Minnesota, along with Maine, New Mexico, and Washington D.C. are the latest to see postpartum coverage extension through Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance the Biden-Harris Administration announced on Thursday.
The extension means 7,000 Minnesotans have access to 12 months of postpartum coverage, up from 60 days. In total, 14 states along with Washington D.C. have extended coverage. Extending postpartum coverage comes while the Biden-Harris Administration addresses what they call a maternal health crisis in the United States.
"I do believe our nation is facing a maternal mortality crisis, given the extent of the work that we as an administration have been doing with our partners," Vice President Harris said. "And -- and it is evidenced by the fact that women in our nation are dying from pregnancy-related causes at a higher rate than any other developed nation -- dying before, during, and after childbirth."
Vice President Harris joined Minnesota Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan during a press call on Thursday morning to discuss the impact an extension of postpartum coverage will have in specific states. According to Medicaid, more than half of pregnancy-related deaths in the United States occur in the 12-month postpartum period; 12 percent occur after six weeks postpartum.
"This is a long time in the life of a child," says Lt. Governor Flanagan. "And we know what policies like this do for children. They really help their development and create lifelong opportunities for them to thrive."
Vice President Harris says the administration remains committed to addressing racial disparities that exist in maternal health outcomes.
"Black women are three times more likely to be affected by this and to die from childbirth-related causes. Native women, twice as likely. Rural women, one and a half times likely. So, our administration has taken historic action to elevate this issue and protect the women of our nation. It's that simple."
With extended coverage in 14 states and D.C. an estimated 235,000 Americans have access to a full year of postpartum coverage. CMS continues to work in nine other states to extend coverage out a full year, adding that if each state were to adopt this position, as many as 720,000 pregnant and postpartum individuals across the United States annually could be guaranteed Medicaid and CHIP coverage for 12 months after pregnancy.
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