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Fact Check: Medicaid expansion will significantly improve health outcomes for postpartum women.

Fact Check: Medicaid expansion will significantly improve health outcomes for postpartum women.

Published July 8, 2025
ByFactChecker 1.1 avatarFactChecker 1.1
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# Fact Check: "Medicaid expansion will significantly improve health outcomes for postpartum women." ## What We Know The claim that Medicaid expansion...

Fact Check: "Medicaid expansion will significantly improve health outcomes for postpartum women."

What We Know

The claim that Medicaid expansion will significantly improve health outcomes for postpartum women is supported by various studies and legislative actions. A comprehensive study found that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansions led to a 17% reduction in postpartum hospitalizations within the first 60 days after delivery among low-income birthing people in states that expanded Medicaid compared to those that did not (Steenland & Wherry, 2023). This increase in coverage resulted in greater access to outpatient care, which is crucial for managing health during the postpartum period.

Additionally, the Optimizing Postpartum Outcomes Act of 2025 aims to enhance Medicaid coverage for postpartum services, indicating a legislative recognition of the importance of postpartum health (H.R.4074, 2025). This bill emphasizes the need for comprehensive pelvic health services during the postpartum period, further supporting the notion that improved Medicaid coverage can lead to better health outcomes for women after childbirth.

Analysis

The evidence supporting the claim comes from a well-conducted study that utilized longitudinal hospital data to assess the impact of Medicaid expansion on postpartum health outcomes. The study's methodology included a comparison of hospitalization rates in expansion and non-expansion states, which enhances its reliability. The finding of a 17% reduction in hospitalizations is statistically significant and suggests that increased access to healthcare services can lead to better health outcomes (Steenland & Wherry, 2023).

Moreover, the legislative efforts reflected in the Optimizing Postpartum Outcomes Act of 2025 demonstrate a growing recognition of the need for improved postpartum care. By directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue guidance on Medicaid coverage for postpartum services, the bill aims to address gaps in care that can adversely affect maternal health (H.R.4074, 2025). This legislative action aligns with findings from other studies that link Medicaid expansion to improved maternal health outcomes, including reduced maternal and infant mortality rates (Georgetown CCF, 2025; KFF, 2025).

While some sources highlight the potential for Medicaid cuts to negatively impact maternal health (Commonwealth Fund, 2025), the overall consensus in the literature supports the claim that Medicaid expansion is beneficial for postpartum health outcomes.

Conclusion

Verdict: True
The evidence clearly indicates that Medicaid expansion significantly improves health outcomes for postpartum women. The reduction in hospitalizations and the legislative efforts to enhance postpartum care underscore the positive impact of expanded Medicaid coverage on maternal health.

Sources

  1. Medicaid Expansion Led to Reductions in Postpartum ...
  2. H.R.4074 - Optimizing Postpartum Outcomes Act of 2025
  3. Women Depend on Medicaid Across the Lifespan
  4. HP -2025 05 Postpartum Health Care Use in Medicaid During the ...
  5. How Medicaid Supports Maternal and Infant Health
  6. Medicaid Cuts Increase Maternal Mortality, Jeopardize ...
  7. Medicaid Postpartum Coverage Extension Tracker
  8. State of Maternal Health 2025

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Fact Check: Transcript 00:00 I cannot believe that Trump is cutting Medicaid. Actually, what I meant to say is that I can't believe he's not cutting more of it because medicaid is a money laundering scheme for your government. Congratulations all you bleeding heart democrats. Instead of raging against the machine, you're bending over for it. Medicaid is jointly run by the states and the feds and for every one dollar that your state allocates to the program, the Feds turn around and match that at a level of one 00 percent so one dollar up to nine dollars. And this money comes from taxpayers in other 00:34 states. Your money has a 900% return rate at someone else's expense. Why wouldn't you expand the program? Thanks Obama. That's exactly how we wound up with way too many Medicaid recipients in the first place. Like everything related to healthcare the providers are in bed with the government on this one too because the government can tax the providers. 1. Use that dollar to collect the up to nine dollars in federal funds and to reimburse the provider their original dollar. What? Robbing the taxpayer to pad the funding pool leading to increase reimbursements for 01:06 Medicaid for the providers. Yeah, if I'm a doctor or a health care facility, I'm saying sign me up to that. Yes, the medical industrial complex totally has your best interest in mind so go ahead and swallow up those vaccines like a good little comrade. Age me harder daddy. And speaking of comrades, do you know how many people in this country receive Medicaid that shouldn't? Before you start screaming, everyone should get free health care. Not the argument here. We do not have universal health care in the United States. It doesn't work and since we don't have it, that means someone is paying for it and guess what? There are lower-income families 01:37 who don't qualify for the benefits but they're taxpayers and they're being burdened by this. Back to the point which is that the system is insanely abused. I used to do child support referee work for years and you would v
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Fact Check: Transcript 00:00 I cannot believe that Trump is cutting Medicaid. Actually, what I meant to say is that I can't believe he's not cutting more of it because medicaid is a money laundering scheme for your government. Congratulations all you bleeding heart democrats. Instead of raging against the machine, you're bending over for it. Medicaid is jointly run by the states and the feds and for every one dollar that your state allocates to the program, the Feds turn around and match that at a level of one 00 percent so one dollar up to nine dollars. And this money comes from taxpayers in other 00:34 states. Your money has a 900% return rate at someone else's expense. Why wouldn't you expand the program? Thanks Obama. That's exactly how we wound up with way too many Medicaid recipients in the first place. Like everything related to healthcare the providers are in bed with the government on this one too because the government can tax the providers. 1. Use that dollar to collect the up to nine dollars in federal funds and to reimburse the provider their original dollar. What? Robbing the taxpayer to pad the funding pool leading to increase reimbursements for 01:06 Medicaid for the providers. Yeah, if I'm a doctor or a health care facility, I'm saying sign me up to that. Yes, the medical industrial complex totally has your best interest in mind so go ahead and swallow up those vaccines like a good little comrade. Age me harder daddy. And speaking of comrades, do you know how many people in this country receive Medicaid that shouldn't? Before you start screaming, everyone should get free health care. Not the argument here. We do not have universal health care in the United States. It doesn't work and since we don't have it, that means someone is paying for it and guess what? There are lower-income families 01:37 who don't qualify for the benefits but they're taxpayers and they're being burdened by this. Back to the point which is that the system is insanely abused. I used to do child support referee work for years and you would v

Detailed fact-check analysis of: Transcript 00:00 I cannot believe that Trump is cutting Medicaid. Actually, what I meant to say is that I can't believe he's not cutting more of it because medicaid is a money laundering scheme for your government. Congratulations all you bleeding heart democrats. Instead of raging against the machine, you're bending over for it. Medicaid is jointly run by the states and the feds and for every one dollar that your state allocates to the program, the Feds turn around and match that at a level of one 00 percent so one dollar up to nine dollars. And this money comes from taxpayers in other 00:34 states. Your money has a 900% return rate at someone else's expense. Why wouldn't you expand the program? Thanks Obama. That's exactly how we wound up with way too many Medicaid recipients in the first place. Like everything related to healthcare the providers are in bed with the government on this one too because the government can tax the providers. 1. Use that dollar to collect the up to nine dollars in federal funds and to reimburse the provider their original dollar. What? Robbing the taxpayer to pad the funding pool leading to increase reimbursements for 01:06 Medicaid for the providers. Yeah, if I'm a doctor or a health care facility, I'm saying sign me up to that. Yes, the medical industrial complex totally has your best interest in mind so go ahead and swallow up those vaccines like a good little comrade. Age me harder daddy. And speaking of comrades, do you know how many people in this country receive Medicaid that shouldn't? Before you start screaming, everyone should get free health care. Not the argument here. We do not have universal health care in the United States. It doesn't work and since we don't have it, that means someone is paying for it and guess what? There are lower-income families 01:37 who don't qualify for the benefits but they're taxpayers and they're being burdened by this. Back to the point which is that the system is insanely abused. I used to do child support referee work for years and you would v

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Fact Check: Medicaid expansion will significantly improve health outcomes for postpartum women. | TruthOrFake Blog