PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Jonas J. Swartz
AU  - Joseph Meskey
AU  - Gretchen S. Stuart
AU  - Maria I. Rodriguez
TI  - Pregnancy Medicaid Improvements in a Nonexpansion State After the Affordable Care Act
AID  - 10.1370/afm.2615
DP  - 2021 Jan 01
TA  - The Annals of Family Medicine
PG  - 38--40
VI  - 19
IP  - 1
4099  - http://www.annfammed.org/content/19/1/38.short
4100  - http://www.annfammed.org/content/19/1/38.full
SO  - Ann Fam Med2021 Jan 01; 19
AB  - One-half of women in the United States use Medicaid during pregnancy. Women living in states that did not expand Medicaid under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) are at risk of losing coverage post partum. We analyzed Medicaid claims and vital statistics for the state of North Carolina for the period 2011 to 2017. North Carolina did not expand Medicaid but did alter Medicaid enrollment to meet ACA requirements. After implementation, enrollment in full Medicaid during pregnancy almost doubled, and enrollment in Medicaid for pregnant women decreased. Full Medicaid offers more comprehensive coverage and does not expire at 60 days post partum, allowing for access to crucial preventive health services including contraception and primary care.