What does this research mean for the field?

Extending Medicaid coverage to 12 months postpartum significantly increases continuous insurance coverage and the utilization of primary, contraceptive, mental health, and substance use disorder care among birthing parents. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.NOVEL_FINDING. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To quantify health insurance coverage and health care utilization among postpartum individuals under policies extending Medicaid coverage from 60 days to 12 months after delivery.

August 23, 2026Open Access

Postpartum Medicaid Use in Birthing Parents and Access to Financed Care

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Authors

MDMarisa Elena Domino MBM. Kate Bundorf JSJonas J. Swartz

Discussion

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Overview

Retrospective study reveals extended postpartum Medicaid increases medical and behavioral health visits in birthing parents, indicating improved access to essential ongoing clinical care.

Key Points

To quantify health insurance coverage and health care utilization among postpartum individuals under policies extending Medicaid coverage from 60 days to 12 months after delivery.
Retrospective analysis of North Carolina Medicaid claims data from March 2016 to December 2023, encompassing 353,957 Medicaid-funded births between January 2017 and December 2022.
Evaluated outcomes across 3 distinct policy periods: pre-COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), during the PHE disenrollment moratorium, and after adoption of the 12-month extension under the American Rescue Plan of 2021.
Continuous comprehensive Medicaid enrollment at 12 months postpartum was 97.1% under the extension policy compared with 26.5% in the pre-PHE period.
Beneficiaries under the 12-month extension had higher 12-month utilization rates than the pre-PHE cohort for primary care (71.4% vs 25.3%), mental health services (25.7% vs 7.5%), contraception (47.9% vs 38.0%), and substance use disorder treatment (5.3% vs 2.2%).

Cite This Study

Domino et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a8aad857677a34114445ac9 https://doi.org/10.17615/6n5w-v949

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August 23, 2026Open Access

Postpartum Medicaid Use in Birthing Parents and Access to Financed Care

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

MDMarisa Elena Domino MBM. Kate Bundorf JSJonas J. Swartz

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Retrospective study reveals extended postpartum Medicaid increases medical and behavioral health visits in birthing parents, indicating improved access to essential ongoing clinical care.

Key Points

To quantify health insurance coverage and health care utilization among postpartum individuals under policies extending Medicaid coverage from 60 days to 12 months after delivery.
Retrospective analysis of North Carolina Medicaid claims data from March 2016 to December 2023, encompassing 353,957 Medicaid-funded births between January 2017 and December 2022.
Evaluated outcomes across 3 distinct policy periods: pre-COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), during the PHE disenrollment moratorium, and after adoption of the 12-month extension under the American Rescue Plan of 2021.
Continuous comprehensive Medicaid enrollment at 12 months postpartum was 97.1% under the extension policy compared with 26.5% in the pre-PHE period.
Beneficiaries under the 12-month extension had higher 12-month utilization rates than the pre-PHE cohort for primary care (71.4% vs 25.3%), mental health services (25.7% vs 7.5%), contraception (47.9% vs 38.0%), and substance use disorder treatment (5.3% vs 2.2%).

Cite This Study

Domino et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a8aad857677a34114445ac9 https://doi.org/10.17615/6n5w-v949

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark