Executive Summary
As the largest payer of pregnancy related care in the U.S. and payer for 65% of Black pregnant peoples’ labor and delivery care nationwide, Medicaid has a strong influence on maternal health outcomes and equity. This issue brief answers the following questions:
Q.1 What are the Medicaid Act’s minimum requirements for pregnancy Medicaid coverage?
Q.2 How can states provide pregnancy Medicaid coverage beyond the Medicaid Act’s minimum?
Q.3 Do § 1115 waivers to extend pregnancy Medicaid coverage meet statutory requirements?
Q.4 What are the reproductive health equity implications of these § 1115 waiver proposals?
Q.5 How has CMS responded to state proposals to restrict post-pregnancy coverage extensions by duration or pregnancy outcome?
