Continuous Medicaid Eligibility During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Postpartum Coverage, Health Care, and Outcomes

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38457131/ Extending Medicaid eligibility during the COVID-19 pandemic significantly reduced the number of uninsured new mothers, according to a new AHRQ-funded study has found. The policy, which allowed beneficiaries to keep Medicaid coverage beyond the usual 60 days after childbirth, led to a 40 percent reduction in uninsurance among new mothers, according to the study, which was published in JAMA Health Forum. Despite reducing uninsurance, the extended coverage did not change rates of postpartum doctor visits, contraceptive use, breastfeeding or depression at about four months after birth, researchers found. The authors said their results highlight the immediate benefits of extended Medicaid but suggested more research is needed to understand its long-term effects.