US Postpartum Care Drops Off After 6 Weeks, Leaving Mothers Without a Single Doctor
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 25
US Postpartum Care Drops Off After 6 Weeks, Leaving Mothers Without a Single Doctor
1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 25
Six weeks after delivery, many U.S. mothers effectively lose coordinated medical care even as recovery from injuries such as third-degree tears, incontinence and abdominal muscle separation can last months.
The gap stems from an obstetric model that treats postpartum recovery as a brief follow-up to pregnancy, typically centered on a single three- to six-week visit before the system shifts attention away from the mother.
Payment rules have reinforced that approach by bundling prenatal care, delivery and immediate postpartum care into one global fee, while primary care and OB clinics often leave women to piece together referrals on their own.
New AMA billing codes due next year will let providers charge separately for postpartum services, but the article argues that without one clinician accountable for the mother’s recovery, fragmented care may persist.
The contrast is stark: a baby commonly sees a pediatrician 7 or more times in the first year, while whether the mother sees a doctor often depends on something going wrong.
Why do American babies get seven doctor visits in their first year while their mothers are often left to manage recovery alone?
Will new medical billing codes fix America's postpartum care crisis, or just create new gaps for mothers to fall through?
Closing the Gap: How Expanded Medicaid and Policy Shifts Aim to Reduce Maternal Mortality and Disparities in U.S. Postpartum Care
Overview
Recent legislative and regulatory changes in the US are reshaping postpartum care by expanding Medicaid coverage and introducing new federal requirements for obstetrical services. These policy shifts, driven by the recognition that 60 days of postpartum coverage was insufficient, now allow states to extend Medicaid coverage to 12 months. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 enabled this extension, and the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2023 made it permanent. As a result, more mothers have stable coverage, which aims to improve maternal health outcomes and address persistent racial disparities in care, marking a significant step forward in supporting postpartum families.