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Illinois Mandates Pregnancy and Postpartum Insurance Coverage
Concerns Raised Over Potential Outcomes and Costs
According to The Center Square, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has signed an amended version of House Bill 5142 which mandates that health insurance policies in the state cover pregnancy and postpartum services. The new law also ensures competitive Medicaid reimbursement rates for doulas, lactation consultants, home visitors, and other community-based providers. During the signing Pritzker emphasized the importance of these measures in supporting maternal health highlighting that reproductive freedom and maternal health go hand-in-hand and expressing gratitude to his mother for her influence. The bill has sparked some debate among lawmakers. State Representative C.D. Davidsmeyer a Republican from Murrayville expressed concerns about the differences between nurse midwives and midwives worrying that the new law might lead to bad outcomes and increase increase maternal deaths due to insufficient training.
Illinois insurance policies are also required to cover abortions and pregnancy-ending medications. Pritzker highlighted the racial disparities in maternal health noting that black women are three times more likely than white women to die from pregnancy-related causes. He stated that it is unjust for some women to have to weigh their mortality or future health against bringing life into the world. From 2018 to 2020 the Illinois Department of Public Health reported 263 maternal deaths with about half being related to pregnancy. Substance use disorder was identified as the most common cause of maternal deaths. Despite these figures the number of pregnancy-related maternal deaths was only 0.01% of the total childbirths in Illinois during that period.
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263 Maternal Deaths in Illinois from 2018 to 2020 Highlight Need for Better Care (PHOTO: ABCNews)
Debate Over Financial Impact and Maternal Health Benefits of New Law
Furthermore, Davidsmeyer expressed concerns about the financial implications of the new law arguing that mandating additional services would lead to higher insurance costs. He noted that requiring insurers to provide new services would inevitably raise expenses. Davidsmeyer also feared that the potential increase in bad outcomes under the new law could further escalate costs in the long run. On the other hand, Governor Pritzker focused on the benefits of the bill which aims to improve maternal health and reduce disparities in pregnancy-related outcomes. The bill is part of a broader Birth Equity Initiative designed to ensure that all women regardless of race or socioeconomic status receive the necessary care during and after pregnancy.
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