Lansing Sun

May is Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month, and this week Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced that Michigan will be expanding Medicaid coverage for mothers and their babies for a full-year postpartum period.

The expansion is a component of the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Initiative, a May 2 press release from the governor’s office said.  

Whitmer is a mother of two children and said she knows firsthand how important quality and affordable healthcare can be for mothers and their children, the release said. By extending the postpartum benefits to 12 months, the long-term outcomes for mothers and their babies can be improved.

“We will continue working together to ensure every family can thrive with access to behavioral health services, screenings, and treatments to lead healthy and successful lives,” she said in the release.

The 12 months of coverage will provide access to health and dental services, the release said. Approximately $20 million is going into the expansion, and an estimated 35,000 pregnant and postpartum people will benefit in Michigan annually.

Since January 2018, Michigan’s Maternal Mortality Surveillance Committee found that half of all material deaths were preventable, showing that this was an issue that needed to be addressed.

“Being able to ensure continuity of care for Michigan moms and babies is critical to reducing preventable deaths and will lead to better long-term health outcomes for new parents and newborns,” Elizabeth Hertel, director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, said in the release. “Extending Medicaid postpartum coverage will assist the state in its continued efforts to improve access to care for all Michigan families and equitable health outcomes.”

Sen. Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) said that she has long supported legislation that would expand postpartum care. She thanked Whitmer for being an ally for the cause she believes in.

“New moms and their health care providers agree that current standards of postpartum care are antiquated, especially in communities where health disparities exist,” Brinks said in the release. “This is a huge step towards ensuring every new mom gets the care and support she needs, and we know healthy moms have healthy babies, laying the foundation for a healthy life.”

Anyone on Medicaid does not need to do anything further to apply, as the coverage will automatically extend postpartum care to 12 months after the delivery date. 

For medical assistance and Medicaid applications, visit Michigan.gov/MIBridges.