Sponsors (19)
The bill expands and finances postpartum, maternity, primary-care, doula, dental, and telehealth services for Medicaid/CHIP enrollees and strengthens evaluation and payment rules — improving access and accountability for birthing people — at the cost of higher federal and state spending, added administrative burdens, and continued risk of uneven implementation across states and communities.
Pregnant and postpartum people on Medicaid/CHIP will keep continuous coverage for at least 1 year postpartum (with the State-plan scope preserved) and gain a defined oral health benefit during pregnancy and the 1-year postpartum period.
Medicaid/CHIP enrollees gain expanded maternity supports — coordinated maternity care with at least five post-pregnancy visits, federal demonstration grants to build models, and grant-funded services (including community-based workers) — plus increased access to doula services through state coverage and CMS guidance.
Primary care clinicians and designated providers will receive higher, more predictable Medicaid payments (at least 100% of Medicare Part B rates, with up to a 25% rural/underserved add-on), improving provider financial stability and likely increasing Medicaid patient access.
State Medicaid programs and agencies will face higher implementation costs and administrative burdens to adopt year-long postpartum coverage, new oral health and doula requirements, payment adjustments, and telehealth changes — potentially straining state budgets and operations.
Taxpayers face increased federal spending from demonstration grants, open-ended appropriations for FY2027–FY2034, GAO/reporting costs, and expanded federal matching, raising the federal fiscal footprint.
Access and benefits may remain uneven: States can choose longer coverage or demo participation, demos and site selection may leave some enrollees without enhanced services, and restrictive network or eligibility rules could limit doula access — perpetuating geographic and racial disparities.
Based on analysis of 6 sections of legislative text.
Extends Medicaid and CHIP postpartum continuous eligibility from 60 days to 1 year (states may elect longer), creates a maternity care home demo, restores a Medicaid primary care payment floor, studies doula coverage, and requires a GAO telehealth report.
Official title: To amend titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act to improve Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program for low-income mothers.
Introduced July 21, 2026 by Ayanna Pressley · Last progress July 21, 2026
Extends Medicaid and CHIP postpartum continuous eligibility from 60 days to 1 year after the last day of pregnancy, and lets states elect an even longer period. Creates a 5-year Maternity Care Home demonstration grant program for states, restores and expands a Medicaid payment floor tied to Medicare rates for primary care and selected maternity providers, directs studies and guidance on doula coverage and telehealth maternity care, and requires federal reporting and evaluation.