Maternal and Child Health

The new KFF Women’s Health Survey asked respondents how much of a priority seven key women’s health policies should be for the new President and Congress. The issue brief examines attitudes toward those policy priorities and differences by gender, political party affiliation, and demographic factors.

The KFF Women’s Health Survey asked respondents how much of a priority seven key women’s health policies should be for the new President and Congress. This issue brief examines attitudes toward those policy priorities and differences by gender, political party affiliation, and demographic factors.

With President-elect Joe Biden and a new Congress taking office next month, newly updated KFF briefs examine two women’s health policy issues awaiting federal policymakers in 2021. President-elect Biden campaigned on reversing the Trump Administration’s regulations for the Title X family planning program, which require complete financial and physical separation…

This brief discusses Medicaid’s eligibility for pregnancy and postpartum care, gaps in coverage particularly in states that have not expanded Medicaid under the ACA, and several state and federal efforts to extend postpartum coverage to more women for a longer period of time.

As the COVID-19 pandemic grows, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other public health officials recommend that people who are sick should stay home. Benefits such as sick leave and family leave can help employees follow these guidelines; however, the U.S. does not have national standards on paid family or sick leave. The lack of a national policy means some employees are forced to take unpaid leave, or come to work when they are ill, which could have public health consequences.

The bills in this table address a number of related maternity care issues, including extending Medicaid postpartum coverage from 60 days to one year, funding for clinical training on health equity and implicit bias, developing broader networks of maternity care providers in rural areas, and research on the potential benefits of Medicaid coverage for doula care.

Jennifer Kates, Senior Vice President and Director of KFF’s Global Health & HIV Policy program, testified before the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Foreign Affairs as part of a hearing on Unique Challenges Women Face in Global Health. Her testimony describes the role of the U.S. government in women’s global health and highlights challenges and opportunities to strengthen these efforts.

This brief outlines how telemedicine is currently used in obstetrical care, how these services are financed and regulated, and reviews federal efforts to expand the use of telemedicine, particularly to address maternal health disparities.

This brief provides a summary of Medicaid’s role for pregnant women and infants and current Medicaid initiatives to improve maternal and infant health.