To get these headlines delivered to your inbox every week, sign up for our weekly health news roundup.
Doulas, once a luxury, are increasingly covered by Medicaid — even in GOP states
Lauren Sausser and Katheryn Houghton, KFF Health News, July 10
Doulas are trained to offer critical support for families before delivery, during childbirth, and postpartum. While they typically don’t hold a medical or nursing degree, research shows they can improve health outcomes and reduce racial health disparities. However, doula services remain out of reach for many families. Health insurance plans often don’t cover doula fees. Legislatures across the country are looking to change that, by passing laws that grant doula access to those covered by Medicaid. More than 30 states are reimbursing doulas through Medicaid or are implementing laws to do so, even as states brace for significant reductions in federal Medicaid funding.
New moms in crisis: State data shows gaps in mental health care as federal safety net funding faces cuts
Karla Ciaglo, CT News Junkie, July 15
More than half of Connecticut mothers hospitalized for postpartum mental health emergencies had no documented mental health condition at the time of delivery. That is according to a new state analysis that points to serious gaps in screening and follow-up care. The findings raise concerns that many mothers are slipping through the cracks until symptoms are severe enough to warrant emergency care. Women covered by Medicaid or Medicare experienced higher rates of postpartum readmission, as do those who identify as American Indian, Alaska Native, Black, or Hispanic.
Doctors fear ICE agents in health facilities are deterring people from seeking care
Sara Moniuszko, CBS News, July 9
Doctors are hearing that some patients are avoiding getting the health care they need over fears that Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids could take place in medical settings. ICE agents have had a presence in health care facilities, because detention standards require detainees to be provided medical services. “We see this often with law enforcement. But it is creating an atmosphere of fear. And my colleagues and I have had numerous patients tell us that they hesitated or waited too long to come in for health care,” said Dr. Céline Gounder, an internist and infectious disease expert. Delays in care can lead to more serious complications. The presence of ICE agents also raises concerns about patients’ mental health.
HHS ban on serving undocumented clients a ‘fundamental shift,’ CT health centers say
Jenna Carlesso, The Connecticut Mirror, July 15
Federally qualified health centers across Connecticut are facing uncertainty about whether they can continue serving undocumented residents following the Trump administration’s decision to reverse a decades-old policy that gave people without permanent legal status access to certain federal benefits. Among the initiatives impacted is the Health Center Program, which provides funding to community-based health providers. “There is a lot of fear and confusion,” said Deb Polun, chief strategy officer for the Community Health Center Association of Connecticut. “It’s a fundamental shift in how health centers do business. Our mission is to try to serve all residents, to help create healthier communities, to help people get and stay healthy so they can live high quality lives and contribute to their local economies. This changes the way they will have to do business. It will lead to people being sicker.”
New Medicaid work rules put states in a bind
Tina Reed, Axios, July 14
States are on a tight timetable to set up new systems to notify millions of Medicaid recipients about new work requirements and to track if recipients are complying. A new law, which takes effect in 2027, will require states to condition Medicaid eligibility for able-bodied adults on working, volunteering, or doing other qualifying activities for at least 80 hours per month. While states will receive $200 million for implementation, experts say those funds will likely not cover the administrative, operational, and communications work that will be needed to roll out the rules. Experts warn that many of the 12 million people expected to lose coverage under the law will do so because of red tape around work requirements.