Advocates push to extend postpartum Medicaid
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Advocates are urging Arkansas to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage from the current 60 days to a full year like all 49 other states.
Why it matters: Physical and mental health problems can still occur more than 60 days after giving birth, says Camille Richoux, health policy director for Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families.
- Arkansas has some of the highest maternal mortality rates in the nation. Nearly a third of U.S. maternal deaths from 2018-22 occurred at least six weeks after giving birth, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open.
State of play: Since 2022, states have had the option to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage to one year. Wisconsin was the second-to-last holdout, and its extension went into effect in July, making Arkansas the only state to not guarantee health insurance after 60 days postpartum, according to KFF.
By the numbers: About 57% of the 4,935 Arkansans whose postpartum Medicaid coverage was ending between April 1 and June 30 were eligible for other coverage through the state after the 60-day period, according to the latest quarterly report from the Arkansas Department of Human Services to the Arkansas Legislative Council. That was up slightly from 55% in the last report in May.
- Of the 2,126 people who lost coverage, 146 were documented as still being insured, such as through private insurance.
How it works: While some new moms continue to receive insurance through other state Medicaid programs after 60 days, some make a little too much money to qualify but don't have access to private insurance. Others may experience gaps in coverage because of paperwork issues, Richoux says.
- Threat level: Being uninsured makes new moms vulnerable to having minor health problems advance into more serious ones or facing expensive emergency room bills, she says.
The big picture: Maternal health has been a focal point for Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders' administration, and her Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act of 2025 included several Medicaid expansions and reforms, including coverage for doula services, remote blood pressure monitoring and glucose monitors.
What they're saying: "Governor Sanders isn’t interested in headline-grabbing policies or duplicative government programs that don’t actually change maternal health outcomes," Sanders spokesperson Sam Dubke told Axios in an email.
- He added that Sanders convened more than 100 stakeholders to craft a comprehensive approach and signed the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act in response to the Strategic Committee for Maternal Health’s report, directing $45 million annually toward improving maternal health.
Context: The Strategic Committee for Maternal Health, established by Sanders, released a list of recommendations in 2024, which did not include extending postpartum Medicaid coverage.
Flashback: Arkansas lawmakers in 2025 voted down a bill sponsored by Rep. Aaron Pilkington (R-Knoxville) and Sen. Breanne Davis (R-Russellville) that would have extended postpartum Medicaid coverage to one year.
What's next: Arkansas Advocates is urging the state to reconsider, such as by submitting a request to the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The Legislature could also revisit the issue in the legislative session coming up in the spring.