AHCCCS Postpartum Coverage will now be expanded to provide 12 months of postpartum care. $2.7 million from the general budget was allocated to expand postpartum coverage via Medicaid expansion for FY 2023. Before this legislative session, AHCCCS Postpartum Coverage only covered people for 60 days following the birth of their child— this is not enough time as serious health concerns can occur up to one year after birth.

The short coverage time of 60 days forced many families to delay or forego critical emotional and physical care during the postpartum period due to cost. An alarming proportion of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) birth parents are becoming gravely ill or dying during or within a year after labor. WFSA was happy to be part of a large coalition of stakeholders advocating this bill. Congratulations and thank you to Children’s Action Alliance, Dignity Health, March of Dimes, and The American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, among many others, for their advocacy efforts. Expanding AHCCCS postpartum coverage for women is an essential step toward prioritizing and protecting the health of women in Arizona.