WASHINGTON (Jan. 27, 2026)-A new issue brief examines Medicaid Managed Care agreements and identifies improvements and ongoing gaps in access to high-quality care provided to new mothers in the US.
Anne Markus, Chair of the Department of Health Policy and Management at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health and her team explored state requirements for continuous Medicaid coverage through one year postpartum.
As of 2025, 48 states and Washington, DC provided continuous Medicaid coverage through this one year period. Research shows that without these extensions, up to 48% of low income mothers covered by Medicaid would lose their coverage two months after giving birth.
“Continuous access to quality Medicaid coverage in this critical postpartum period increases access to needed medication and medical care,” Markus says. “Such care can improve the health of both new mothers and their infants.”
The researchers found that postpartum contractual language varies widely depending on the state and often applies only to certain subpopulations. They also noted that Medicaid Managed Care agreements often fall short of best practices in postpartum care.
Strengthening the standards to which Medicaid Managed Care Organizations are held would likely improve access to and delivery of high-quality postpartum care, the authors say.
The issue brief, Fortifying Medicaid Managed Care for Postpartum Enrollees: The Clearest Path to Improving Maternal Health, was funded by The Commonwealth Fund.