Postpartum Healthcare Utilization Among Women with Medicaid Coverage
Among women enrolled in Elevance Health-affiliated Medicaid managed care plans, healthcare use remained substantial beyond 60 days postpartum, with continued use of illness-related care, emergency department visits, contraceptive management, mental health/substance use disorder care, and preventive services.
Medicaid has historically covered pregnant women only through 60 days postpartum, despite evidence that their medical, behavioral health, and preventive health needs often continue throughout the first year after delivery. The American Rescue Plan Act authorized states to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage to 12 months, which nearly all states have done
This study examined healthcare utilization during early (days 7–60 after delivery) and extended (days 61–365) postpartum periods among women enrolled in Medicaid plans. The findings show that women continue to access a broad range of services during the extended period, reinforcing the importance of sustained coverage throughout the postpartum year.
Related Public Policy Research
Value-Based Care Incentives for Improving Maternal and Infant Care Delivery
To improve maternal and infant health among Medicaid members, Elevance Health created a value-based care program, which was paired with clinical support for care providers. The providers eligible for higher incentives demonstrated better birth outcomes.
Late Medicaid Enrollment During Pregnancy Increases Risk of Mortality
Early enrollment into Medicaid managed care during pregnancy is important for timely access to prenatal care. This paper provides evidence that enrolling into managed care late in pregnancy impedes opportunities to identify serious conditions and therefore could increase the risk of mortality after delivery.
Addressing Prenatal and Postpartum Coverage Gaps in Medicaid
Medicaid is a critical source of insurance coverage for pregnant women. However, there are still gaps in coverage, due to delays in when pregnant women access Medicaid managed care benefits and how long after delivery they retain coverage.