Until recently, a new mother on Medicaid only received postpartum coverage for 60 days.
Now, that coverage extends to a full year. It’s part of an effort from the American Rescue Plan to allow states to increase their coverage of postpartum care as maternal mortality rates skyrocket across the U.S. — particularly for women of color.
Earlier this month, a new study showed that the number of people who die in the U.S. from pregnancy-related causes has more than doubled in the last two decades. In Arizona, that picture is even worse.
The Show discussed the challenges with Dr. Sara Salek, chief medical officer for the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, or AHCCCS, Arizona’s Medicaid program.
