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This policy watch discusses Medicaid unwinding and how enrollees who qualified for Medicaid through the pregnancy pathway are at risk of losing Medicaid coverage, particularly those living in states who have not implemented Medicaid expansion and have not extended postpartum Medicaid coverage.
An updated KFF issue brief on racial disparities in maternal and infant health includes new and updated analysis of data on pregnancy-related mortality, birth risks and infant mortality.
KFF recently updated its interactive dashboard with national and state data on women’s health, as well as information about various policies that affect women’s health.
A growing number of states have added Medicaid coverage of non-traditional pregnancy-related care and services in recent years, such as doula services, lactation services, and home visiting programs, to promote better maternal and infant health outcomes and reduce racial/ethnic health disparities. This brief explores state strategies and challenges in promoting access to these services.
In recent weeks, the United States has been grappling with a baby formula shortage following supply chain issues, a voluntary recall, and the closing of a plant that produces a large share of the country’s formula. Since it is recommended that infants receive breast milk or formula until they are age one, this shortage has had a significant impact across the country. Infants in low-income families and infants of color, who are often covered by Medicaid, may be particularly impacted by the shortage resulting in potential short and long-term health risks.
As the COVID-19 pandemic grows, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other public health officials recommend that people who are sick should stay home. Benefits such as sick leave and family leave can help employees follow these guidelines; however, the U.S. does not have national standards on paid family or sick leave. The lack of a national policy means some employees are forced to take unpaid leave, or come to work when they are ill, which could have public health consequences.
This brief outlines how telemedicine is currently used in obstetrical care, how these services are financed and regulated, and reviews federal efforts to expand the use of telemedicine, particularly to address maternal health disparities.
KFF's Usha Ranji's testimony before the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health on September 10, 2019 describes describes the role of Medicaid coverage for pregnant and postpartum women, including differences in eligibility between states and efforts to strengthen postpartum care and coverage for women enrolled in Medicaid.
In this article for The Lancet, KFF's Jennifer Kates and 19 co-authors examine trends in the provision and receipt of development assistance for health (DAH), particularly for the G20 countries. The article looks at key questions facing leaders of the G20 countries, including how to best focus DAH for equitable health gains, how to deliver DAH to strengthen health systems, and how to support domestic resource mobilization and tranformative partnerships for sustainable impact.
This brief provides a summary of Medicaid’s role for pregnant women and infants and current Medicaid initiatives to improve maternal and infant health.
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