insurance coverage to ensure that they and their babies can thrive. In states that have not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), many pregnant people become uninsured just two months after giving birth. 40% of pregnant people with Medicaid coverage are not able to access a postpartum visit, which prevents them from accessing care and support for problems such as postpartum depression and breastfeeding challenges.
Extending Medicaid coverage for pregnant people and their babies to a year after birth would ensure access to services including treatment for postpartum depression and chronic conditions. At least one third of maternal deaths occur in the postpartum period, and postpartum parents need health care to screen for potential risk factors.
Expanding postpartum health care is essential in order for the State to adequately care for parents and their babies, particular Black and indigenous and low income parents. In NY, proposed legislation SB7147 would extend Medicaid coverage to one year.
Illinois and New Jersey are also seeking waivers from CMS to extend Medicaid’s postpartum period so that low-income postpartum parents at income levels above 138% FPL keep their Medicaid coverage beyond two months postpartum. NY must join them.
LEGISLATIVE ACTION:
Email your State Senator, Assembly Member to ask them to support bill SB7147, which would extend medicaid coverage to one year.
Email your State Senator, Assembly Member and ask them to support waivers from CMS to extend Medicaid’s postpartum period so that low-income postpartum parents at income levels above 138% FPL keep their Medicaid coverage beyond two months postpartum
Email Governor Cuomo and ask him to sign bill SB7147 when it reaches him.