ARPA postpartum coverage extension takes effect

Louisiana today became the first state to extend Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program coverage for pregnant and postpartum people from 60 days to 12 months through a state plan amendment, as authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced. CMS is working with nine other states to extend postpartum coverage under the ARPA provision, which took effect today for five years, and said other states have announced plans to extend the coverage. Before ARPA, states could use a Section 1115 waiver to extend postpartum coverage to 12 months, as Illinois, New Jersey and Virginia did last year.