Health Reform Law Includes Many Benefits For Pregnant Women, New Mothers

Main Category: Pregnancy / Obstetrics
Also Included In: Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP;  Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 09 Jun 2010 - 4:00 PDT

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Several provisions in the federal health reform law (PL 111-148) will significantly improve health insurance coverage and support services for pregnant women and new mothers, who frequently face "seriously deficient" options in the current market, the Washington Post reports.

According to the Post, about 85% of women have given birth by age 44. However, some insurers consider pregnancy a pre-existing condition and charge pregnant women higher premiums or refuse to cover costs associated with childbirth. Currently, low-income pregnant women can receive coverage through Medicaid, but they usually lose it 60 days after giving birth unless they are very poor, the Post reports.

Starting this fall, all new health insurance plans will be required to cover certain preventive screenings and services -- such as folic acid supplements and counseling for smoking cessation -- for pregnant women at no additional cost. In addition, Medicaid will begin covering smoking cessation counseling and drug therapy for pregnant women. The law also includes a provision to require employers to provide paid breaks for women to express breastmilk, as well as a location that is not a bathroom to do so.

The law also allocates $1.5 billion over five years to expand home-visiting programs targeted at high-risk women who are pregnant or have recently given birth. Nurses in the programs will visit the women and provide counseling on issues such as coping with the stress of caring for an infant. Studies show that such programs result in better health for infants and women, more stable relationships, and lower rates of delinquency and child abuse, according to the Post. The bill also includes funding for research on and treatment of postpartum depression.

Some of the most significant changes under the new law take effect in 2014, including an expansion of Medicaid coverage to adults with incomes up to 133% of the federal poverty level. Although 40% of pregnant women are covered by Medicaid, many do not have coverage prior to getting pregnant or after giving birth. Jocelyn Guyer, co-executive director of Georgetown University's Center for Children and Families, said increasing the number of low-income women eligible for Medicaid improves the chance that they will be healthier overall and have successful pregnancies.

In addition to the Medicaid expansion, health plans selling coverage in the newly created health care exchanges will be required to include maternity and childbirth services in an "essential health benefits" package. Insurers will be prohibited from charging pregnant women higher rates or refusing to cover them or childbirth costs.

According to the Post, several of the law's provisions -- such as research on postpartum depression and breaks for expressing breast milk -- have long been "wish list" items for advocates and policymakers. Guyer said the "dynamic around abortion was so controversial" during the reform debate that "people working on the issue wanted to be sure that pregnancy and maternal support services were ensured" (Andrews, Washington Post, 6/8).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families.

© 2010 National Partnership for Women & Families. All rights reserved.

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