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Research in progress

This is our working research layer. Except where a state has a complete profile in the Policy Hub, treat everything below as in-progress research rather than publication-ready guidance.

Your state, in plain language

Checked Aug. 15, 2026

Pick your state to see what postpartum coverage, leave, nutrition, doula, and home-visiting policy currently looks like there. Every line links to the source it came from. This is information, not legal or medical advice.

Saved on this device only.

Choose a state above to see its current postpartum policy picture.

Federal tracker

What is law today, what was enacted but not yet implemented, and what is only a proposal.

  • Family and Medical Leave Act

    Current program

    FMLA — current federal law

    Eligible employees of covered employers can take up to 12 workweeks of job-protected, unpaid leave in a 12-month period for qualifying reasons, including the birth of a child and care for a newborn.

    What it can mean for you: Job protection is not the same as pay. Eligibility depends on employer size, hours worked, and length of employment — check the DOL criteria rather than assuming.

    Latest action: Current program administered by the Department of Labor

  • Medicaid community engagement requirements

    Enacted — future implementation

    Public Law 119-21 (H.R.1)

    Enacted federal law establishes Medicaid community engagement requirements. CMS states that implementation is required by January 1, 2027 unless a state implements earlier, and describes exempt or excluded categories.

    What it can mean for you: CMS lists pregnant individuals and individuals entitled to postpartum medical assistance among the categories excluded from these requirements. Details are set in federal guidance and by each state's implementation.

    Latest action: Enacted; CMS says states must implement by Jan. 1, 2027 unless earlier (2027-01-01)

  • Healthy MOM Act

    Proposed — not law

    H.R.6242, 119th Congress

    A bill relating to maternity coverage. It has been referred to committee.

    What it can mean for you: This is a proposal, not law. Nothing changes for coverage unless it is enacted.

    Latest action: Introduced and referred to committees (2025-11-20)

  • Postpartum Lifeline Act

    Proposed — not law

    S.2085, 119th Congress

    If enacted, the bill would require 12-month continuous full-benefit postpartum coverage. It is currently in committee.

    What it can mean for you: This is a proposal, not law. Current postpartum coverage still depends on your state's implemented policy.

    Latest action: Introduced and referred to the Senate Committee on Finance (2025-06-16)

  • Healthy Moms and Babies Act

    Proposed — not law

    S.2289, 119th Congress

    A maternal Medicaid and CHIP policy bill, currently in committee.

    What it can mean for you: This is a proposal, not law.

    Latest action: Introduced and referred to the Senate Committee on Finance (2025-07-15)

  • HEALTH for MOM Act of 2025

    Proposed — not law

    H.R.3365, 119th Congress

    If enacted, the bill would allow states to establish Medicaid maternity health homes. It is currently in committee.

    What it can mean for you: This is a proposal, not law.

    Latest action: Introduced and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce (2025-05-13)

  • CARE for Moms Act

    Proposed — not law

    H.R.6303, 119th Congress

    A bill addressing federal maternal mortality efforts, currently in committee.

    What it can mean for you: This is a proposal, not law.

    Latest action: Introduced and referred to committees (2025-11-25)

Evidence room

Every source behind the state and federal information above. Checked Aug. 15, 2026.

Showing 24 of 24 sources

How we verify this

  • Policy changes. Every state value here is a dated snapshot, not a live feed, and it is not legal or medical advice.
  • Source hierarchy: primary government sources first, then authoritative state-policy trackers, then research context.
  • When a primary state source and a national tracker disagree, we show the state's own current source and say that the sources differ, rather than smoothing it away.
  • We do not reproduce income thresholds that are indexed and re-published on a schedule; we link the official eligibility tools instead.
  • Last site-level source check: August 15, 2026.

Mother's Odyssey explainers

Editorial explainers written by our team for context. They are separate from the source-backed policy intelligence above and are not individually cited.

  • Medicaid postpartum coverage

    12-month extension adopted in most states

    Federal law lets states extend postpartum Medicaid from 60 days to 12 months after birth. Coverage includes postpartum visits, behavioral health care, and prescriptions.

    Why it matters: Medicaid pays for roughly four in ten US births, and many pregnancy-related deaths happen after the traditional 60-day cutoff.

    What you can do: Check your state's postpartum coverage window before your 60th day after birth.

  • Paid family and medical leave

    State programs in a minority of states; no federal paid program

    Some states run paid family leave insurance funded through payroll contributions. Elsewhere, unpaid FMLA job protection may apply if you meet employer and tenure requirements.

    Why it matters: Time to recover and bond is directly tied to breastfeeding duration, maternal mental health, and financial stability.

    What you can do: Ask your employer's HR team, in writing, which leave programs you qualify for.

  • Doula reimbursement

    Growing number of state Medicaid programs

    States are adding doula services as a covered Medicaid benefit, typically including prenatal visits, birth support, and postpartum follow-up.

    Why it matters: Doula support is associated with fewer interventions, better birth experiences, and stronger postpartum follow-through.

    What you can do: Ask your Medicaid plan whether doula visits are covered in your state.

  • Maternal health legislation and review committees

    Maternal Mortality Review Committees active in most states

    State committees review pregnancy-related deaths and publish recommendations, and legislatures consider bills on screening, coverage, and workforce.

    Why it matters: Most pregnancy-related deaths are considered preventable, and review findings show where postpartum support gaps sit.

    What you can do: Read your state committee's most recent report before advocacy meetings.