One in three pregnancy-related deaths occur between one week and one year following childbirth, according to a research released by the Health & Human Services (HHS) Office of Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. Recovery following childbirth, dealing with delivery issues, assuring mental health, managing newborn care, and switching from obstetric to primary care all require attention during the postpartum period.
Increasing access to high-quality, affordable healthcare is a primary aim for the Biden-Harris administration. There are now more people with health insurance than ever before thanks to numerous administrative initiatives. These initiatives at CMS include:
Medicaid & the Children's Health Insurance Program Supporting Maternal Health
IMedicaid eligibility is ensured for a year following delivery. State Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage can now continue for a full year following pregnancy, up from just 60 days before the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP). When states choose this option, women who are enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP receive postpartum care for 12 months, regardless of any changes in their personal circumstances, such as an increase in income. This extended coverage option offers states an opportunity to provide care that can reduce pregnancy-related , and enhance the continuity of care for persistent illnesses.
Establishing a “Birthing-Friendly” Hospital Designation. CMS announced intentions to create a "Birthing-Friendly" hospital label—a publicly reported, public-facing hospital classification on the quality and safety of maternity care—in the 2023 inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) proposed regulation. This hospital classification will be established by CMS in the fall of 2023. When everything is said and done, CMS will give this designation to hospitals that answer "Yes" to both of the Maternal Morbidity Structural Measure's inquiries, indicating that they took part in a national or state-level quality collaboration and applied all advised interventions. Additionally, CMS published a request for information in which the organisation solicited and received feedback on potential U.S. solutions. addressing the maternal health problem through programmes and policies, such as the Conditions of Participation and benchmarks in our quality reporting initiatives. The IPPS final rule included a summary of these comments, which will be taken into consideration when developing potential future policy.
President and Vice President first took office, the Biden-Harris Administration has promoted laws to enhance maternal health and equity.
. The first-ever presidential proclamation recognising Black Maternal Health Week was issued by President Biden in April 2021.
. During the inaugural White House Maternal Health Day of Action in December 2021, Vice President Harris made significant commitments to address the maternal health epidemic.
. The Vice President also issued a call to action to the public and private sectors to enhance maternal health outcomes, pushing states to increase Medicaid coverage for postpartum women from two to twelve months and outlining recommendations on how states should do so.
. Since then, the Vice President has called a historic gathering of cabinet secretaries and agency heads, including CMS Administrator Brooks-LaSure, to talk about the administration's all-government strategy to address maternal mortality and morbidity.
. The Biden-Harris Administration's Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis, a comprehensive strategy to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity, was released by the White House
. In June 2022. Pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum problems can have catastrophic effects on a person's health and result in hundreds of fatalities every year for a much too large number of people. Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native women, as well as those living in rural areas, suffer from maternal mortality and morbidity at considerably higher rates than their white and urban counterparts, making this crisis in maternal health particularly devastating for them.
To help with the implementation of the Biden-Harris Administration's Blueprint, which includes postpartum coverage extensions through Medicaid and CHIP, CMS announced its Maternity Care Action Plan in July 2022. In order to enhance health outcomes and eliminate inequities for persons during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, the action plan adopts a comprehensive and integrated strategy across CMS. The Biden-Harris Administration's broad vision and call to action to promote maternal health will be supported by CMS's implementation of the action plan.
