The Biden-Harris administration unveiled a series of new policy proposals last week that would require hospitals to implement initiatives to improve maternal health and support communities in need.

The proposal introduces new measures for maternity care, such as expanding Medicaid coverage after delivery and implementing new hospital standards. These major changes in health care policy can have significant effects on maternal health outcomes. The proposal comes at a time when threats to abortion care are at the forefront of national debate, with many states imposing restrictive laws that restrict access to reproductive health services.

As journalists, we can help the public understand how these changes may affect them or their communities, as well as the potential long-term effects of these policy changes. Here are some ways we can review policy proposals for our audience:

Included in this plan are other strategies aimed at reducing health disparities within the incarcerated and indigenous population, which are briefly highlighted below.

Key recommendations are outlined

Increasing postpartum Medicaid coverage. For children under 19 on Medicaid or CHIP (health insurance for low-income families), the plan ensures that they remain covered for a full year at a time. This means less paperwork and more consistent care for nearly 40 million children. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, as of August 2022, nearly 37.8 million children are enrolled in Medicaid (in including Medicaid expansion CHIP), about half of those children in states with 12 months of continuous eligibility and half of states without the policy. This extends the process beyond the usual 60 days postpartum, which is an opportunity to improve access to care for new mothers.

Improving hospital conditions, including maternity care. The proposal outlines changes to how hospitals and surgery centers are paid for outpatient care. This change may affect the types of services provided by these services and the costs associated with them. Medicare spending will reach $944 billion by 2022, which is 21% of the nation’s total health care costs. Medicare covered 65 million people by 2022, and enrollment is expected to reach 78 million by 2030 due to aging.

Also, starting in 2025, there will be a $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs under Medicare Part D. This is due to part of the Affordable Care Act, which President Biden’s law to reduce the cost of drugs, and it could benefit the elderly who spend a lot of money to buy drugs. This is important because in 2021, the 1.3 million Part D enrollees without low-income subsidies had out-of-pocket spending of $2,000.

The proposal also creates new requirements for maternity services, including requiring hospitals to invest in staff and care delivery. This document does not specify what this looks like, but the aim is to ensure that hospitals are prepared to provide emergency obstetric services. This is very important considering that in 2021, the maternal mortality rate in the US was 32.9 deaths per 100,000 births, which is much higher than in other developed countries. Hospitals that do not meet the requirements can be removed from the Medicaid and Medicare programs.

Health care for the incarcerated. The proposal redefines “protection” to remove barriers that prevent formerly incarcerated people from enrolling in and maintaining Medicare coverage. This includes extending eligibility for the special enrollment period to those on parole, probation or house arrest. Contact advocacy groups focused on prison reform for ideas on how these policies can address health disparities.

To support Indian Health Service (IHS) and tribal services. The proposed plan supports IHS and tribal services by increasing Medicare payments for essential, high-cost drugs, including cancer drugs, in IHS and tribal hospital inpatient departments. This project supports Cancer Moonshot’s mission to prevent cancer and improve cancer care for underserved populations.

The comment period for the proposed legislation is open until Sept. 9. To learn more, review the full proposed rule and fact sheets on the Federal Register and CMS websites.

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