Celebrating Women’s Health Week in Medicaid
Jennifer E. Moore, PhD, RN, FAAN
With the launch of the activities surrounding national women’s health week, the Institute for Medicaid Innovation is celebrating the accomplishments and advancements in health care specific to women served by the Medicaid program. For instance, Medicaid expansion extended the number of women who are eligible to seek care for chronic conditions. Furthermore, expanded access and coverage to reproductive health services has been a major contributor to the overall health and well-being of women and their families in this nation.
We are also drawing attention to the the needs and issues that women served by Medicaid encounter. Challenges with continuous coverage to manage long-term chronic conditions and limited resources for pregnant women to obtain treatment for opioid use disorder are issues that we are highlighting.
You can read more about these topics in our various issue briefs, commentaries, and reports:
Opioid Crisis in Medicaid: Saving Mothers & Babies
Addressing the Opioid Epidemic in Medicaid Managed Care for Women & Newborns
Preventing Preterm Birth: Access to Progesterone in Medicaid Managed Care
Medicaid Managed Care and Reproductive Health Care Services for Women
We are also leading several active projects focused on maternal depression and anxiety, identifying disparities in women’s health by payer type, addressing social determinants of health, and reducing disparities through payment and health system reform. Finally, the Institute manages a national subcommittee on the health of all women in Medicaid with representatives who are experts in their field and committed to advancing and addressing salient issues for women in Medicaid.
As we celebrate women’s health week specific to Medicaid, let’s acknowledge the accomplishments and strive to address the issues.