The maternal health provisions would make it easier for states to cover new mothers for a full year by cutting the time and paperwork needed to obtain approval from Washington under Medicaid, as well as the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
COVID-19 bill gives states pathway to reduce maternal deaths By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR, Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) Labor and delivery are thought of as the riskiest times for new mothers, but many women die in the weeks and months after giving birth. Now a provision in the COVID-19 relief bill could help change that.
The legislation gives states the option of extending Medicaid coverage to women with low to modest incomes for a full year after childbirth. States are currently required to provide 60 days of coverage, but medical experts point to research showing that women can die from pregnancy-related conditions up to a year after giving birth, and that 3 in 5 of all such deaths are preventable.
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Vermont Business Magazine A new program at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) provides caesarean section patients the opportunity to return home more quickly than in the past. The program is a part of a general shift toward offering more patient education and preparation before surgical procedures and a more individualized approach to post-operative care, both of which shorten hospital stays.
“We are learning that, with a lot of preparation and support, patients can continue their recovery really well at home,” said Kimberley Sampson, MD, chair of OB/GYN at SVMC. “Most patients prefer returning home sooner to staying in the hospital.”