Health Policy Center
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Health Policy Update






According to the
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the maternal mortality rate of Black women is three to four times the rate of white mothers. With many pregnancy-related complications and deaths occurring after delivery and with widening racial and ethnic disparities in maternal outcomes, there is growing interest in policy solutions to ensure new mothers have access to affordable health insurance coverage that addresses their physical, mental, reproductive, and behavioral health needs. Meeting these needs has become even more critical during the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis.


Researchers at the Health Policy Center are pleased to share three new research reports, funded by the Commonwealth Fund, exploring state and federal polices shaping the public health insurance landscape for pregnant and postpartum women. These studies illuminate key gaps in public health insurance and assess the potential of extending Medicaid/Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage for a year postpartum to close care gaps for postpartum women.

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The public health insurance landscape for pregnant and postpartum women
This report assesses the current public health insurance landscape for pregnant and postpartum women, recently proposed state and federal legislation to extend postpartum coverage, and the ways legislation could expand the coverage landscape for new mothers.

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Closing postpartum coverage gaps and improving continuity and affordability of care through a postpartum Medicaid/CHIP extension
Approximately 28 percent of the nation’s estimated 440,000 women uninsured during the first year postpartum, or 123,000 new mothers annually, would likely be newly eligible for Medicaid/CHIP coverage under an extension.

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Closing gaps in maternal health coverage
A Commonwealth Fund synthesis of two Urban Institute reports summarizes the public health insurance landscape for pregnant and postpartum women and the potential of a postpartum coverage extension to close coverage gaps.
Additional reading:

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Three ways COVID-19 is further jeopardizing Black maternal health

To ensure the health of Black mothers and their newborns, policymakers could consider changes that lessen the burden on Black women, including expanding Medicaid coverage for postpartum moms, increasing insurance coverage for doula services, and training more Black female doctors.

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