The Biden-Harris administration A series of new policy proposals Last week, a bill was passed requiring hospitals to implement initiatives to improve maternal health and support underserved communities.
The proposal would introduce new approaches to maternal care, including expanding Medicaid coverage after childbirth and implementing new hospital standards. These major shifts in health policy could have far-reaching effects on maternal health outcomes. The proposal comes at a time when threats to abortion care are at the forefront of the national debate and many states are enacting restrictive laws that limit access to reproductive health services.
As journalists, we can help the public understand how these changes will affect them and their communities, as well as what the long-term impacts of these policy changes may be. Here are some ways you can validate policy proposals for your audience:
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The plan also includes other policies aimed at reducing health disparities within incarcerated populations and Indigenous communities, which are briefly described below.
Summary of main proposals
Expand postpartum Medicaid coverage. For children under 19 who are enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP, the plan guarantees coverage for one year, meaning less paperwork and a continuum of care for nearly 40 million children. Kaiser Family FoundationAs of August 2022, approximately 37.8 million children were enrolled in Medicaid (including the Medicaid expansion CHIP), of which about half live in states with 12-month continuous eligibility and the other half live in states without this policy, which could improve access to health care for new mothers by extending coverage beyond the usual 60 days after birth.
Improving hospital standards, including maternal care. The proposal outlines changes to the way hospitals and surgery centers are paid for outpatient care. The adjustments could impact the scope of services these facilities provide and their associated costs. Medicare Spending It will reach $944 billion in 2022, accounting for 21% of total national health expenditures. Medicare will cover 65 million people in 2022, and the number of people enrolled will be Reach 78 million by 2030 Due to an ageing population.
Additionally, starting in 2025, out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs costing less than $1,000 will be capped at $2,000. Medicare Part DThat’s due in part to Biden’s Inflation Control Act, which aims to lower drug costs and could benefit seniors who spend big bucks on drugs. That’s significant, considering that in 2021, 1.3 million Part D enrollees who don’t get low-income subsidies paid more than $2,000 in out-of-pocket costs.
The proposal also introduces new requirements for obstetric services, including requiring hospitals to invest in staffing and care delivery. Although the document does not detail what these are, the goal is to make hospitals better equipped to provide emergency obstetric services. This is crucial given that the US maternal mortality rate in 2021 is 32.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, significantly higher than other developed countries. Hospitals that do not comply with the requirements could be removed from Medicaid and Medicare programs.
Medical care for former prisoners. The proposal redefines “incarceration” and removes barriers that prevent former inmates from enrolling and remaining enrolled in Medicare, including expanding eligibility criteria for the Special Enrollment Period to include those on parole, probation, and home detention. Prison reform and perspectives on how these policies can address health disparities.
Supports Indian Health Services (IHS) and tribal facilities. The outlined policy will support IHS and tribal facilities by increasing Medicare payments for important high-cost drugs, including cancer medications, in the outpatient departments of IHS and tribal hospitals. This effort supports the Cancer Moonshot’s goals of preventing cancer deaths and improving cancer care for underserved populations.
The comment period for the proposed rule closes Sept. 9. For more information, Full text of the proposed rule and Fact Sheet It has been published in the Federal Register and on the CMS website.
