Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new data indicating that national maternal mortality rates (MMR) fell significantly in 2022. Compared to 2021, the number of maternal deaths fell from 1,205 to 817 overall and the rate fell from 32.9 to 22.3 deaths per 100,000 live births. These new data suggest […]
This week the Task Force on Maternal Mental Health released a national strategy to improve maternal health care and an accompanying report to Congress. The federal interagency task force was created under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 for purposes of identifying, evaluating, and making recommendations to coordinate and improve federal activities related to addressing maternal […]
Federal and state leaders have prioritized maternal health in Medicaid in recent years with welcome (if overdue) attention. As Say Ahhh! readers know, the new state option to extend postpartum coverage to 12 months for all pregnant women in Medicaid has been adopted or is in progress in all but two states (AR and WI) […]
A new study in this month’s issue of Health Affairs offers additional insights into the impact of postpartum Medicaid coverage on access to care. In short: continuous postpartum Medicaid coverage increased stability, access, and affordability to outpatient mental health and prescription medication treatments for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders compared with those who transitioned to […]
Doula care continues to be a hot topic as our nation struggles to address the current maternal and infant health crises. Research has shown that doulas help reduce the risk of adverse birth outcomes, reduce infant mortality rates and help improve perinatal mental health. Access to doula care services can be out of reach for […]
One commonsense policy change can make a huge difference in the lives of children. A new federal report released yesterday finds that the 12-month continuous eligibility period for children in Medicaid and CHIP that took effect on January 1, 2024 will protect more than 17 million children who live in states that previously did not […]
