The Indiana House of Representatives voted on Thursday in support of legislation co-authored by State Rep. Cindy Ledbetter (R-Newburgh) to protect the health of Hoosier mothers, sending the legislation to the Senate for consideration.
Ledbetter said the legislation would provide pregnant Hoosiers greater access to Medicaid benefits by increasing the ceiling on income requirements and extending the time frame during which they can receive coverage.
“Greater access to health-care benefits, both during pregnancy and postpartum, will have a long-term positive impact on the health of Hoosier mothers and their children,” Ledbetter said. “Ensuring more pregnant Hoosiers have access to care will help save the lives of babies and their mothers, and help prevent some families from facing lifelong health issues tied to development during pregnancy.”
Ledbetter said if passed into law, the family income requirement for Medicaid coverage would raise from 200 percent to 208 percent of the federal income poverty level. The Medicaid coverage period would also be extended to a full year after the pregnancy, as opposed to 60 days.
According to a recent report by the Indiana Mortality Review Committee, 85 percent of pregnancy-related deaths occurred postpartum. Of those deaths, 56 percent occurred after six weeks, according to the study.
The legislation now moves to the Indiana Senate for further consideration. To learn more and watch legislative proceedings, visitiga.in.gov.
