Report Examines State Medicaid Coverage of Perinatal and Maternal Benefits
May 2, 2017
Kaiser Family Foundation
Medicaid Coverage of Pregnancy and Perinatal Benefits: Results from a State Survey
This report, authored by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Management Associates (HMA), analyzes the status of Medicaid benefit policies for perinatal and family planning services in 40 states and the District of Columbia.
While inpatient and outpatient hospital care must be covered for pregnant women under the federal scope of Medicaid, it is up to the discretion of states to define which other maternal benefits are included. Most states cover a broad range of perinatal services such as ultrasounds and prenatal vitamins. Other services are less likely to be covered by the states, including parenting classes and breastfeeding education.
Key findings in the report are presented in the areas of:
- Perinatal services
- Counseling and support services
- Delivery and postpartum care
- Breastfeeding services
HMA’s Kathleen Gifford co-authored the report along with Usha Ranji, Alina Salganicoff and Ivette Gomez of the Kaiser Family Foundation and Jenna Walls. This report serves as a companion report to Medicaid Coverage of Family Planning Benefits: Results from a State Survey, released in September 2016 by the same authors.