Texas Receives Federal Approval to Extend Medicaid for Postpartum Mothers

The extension, effective from March 1, 2024, will increase coverage from two months to 12 months, benefiting an estimated 137,000 women in the next fiscal year.

• Texas has received federal approval to extend Medicaid coverage for low-income mothers from two months to 12 months postpartum, effective from March 1, 2024.
• The extension is expected to benefit approximately 137,000 women in the fiscal year 2025.
• Texas is the 43rd state to receive approval for this extension, which was authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023.
• Despite the extension, issues with Medicaid applications and renewals persist in Texas, with whistleblowers highlighting dysfunction within the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC).
• Further priorities for reducing Texas' high maternal mortality rate include clarifying medical exceptions for abortions and protecting access to contraceptives.

4 Articles

Office of the Texas Governor Austin Chronicle Office of the Texas Governor The Texas Tribune