Moms Win in the White House: Medicaid Program Covers One Full Year of Health Care for Moms Postpartum–Vice President Kamala Harris announced mothers on Medicaid will receive one full year of health care postpartum to combat maternal mortality. Learn how this impacts Ohio right here on Newsymom!
On Thursday, Vice President Kamala Harris announced that effective April 2022, states will now have the option to offer one year of postpartum healthcare for pregnant mothers through Medicaid. This benefit is valid for five years for each state. States are jumping onboard quickly to help provide aid to our mamas across the country.
Prior to this benefit, mothers were only guaranteed 60 days of healthcare.
The Maternal Mortality Crisis
“I do believe our nation is facing a maternal mortality crisis,” Vice President Harris said. “Women in our nation are dying from pregnancy-related causes at a higher rate than any other developed nation.”
In fact, the United States’ rate of pregnancy-related deaths is over 17 per 100,000 births. To put it in perspective, Canada and France’s rates are half that, and countries such as Norway, the Netherlands, and New Zealand are three deaths or less!
Mamas Suffer the Most
It’s no secret that Black women suffer more when it comes to pregnancy-related complications. Black women are nearly three times more likely to die compared to White women. On top of that stat, the risk is more than double for Native American women and 60% more likely for women living in rural areas. (Maternal Mortality in the United States: A Primer, The Commonwealth Fund)
For lots of moms, having healthcare is the difference between life and death. With this legislation taking effect, moms can focus on caring for themselves and their babies, not worrying about whether or not they have health care.
VP Harris is the G.O.A.T. for Mamas Everywhere
The White House estimates that as many as 720,000 people will be impacted by the aid, so long as every state agrees to the benefit. In 2020, 42% of births were covered by Medicaid!
VP Kamala Harris, nicknamed “the Momnibus”, is a major advocate for maternal health, especially Black maternal health! Maternal health bills have been reintroduced in the House of Representatives this year. Some of the bills include: incentivizing insurance companies to give longer periods of coverage for postpartum care, promoting vaccinations for moms, and investing in things that impact mom’s health such as housing and nutrition.
To learn more about this benefit right here in Ohio, click the link: Improving Health for Mom and Babies
Melissa Klatt
Reporting
