Bill was passed unanimously by the Alabama state legislature
By Stephanie Brown HealthDay Reporter
WEDNESDAY, April 9, 2025 (HealthDay News) — In an effort to address high maternal and infant mortality rates plaguing many of the Southern U.S. states, legislators in Alabama have passed a bill that will allow Medicaid to be more easily accessible for pregnant women, according to the Associated Press.
The “presumptive eligibility” legislation, which passed unanimously, ensures that Medicaid will cover outpatient medical care for pregnant women for up to 60 days while they apply for government-funded insurance and await confirmation of receipt.
In support of the bill, the AP reported, Democratic lawmakers emphasized that addressing Alabama’s health care delivery outcomes, which are currently lagging behind the rest of the country, is essential. The bill was also supported by many Republican lawmakers, who view the legislation as “pro-life.”
The bill now just requires the signature of Republican Gov. Kay Ivey.
In data collected by the Milken Institute, Alabama recorded a maternal mortality rate of 64.63 deaths per 100,000 births between 2018 and 2021. This was twice the national rate of 34.09 per 100,000 births. For Black women in the state, that number reached 100.07 deaths.
Several factors have contributed to the suboptimal maternal and infant mortality rates seen in Alabama, including a lack of access to clinicians and hospitals in the state’s rural areas.
According to the March of Dimes, in 2024, nearly 20 percent of pregnant women in Alabama received no prenatal care until after the first five months of pregnancy; if they did obtain care, they only received half of the number of recommended visits. In addition, approximately 15 percent of women of childbearing age earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford private insurance, leaving them with no coverage options.
Associated Press Article
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