LOUISIANA STATE MEDICAL SOCIETY
AM 2024 DESTIN
HOUSE OF DELEGATES
RESOLUTION 202
Expansion of Emergency Medicaid’s LaMOMS Program to Include Prenatal Care Regardless of Application Time
SUBJECT:
Medical Student Section
INTRODUCED BY:
WHEREAS, Emergency Medicaid has been widely used in the United States it was proven that there were 151 million Emergency department visits, and at least 20% or more of those visits came from patients who are using Medicaid 1,2 ; and WHEREAS, state flexibility in emergency Medicaid allows for states to provide opportunities to innovate and fund expanded access to health care for uninsured, lower-income, Medicaid-ineligible noncitizens 3 ; and
WHEREAS , pregnant women are currently limited to one hospital presumptive eligibility period per pregnancy 4 ; and
WHEREAS, pregnant women do fall under the coverage groups for Hospital Presumptive Eligibility, however, non-citizens are excluded 4 ; and
WHEREAS, prenatal care is most effective when it starts early and continues throughout pregnancy where it can help address and prevent health problems in both mothers and babies 5 ; and
WHEREAS, rates of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, low birth weight, and preterm birth are higher among uninsured women compared to their insured counterparts 6 ; and
WHEREAS, is an increased risk of severe maternal morbidity by upwards of 30% compared to women with private insurance coverage at the time of delivery 6,7 ; and
WHEREAS, up to 4% of pregnant women are uninsured 8 ; and
WHEREAS, the LaMOMS program currently covers prenatal care, delivery, complicating conditions and 12 months of postpartum care 9 ; and
WHEREAS, prior to pregnancy 14.7% of individuals in Louisiana reported having no health insurance which dropped to 3.1% of pregnant individuals that still did not have health insurance coverage, including LaMOMS, during their pregnancy 10 ; and
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