Extended Medicaid coverage increases use of postpartum care for women

Medicaid recently extended the length of its coverage for postpartum care to 12 months after childbirth, which has increased the utilization among women with pregnancy complications like diabetes and hypertension, according to a Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health study. The study was one of the first to look specifically at whether the policy change would translate into utilization by new mothers. The U.S. has the highest rate of postpartum deaths among wealthy nations — about 55% higher than even the second-highest wealthy nation (Chile) and as much as 10 times higher than most other wealthy countries.