In March 2021, President Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan, giving states the option to extend pregnancy-related Medicaid eligibility to one year after delivery. Specifically, states will have the option to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage through a State Plan Amendment (SPA) starting in spring 2022. PolicyLab supports federal efforts to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage and, going forward, will support state-level actors interested in taking advantage of the federal opportunity to extend coverage, knowing that greater access to care improves health and well-being for birthing individuals and their children. As providers, advocates, and government officials pursue extending postpartum Medicaid coverage at the state level, the question at the forefront of these efforts is how much the extension will cost.
