Iowa would become one of the last states to extend Medicaid coverage for pregnant women 12 months after giving birth, under a bill advanced by a Senate subcommittee Monday.
Maternal health advocates praised Gov. Kim Reynolds’ proposal to provide a year of postpartum Medicaid coverage instead of the current 60 days, saying it would improve health outcomes for moms and their babies. But they expressed concerns about the part of the bill that would tighten income limits for pregnant people to qualify for Medicaid.
Pregnant Iowans can be eligible for Medicaid if their income is below 375% of the federal poverty level (FPL), or $93,225 for a family of three. The governor’s bill would cap eligibility at 215% of the FPL, or $53,449 for a family of three.
Blank Children’s Hospital lobbyist Chaney Yeast said she applauds Reynolds for making postpartum Medicaid expansion a priority. But she said lawmakers should reconsider cutting eligibility.
“We have a maternal mortality crisis. We have an infant mortality crisis,” Yeast said. “This is a single policy lever that you can pull to improve the health of moms and babies but also support our workforce in Iowa.”