Many States Look to Strengthen Medicaid
Coverage for Maternal Health in FY2022, According to New KFF Report
Medicaid funds more than
four in ten births in the United States and more than half in several
states. A new KFF
report of results from a survey of 41 states and DC finds that
on the whole, states offer broad coverage for basic pregnancy-related
services. Most states also reported that they are working on ways to
strengthen Medicaid coverage of maternity services and are trying to
respond to concerns about coverage continuity and scope of benefits.
The new report outlines
four main themes regarding state pregnancy-related benefits: prenatal and
delivery; counseling and support services; breastfeeding and postpartum
visits; and future directions. Some key highlights from the report
include:
- Most
states are considering efforts to enhance maternity benefits, with
several reporting initiatives to address substance use disorders for
pregnant and postpartum beneficiaries, improve maternal mental
health care, strengthen home visiting, and address racial and ethnic
disparities in maternal health outcomes.
- More
than half of responding states cover home births under Medicaid,
with interest growing since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Most
states cover dental services for pregnant Medicaid enrollees, with
some limitations like emergency dental services.
- Doulas,
who provide support to pregnant people during pregnancy and labor,
are an increasingly popular service that many states are considering
adding. Currently only a few states cover doula services.
- Fertility
care continues to be a major gap in Medicaid, with a majority of
states not covering fertility assistance services. Only 11 of the
survey states cover diagnostic testing related to fertility and only
four states cover fertility medication.
Many states reported
efforts to extend the postpartum coverage period, which was the most
reported new initiative states would be implementing in 2022. For the
most up to date information on Medicaid postpartum coverage extensions,
visit the online KFF
tracker.
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