CMS Announces New Options for States in Extending Postpartum Medicaid
By Policy Center’s Legislative and Regulatory Policy Team
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In January 2024, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare (CMS) released new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) titled “Improving Maternal Health and Extending Postpartum Coverage in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP),” providing new options for states in extending postpartum Medicaid coverage.
The announcement read:
Updated Options for Extending Postpartum Coverage
The Centers for Medicaid & Medicare (CMS) released a set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) to supplement the 2021 State Health Official letter, "Improving Maternal Health and Extending Postpartum Coverage in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)."
The letter informed state Medicaid and CHIP agencies about the new option for states to provide 12 months of extended postpartum coverage to pregnant individuals enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP. The FAQs provide guidance to state Medicaid programs about what constitutes full benefits during the 12-month extended postpartum eligibility period and clarify whether a state needs to submit a state plan amendment (SPA) to amend its coverage pages.
KFF provides a postpartum Medicaid tracker that tracks state actions to implement extended Medicaid postpartum coverage. Read more and view the tracker here:
https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/medicaid-postpartum-coverage-extension-tracker/
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