Latest
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Medicaid Work Reporting Requirements: How Can States Protect Pregnant and Postpartum Women from Losing Health Coverage?
Overview Starting in January 2027, H.R. 1 requires every state that adopted the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA’s) Medicaid expansion to low-income adults (and select additional states) to implement work reporting requirements. These work reporting requirements (WRRs) predominantly affect those enrolled in the Medicaid expansion category—coverage for adults with incomes up to 138% of the federal…
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Protecting Maternal Heart Health and Lives: Key Takeaways from the New NASEM Report
As Say Ahhh! Health Policy Blog readers know, the US rates for maternal mortality and pregnancy-related mortality and severe morbidity are high, with Black and Indigenous women experiencing the highest rates. In 2024, the maternal mortality rate for Black mothers was 44.8 deaths per 100,000 live births, which was significantly higher than the rates for…
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States Rely on Adequate Funds from Title V MCH Block Grant to Address Maternal and Child Health Needs
The Title V Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Block Grant is a federal-state partnership focused on improving the health of women, children, and families. Originally enacted in 1935, Title V of the Social Security Act authorizes federal funding for programs and projects to improve the health of mothers and children across the country. Since 1981,…
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FY26 Appropriations Act Funds Maternal Health Initiatives, Falls Short of Investments Needed to Address Maternal and Infant Mortality Crisis
On February 3, Congress passed and the President signed into law H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, which includes funding levels for the Federal Fiscal Year 2026 (FFY26) Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS). These funding levels will continue through September 30, 2026. The appropriations measure provides critical funding for key…
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State Title V Programs Should Invest More in Maternal and Infant Health and Wellbeing
A recently released report, The Role of the Title V MCH Services Block Grant in Improving Maternal and Infant Health, examines the fiscal investments for pregnant women and infants made by Title V Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services Block Grant programs in the 59 states and territories. Co-authored by Arden Handler, myself, and Nautica…