By: Natasha Rappazzo* and Amy Chen
Executive Summary
Medicaid plays a crucial role in ensuring access to care during and after pregnancy. States can help alleviate maternal mortality and severe morbidity by putting in place both Medicaid pregnancy related extensions and Medicaid coverage for doula care. This issue brief shares an update of current state implementation efforts around pregnancy related Medicaid coverage extensions and Medicaid coverage for doula care. The brief analyses how these two efforts address maternal and infant mortality and why aligning twelve month pregnancy related Medicaid extensions and Medicaid coverage for doula care can improve maternal health.
*Natasha Rappazzo was a legal intern at the National Health Law Program in summer 2023.
