Many Lack Health Coverage Before Pregnancy And After Giving Birth

A new study looks at the problems for women getting proper care for pregnancy. Medicaid often provides health care once a woman is pregnant, but in those important months before conception and after the birth of her baby, a woman may not have access to the federal-state program. Some states, including Florida, are looking at extending coverage after the woman delivers her child.

FierceHealthcare: Study: 1 In 3 Women With Prenatal Medicaid Lack Coverage Before Or After Pregnancy

While many pregnant women gain coverage through Medicaid, ensuring they have insurance after giving birth remains a significant challenge, according to a new study. Researchers at the Urban Institute, a left-leaning think tank, found that 26.8% of new mothers covered for prenatal care through Medicaid were uninsured prior to becoming pregnant. In addition, 21.9% became uninsured again within two to six months of their child's birth, the study found. (Minemyer, 4/7)

WLRN 91.3: Group Of Bipartisan Lawmakers Want To Boost Support For Extending Medicaid For Mothers

For decades, women in Florida who give birth and don’t have health insurance have been eligible for two months of Medicaid, the public health program, but now, a group of lawmakers in the state House of Representatives from both parties are working together to extend that 60 days of Medicaid coverage after birth. (Zaragovia, 4/8)

Also —

Modern Healthcare: MACPAC Wants To Cut Medicaid Spending On High-Cost Specialty Drugs

The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission is poised to recommend changes to how Medicaid pays for high-cost specialty drugs. At MACPAC's April meeting on Thursday, commissioners signaled they would recommend Congress increase the minimum rebate percentage and additional inflationary rebate on drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration through the accelerated approval program. According to the draft recommendations, the increased minimum rebate percentage and additional inflationary rebate would apply to a drug until the drugmaker completes the confirmatory trial and gets full FDA approval. (Brady, 4/8)

Oklahoman: Lawmaker Aims To Stop Oklahoma Gov. Stitt From Privatizing Medicaid

An Oklahoma state lawmaker introduced legislation Wednesday to stop Gov. Kevin Stitt from overhauling Oklahoma's Medicaid program. Rep. Marcus McEntire introduced legislation for the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to implement internal managed care as opposed to outsourcing care management for most Medicaid recipients to four major insurance companies. In other words, McEntire, R-Duncan, wants to reform the Health Care Authority so the agency better manages health care for Medicaid recipients in-house. (Forman, 4/8)

And in news on Medicare payments --

Modern Healthcare: CMS Wants To Bump Pay For Hospices, SNFs Next Year

Hospices and skilled nursing facilities are likely to get a pay bump in 2022, CMS said Thursday. The agency plans to increase hospice payments by 2.3%, or $530 million, in 2022. The proposed aggregate cap for hospice payments is just under $31,390. According to a CMS fact sheet, CMS also plans to update the labor shares for continuous home care, route home care, inpatient respite care, and general inpatient care. (Brady, 4/8)

This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.

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