Missouri has extended its comprehensive coverage after pregnancy up to 12 months postpartum through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), as announced by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Takeaways
- Missouri has extended its comprehensive coverage after pregnancy to 12 months postpartum through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
- The decision aligns with the CMS Maternity Care Action Plan, part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Maternal Health Blueprint, which aims to improve maternal health, particularly in underserved communities.
- The coverage extension in Missouri was made permanent through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, signed by President Biden earlier in the year, making Missouri the 40th state to offer extended coverage.
- Approximately 18,000 additional people in Missouri will now have Medicaid access up to 12 months after pregnancy due to the extended coverage, impacting 641,000 individuals nationwide.
- The extended coverage is a response to the rising maternal mortality rates, with one in three pregnancy-related deaths occurring between 6 weeks and 12 months postpartum. This move is seen as crucial in improving maternal care and combating the maternal mortality and morbidity crisis in the United States.
This decision supports the CMS Maternity Care Action Plan, which is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Maternal Health Blueprint. The Biden-Harris Administration’s Maternal Health Blueprint is a plan to improve maternal health among US mothers, especially in underserved communities.
The coverage was made permanent by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, signed into law by President Biden earlier in the year. With the approval, Missouri is the 40th state offering extended coverage.
“Today’s announcement marks another important milestone in the effort to confront the nation’s maternal mortality and morbidity crisis,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “The Biden-Harris Administration continues to demonstrate its commitment to improve maternal health.”
With extended coverage offered through Medicaid and CHIP, up to 18,000 additional people residing in Missouri will have Medicaid access up to 12 months after pregnancy. Forty-one percent of births and over half of children in the United States are covered through Medicaid, with 641,000 estimated individuals having access to extended postpartum coverage following the approval in Missouri.
An estimated 720,000 US individuals would have access to Medicaid and CHIP coverage for a year postpartum if all states adopted the policy. This significantly extends coverage from the current mandatory period of 60 days.
Extending coverage is vital, as indicated by increasing maternal mortality rates. There were 754 deaths from maternal causes in 2019, 861 in 2020, and 1205 in 2021. One in 3 pregnancy-related deaths occur between 6 weeks and 12 months postpartum, making this a crucial period for maternal care.
Reference
With Missouri approval, 40 states now offer fully ear of Medicaid coverage after pregnancy. US Department of Health and Human Services. November 14, 2023. Accessed November 14, 2023. https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/11/14/missouri-approval-40-states-offer-full-year-medicaid-coverage-pregnancy.html
