It was great news to hear that Medicaid and CHIP will play a critical role in ensuring access to care for pregnant and postpartum individuals, improving the quality of maternal health care, and addressing disparities in health outcomes and pregnant and postpartum care. Sections 9812 and 9822 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) (Pub. L. 117-2) give states a new option to provide 12 months of extended postpartum coverage to pregnant individuals enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP beginning April 1, 2022.

In a news release by CMS on December 7th, 2021. CMS stated, “The newly extended postpartum coverage option offers states an opportunity to provide care that can reduce pregnancy-related deaths and severe maternal morbidity and improve continuity of care for chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiac conditions, substance use disorder, and depression. More than half of pregnancy-related deaths occur in the 12-month postpartum period, and 12 percent occur after six weeks postpartum. Significant and persistent disparities exist in pregnancy-related morbidity and mortality. Black and American Indian/Alaska Native individuals are up to five times more likely than White individuals to die from pregnancy-related complications and more likely to have a preventable death. There are also disparities in rates of postpartum follow-up care for conditions associated with morbidity and mortality”. 1

CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure stated, “No mother should have to fight for her coverage or care during pregnancy or while caring for a newborn. CMS is doing everything we can to support the health of new parents and families and to advance health equity across the country”. 2
This, indeed, is excellent news for expecting mothers. You can also find more information about this by clicking on the source links below.

Sources
(1) https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2021/12/14/hhs-encourages-hospitals-implement-patient-safety-best-practices-improve-maternity-care-and-outcomes.html?utm_source=news-releases-email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dec-19-2021
(2) https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/hhs-announces-efforts-help-expand-nationwide-access-and-coverage-high-quality-maternal-health