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Research
Fragmented Coverage for New Moms
Increasing access to healthcare coverage for uninsured, postpartum women in Texas
Takeaway
This qualitative study seeks to understand healthcare coverage access for postpartum women – a key gap in the fragmented women’s health safety net system – and offers recommendations for improving access to coverage.
The Issue
Texas is home to the country’s highest percentage of uninsured new mothers. Nearly half of births in Texas are covered by Medicaid for Pregnant Women, coverage that ends 60 days post-delivery, leaving new mothers uninsured as they try to navigate the fragmented system of care.
Key Findings
This study identified three key areas for action to increase access to public healthcare coverage for underserved women:
- Close the information gaps among women, providers, and advocates regarding the Texas Family Planning Program and Healthy Texas Women and encourage provider participation.
- Improve processes to facilitate women’s transition between Medicaid for Pregnant Women and Healthy Texas Women.
- Bolster the Texas Family Planning Program to expand its reach and scale its impact.
The report is a product of the Postpartum Access to Healthcare (PATH) Project, a study of the system and experience of care during the postpartum period for underserved women in Central Texas. PATH is a project of the Texas Collaborative for Healthy Mothers and Babies (TCHMB), the state perinatal quality collaborative. The PATH Project was supported through a grant from St. David’s Foundation through the Healthy Women and Girls priority area. It supports the goal of ensuring that girls and women are supported with the resources, respect, and conditions vital for equitable health and well-being.
