Authors: Robin Buskey, Anoosha Hasan, Dakota Staren
Maternal health remains a national priority as states continue to address longstanding disparities in maternal health outcomes, the U.S. maternal mortality rate exceeds that of other nations, and most preventable pregnancy-related deaths occur during the postpartum period.
Many states have implemented new strategies to address the maternal health crisis, and some states have passed sweeping “Momnibus” bills. At least two-thirds of states have included a focus on maternal health in their Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) applications, with many states planning to target efforts to improve access to quality maternity care in rural communities. Finally, states continue to prioritize Medicaid postpartum coverage extension while balancing state and federal budget shortfalls.