CMS has given the green light to 11 states to expand their Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program coverage from 60 days to 12 months postpartum.
The states with expanded coverage are California, Florida, Kentucky, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Michigan, Louisiana, Virginia, New Jersey and Illinois. Florida will expand its coverage through a Medicaid and CHIP section 1115 demonstration, according to a May 25 news release.
CMS is currently working with Indiana, Maine, Minnesota, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, North Carolina, Washington, Connecticut and Washington, D.C., to expand their programs.
The expanded coverage option began April 1 and could affect up to 720,000 pregnant and postpartum individuals across the nation.
"As CMS Administrator — and also as a mother — I applaud California, Florida, Kentucky and Oregon for joining a cadre of states in giving families one of the greatest gifts we can: The peace of mind of health coverage, particularly in the critical post-partum period," CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure said. "The American Rescue Plan gives all states an easier pathway to extend postpartum coverage beyond the critical first weeks for a new family, which can put all our communities — particularly those hard hit by health disparities — on a better course toward health and well-being."