Medicaid Postpartum Nutrition Supports Initiative

This is an 1115-waiver pilot allowing qualifying postpartum Medicaid members to receive food and infant-supply supports delivered during the early postpartum period. [DE-PN1, DE-PN2]

Food insecurity and the cost of newborn supplies can make recovery harder even when you have medical coverage. This pilot puts nutrition and basic infant supplies inside Medicaid support for qualifying mothers.

You must be a postpartum Delaware Medicaid member and meet DMMA criteria. MCO care coordinators screen members during pregnancy or postpartum. Public sources do not publish the full detailed criteria, so TMO does not publish a checklist beyond postpartum Medicaid enrollment. [DE-PN1, DE-PN2, DE-PN3]

Up to two home-delivered meals per day, or a medically appropriate shelf-stable food box that is not a full nutritional regimen; up to 80 diapers per week; and up to one pack of baby wipes per week during the approved period. [DE-PN1, DE-PN2]

Supports are provided during the first 12 weeks postpartum. The MCO contract describes a minimum 8-week and maximum 12-week service period depending on criteria. [DE-PN1, DE-PN3]

Approved members receive these supports through Medicaid managed care, and home delivery is included. [DE-PN3]

Call MCO Member Services or your maternal care coordinator during pregnancy or soon after delivery and ask specifically to be screened for the "Postpartum Nutrition Supports Initiative" or for "postpartum meals, diapers and wipes." [DE-PN3, DE-PN4]

The MCO determines this using DMMA criteria. Be ready with your pregnancy and delivery timing, Medicaid membership and the information needed for food-insecurity and maternal-risk screening. Your care coordinator is the authoritative screening route.

This is not a universal benefit. It is a targeted pilot with MCO screening, and the full eligibility algorithm is not publicly posted. It is time-limited to early postpartum, does not replace SNAP or WIC, and does not provide a complete nutritional regimen.

It can be used alongside Medicaid care, WIC, SNAP, home visiting and doula support. WIC has separate eligibility and can extend beyond 12 weeks.

Access is through your MCO rather than a provider directory. The three MCOs are AmeriHealth Caritas Delaware, Delaware First Health and Highmark Health Options — call your plan and ask for maternal care coordination.

Request an interpreter from your MCO. Dietary, religious and cultural accommodation from the vendor should be confirmed at the provider or vendor level rather than assumed.

Consider WIC and SNAP, or Delaware 211 and home-visiting food and diaper resources. WIC does not require U.S. citizenship and has its own rules.