GAO: Five State MMRCs Drove 12-Month Postpartum Medicaid Extensions Through Mortality Reviews
In a report released September 24, 2026, the Government Accountability Office found that Maternal Mortality Review Committees in five states successfully recommended extending Medicaid postpartum coverage to 12 months, which those states subsequently adopted. GAO reviewed 10 MMRCs and found all consider federal and state laws as factors affecting maternal mortality, with committees commonly making recommendations on care coordination, mental health and substance use, health equity, reproductive health, and health care workers. CDC provides approximately $134 million over 2024-2029 to support 52 state and territorial MMRCs and monitors performance through regular meetings, required reports, and site visits. The findings demonstrate how state-level mortality review processes directly influence Medicaid coverage policy decisions aimed at reducing preventable maternal deaths, particularly those linked to chronic conditions like severe hypertension in the postpartum period.