CMS approved extending Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program coverage for a full year after pregnancy for women in Indiana and West Virginia.
Indiana and West Virginia join 21 other states and Washington, D.C., in extending Medicaid and CHIP benefits to 12-months postpartum, according to a CMS news release.
States are required to provide at least 60 days of postpartum Medicaid coverage.
"Ensuring mothers get the care they need after giving birth is a core part of our effort to address the nation's maternal health crisis," HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said. "Thanks to President Biden's American Rescue Plan, now 333,000 families across the nation can access healthcare coverage for a full year after pregnancy — and have the peace of mind that comes with it."
According to the release, 720,000 people across the country would be guaranteed postpartum Medicaid coverage if all states chose to extend benefits for 12 months.