Issue Briefs | Apr 1, 2022

The American Rescue Plan Act’s State Option to Extend Postpartum Coverage

Kinda Serafi, Kaylee O’Connor and Patricia Boozang, Manatt Health

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) establishes a new state option to extend Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage for pregnant women for one year following the baby’s birth. Under current law, Medicaid and CHIP pregnant women’s coverage extends only through 60 days postpartum. ARP’s new state option to extend continuous coverage for one-year postpartum enables states to take a major step towards improving health outcomes for postpartum women and their babies by mitigating coverage loss, providing comprehensive coverage in the postpartum period to address maternal mortality and morbidity, and advancing health equity. This issue brief reviews the policy and operational considerations for states of the new option to extend postpartum coverage. The issue brief has been updated as of April 1, 2022 to include reference to additional guidance released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on December 7, 2021.


Expert Perspectives

September 27, 2024

States Have New Flexibility to Add Adult Dental Care to Essential Health Benefits

On April 2, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services offered a new option for states to update their essential health benefits (EHB) benchmark plan to require coverage of routine adult dental benefits. While there are multiple drivers of inequities in oral health, a primary barrier to accessing dental services is the cost of care, a barrier that can be reduced with dental insurance. This expert perspective provides an overview of the newly available flexibility and discusses considerations for states weighing whether to add a requirement that plans subject to EHB cover routine adult dental care.

September 26, 2024

CMS Releases Guidance Outlining Expectations for State Compliance with Medicaid and CHIP Renewal Requirements

On September 20, 2024, CMS issued guidance detailing the timeline and expectations for states to fully comply with federal Medicaid and CHIP renewal requirements. This expert perspective summarizes the guidance, which requires every state to submit by December 31, 2024 a plan (using CMS’ template) that assesses state compliance with the federal renewal requirements and describes the plan for addressing deficiencies to achieve full compliance by December 31, 2026.