HCSC bats for maternity coverage extension

In the United States, pregnancy too often comes at a deadly cost, especially for women of color. The potential to prevent these deaths doesn’t vary by race or ethnicity. And yet, Black and Native American women are two to three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, a disparity that increases with age. The American Rescue Plan Act, enacted in March, allows states to extend pregnancy-related Medicaid coverage for 12 months after delivery. The new provision expires after five years, so the same coalition is urging Congress to make it permanent.

1. Factors: Factors driving the nation’s maternal mortality rate includes poverty and lack of health care coverage and access. Medicaid, which covers nearly half of all U.S. births, can bridge gaps in prenatal care by providing qualified, low-income pregnant women with health care, support services, counseling, and two months of postpartum care.
2. Advocates for better coverage: Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC) was part of a coalition of health plan associations and managed care organizations that joined provider groups and patient advocates to press Congress to extend postpartum coverage and make it permanent.
3. Improvisations: “Our members need a broad array of services, including medical care, long-term services and supports and medically-related social services,” says Gloria Eldridge, HCSC Medicaid policy divisional vice president. “Allowing states the option to cover mothers in Medicaid through 12 months postpartum will substantially improve access to care for many of our members and tens of thousands of mothers nationwide.”
4. First, one to uphold: In April, Illinois became the first state to get a federal waiver to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage for a year. Meantime, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott recently signed legislation to seek federal approval to extend benefits to new mothers for six months after giving birth.
5. Coverage: HCSC covers nearly 1 million Medicaid members through its plans in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, and Texas. The company’s nurses, social workers, and others identify and reach out to Medicaid members with conditions such as obesity, hypertension, preeclampsia, depression or diabetes, which puts them at higher risk for complications and preterm births. Medical managers and care coordinators help members access to care and finding resources such as healthy food and transportation to help them reach full-term pregnancy.