Extend Medicaid coverage to 12 months postpartum

The postpartum period is a critical time for maternal mental and physical health. Extending Medicaid coverage can ensure that mothers have access to health care services during this period. The postpartum period is a time when women are at increased risk of developing health complications such as postpartum depression, psychosis, hypertension, infections, and cardiomyopathy.

Medicaid covers more than 40 percent of all births. Federal law requires states to provide pregnancy-related Medicaid coverage for up to 60 days after delivery for pregnant people with incomes up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level. Research demonstrates that expanding postpartum coverage beyond 60 days has many benefits for the mother and her baby. One study found that women who gave birth used twice as many postpartum services and three times the number of mental health and substance use services when they had coverage in the postpartum period.[1] The Department of Health and Human Services estimates that about 720,000 people annually would receive Medicaid postpartum coverage if states were to expand postpartum coverage to one year.[2]

The American Rescue Plan Act gave states the option to extend Medicaid postpartum coverage to 12 months using temporary state plan amendments, sunsetting after five years.[3] The Consolidated Appropriations Act made the state option to extend the postpartum coverage period for 12 months permanent.[4] As of July 2023, 46 states had either expanded Medicaid coverage for up to 12 months postpartum or were in the process of doing so.[5]

In addition to encouraging states to expand postpartum coverage, Congress should require states to extend the postpartum coverage period for 12 months, rather than making it optional as it is under current law.