H.R. 24996
The Helping MOMS Act
Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL), Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL), Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX), Rep. Earl “Buddy” Carter (R-GA), Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) & Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA)
The Helping MOMS Act would:
- Allow states to extend Medicaid and CHIP coverage for postpartum women from 60 days to one year. States would be incentivized to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage through a one-year, five percentage point increase in their federal matching funds – the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP). The FMAP is the percentage of state Medicaid expenditures that the federal government reimburses back to the state.
- Direct the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) to publish a report analyzing coverage of doula care under state Medicaid programs and making recommendations to increase access. The report would require consultation with community stakeholders, including community-based doula programs and other organizations representing consumers on barriers related to implementation of programs, as well as strategies for improvement.