Advancing Maternal Health Equity Under Medicaid Act

This bill aims to strengthen maternal health care access and quality under Medicaid by amending Title XIX of the Social Security Act. It introduces a higher Federal matching rate for states that increase their expenditures on maternal health care services, providing a significant incentive for expansion. Specifically, the legislation offers a 90 percent federal match for the amount by which a state's Medicaid spending on maternal health care exceeds its spending from the corresponding quarter in 2019. This enhanced funding is designed to support states in expanding their capacity and improving the efficiency and quality of care for pregnant and postpartum individuals. States receiving these additional funds must meet accountability requirements, ensuring the funds supplement, not supplant , existing state efforts for maternal health care. The bill broadly defines "maternal health care services" to include prenatal, labor and delivery, and postpartum care, encompassing telehealth, home visiting, and mental or behavioral health services. It also specifies eligible maternity care providers and perinatal health workers , such as doulas and community health workers, to ensure comprehensive support for individuals throughout their pregnancy and for one year postpartum.