Commonwealth Fund December 7, 2022
Toplines
Access to health care following childbirth is vital for preventing maternal deaths and promoting overall well-being for parents and children
By making 12 months of postpartum coverage a mandatory, permanent benefit across state Medicaid programs, up to 720,000 people who would have otherwise lost their Medicaid coverage 60 days post-pregnancy could maintain access
Many people in the United States can’t access needed maternal health services, and the consequences can be lethal. Among high-income countries, the U.S. has the highest rate of maternal deaths, most of which are considered preventable. For every maternal death in the U.S., there are also an estimated 70 to 80 cases of severe illness related to pregnancy, which can lead to months or years of...