(Radio Iowa) – A change for women on Medicaid now gives them coverage for 12 months after giving birth compared to the previous postpartum coverage of two months.
The chair of the U-I Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Christian Pettker says many serious issues can come up beyond the first two months postpartum. He says that includes hypertension, diabetes, mental health disorders and extending coverage gives the care team time to develop a longitudinal care plan.
Iowa lawmakers also lowered the income cutoff for women to qualify for Medicaid. It was 375 percent of the federal poverty level. Now it’s 215 percent.
