North Carolina for Better Medicaid Applauds Extension of Postpartum Medicaid Benefits

Statement

North Carolina

(Raleigh, N.C., December 3, 2021) North Carolina for Better Medicaid, a coalition of dedicated health care advocates, applauds our state legislators and Governor Cooper for extending postpartum Medicaid benefits for pregnant individuals&nbsp; from two months to one year postpartum. This five-year extension – included in the recently-approved 2021 North Carolina state budget – will make it easier for North Carolina mothers with incomes under 196% of the federal poverty line to access quality health care in their baby’s first year of life, a time when they are particularly vulnerable to health issues. We know that half of all people who give birth in North Carolina are Medicaid beneficiaries, meaning this extension has the potential to make a meaningful difference in the health of new mothers and their families. The postpartum extension is available under a federal provision that sunsets in 2027, and we hope Congress will make the extension permanent.The extension of benefits comes as North Carolina recently transitioned from fee-for-service to a Managed Care system for administering Medicaid, which is already enhancing access to health care and improving health and quality of life for beneficiaries, while giving the state a more sustainable way to provide health care and bring savings to the state.&nbsp;&nbsp;You can find North Carolina for Better Medicaid on&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/NCforBetter">Twitter</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/NCforBetter">Facebook</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/nc-for-better/">LinkedIn</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;###&nbsp;About North Carolina for Better MedicaidNorth Carolina for Better Medicaid is a multi-stakeholder, consensus-based group of organizations committed to building a better Medicaid system that improves access, quality, outcomes&nbsp;and affordability in North Carolina.&nbsp;Our members include patient advocates, community-based organizations, health care leaders, health plans and others who are champions of Medicaid and Medicaid Managed Care. Current members include credible and diverse voices in health care including Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Mountain Projects Community Action Agency, I-CARE, Inc., the Economic Improvement Council, North Carolina Community Action Association, the North Carolina Black Alliance, the North Carolina Senior Living Association, the YMCA of the Triangle, NC Child, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Healthy Blue), and UnitedHealth Group, who are working to ensure a successful transition to Managed Care and improve health care in the state.&nbsp;Learn more at northcarolinaforbettermedicaid.org.&nbsp;Contact:Doug JacksonNorth Carolina for Better Medicaiddjackson@apccoworldwide.com

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North Carolina for Better Medicaid Applauds Extension of Postpartum Medicaid Benefits

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