Medical professionals applaud legislature for passing bill to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage

The bill that will extend postpartum coverage from two months to twelve months is on its way to the Governor's desk. Governor Tate Reeves changed his tune on the bill last month when he tweeted that he would sign the legislation if it passed. Pediatricians in Mississippi are calling the bill's passage a "victory" for moms and babies.

Dr. Geri Weiland is a pediatrician in Vicksburg and the former president of the Mississippi State Medical Association. She believes Reeves' support did contribute to the bill's passage.

"I think what he saw was that it did some good through the pandemic," she said. "He's hearing from the medical community that not all of the problems after a baby is born happen within the first 60 days."

Mississippi will be the last state in the country to extend the postpartum coverage. Anita Henderson is a pediatrician in Hattiesburg and a past president of the Mississippi Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She says the implementation of the policy will need to be carefully handled so that new Moms can get the care they need.

"There's much work to be done," she said. "We look forward to working with the division of Medicaid on making sure this is implemented seamlessly, that moms have those benefits."

Roughly 60% of births in Mississippi are covered by Medicaid.