This change will affect thousands.
On March 16, Gov. Tate Reeves signed into law Senate Bill 2212 extending postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to 12 months for new mothers in Mississippi. During the response law of COVID-19, coverage was extended for 12 months, however would have expired at the end of March 2023.
What does this mean for mothers in Mississippi? With more than two-thirds of babies in Mississippi born to people on Medicaid, this change will affect thousands. In the past, new mothers on Medicaid lost postpartum health care coverage after 60 days; a period of time often the deadliest for new mothers. Now, women Mississippians on Medicaid will have postpartum health care coverage for 12 months, to address any post or continuing pregnancy-related health issues, such as diabetes and hypertension, as well as mental health issues that often arise after giving birth, like postpartum depression.
Federal law mandates states provide postpartum Medicaid coverage for at least 60 days, which was the current limit in Mississippi. Mississippi now joins 29 other states, including D.C., that have extended postpartum Medicaid coverage. As we reflect on the theme of the month, this bipartisan support of this bill in our Mississippi Legislature shows the importance of providing health support services for women in our state.
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