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.
Related Articles
Never Forget: Volunteers are the Everyday Heroes and Heroes Every Day
Twenty-five years have passed since the tragic events of a day all Americans know as shorthand: 9/11. Although our resolve was tested, we found a way to transform tragedy into togetherness, with people from across the country stepping up to volunteer and serve in countless ways. In 2009, Congress designated September 11 as a National […]
Forging a New Path Toward Stronger Nonprofits and Foundations—and a Stronger Mississippi
To the organizations, leaders, and communities we have had the honor of serving for the past seven years: I want to talk to you honestly about where the Alliance is and where we are going. Seven years ago, this organization launched with a bold idea: that nonprofits and philanthropic organizations in Mississippi would be stronger, […]
Woodward Hines Education Foundation Supports First-Gen College Success in Mississippi with $1.5 Million Grant to FirstGen Forward
The Woodward Hines Education Foundation is focused on college completion in Mississippi, and its funds will allow FirstGen Forward to expand its impact in the state.