A new report announced today by CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, a national nonprofit dedicated to enhancing accessibility, integration and equity of oral health systems, recommends that states extend Medicaid coverage for postpartum individuals from 60 days to at least 12 months.
The report emphasizes that expanding the scope and duration of Medicaid coverage for pregnant women, including oral health care and preventive care, is crucial in reducing racial and ethnic disparities in birth outcomes and improving health equity, particularly for Black mothers and families who experience the most severe adverse maternal outcomes.
Furthermore, the report calls for states to provide comprehensive dental benefits to all adults, including those who recently have given birth, as a fundamental part of Medicaid. Currently, 47 state Medicaid programs do not provide sufficient adult dental benefits to maintain optimal oral health.
The report highlights the worsening state of maternal and infant health in the U.S. and the direct link between poor oral health during pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes, such as preterm birth, low birth weight deliveries, and preeclampsia, which accounts for 15% of maternal mortality.
