Current Evidence to Guide Practice, Policy, and Research: Extending Medicaid Coverage in the Postpartum Period

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, signed into law on March 11, 2021, allowed states to extend Medicaid for a full 12 months in the postpartum period. As of October 2022, 15 states have yet to endorse this state option. In this column, I review Medicaid eligibility requirements, the proposed policy changes, and summarize research findings and recommendations from professional organizations supporting the permanent extension of Medicaid in the postpartum period.