Medicaid is thrown like a buzzword in political discussions, but for millions of people – including black women, families and degraded communities – is a salvation. As one of the largest public health programs in the US, Medicaid covers everything, from maternal care to cancer projections to rescue medications. But his future is on unstable ground.
In the urgent need for the health of black women, we carefully monitor how Medicaid evolves, what it funds and where it is. Below are some of the key areas we are watching and why they matter.
1. Understanding Medicaid: What it is and why it matters
Medicaid was founded in 1965 to provide health coverage to people with low income and has become a crucial part of the US healthcare system over the last 60 years. Today, it covers low -income families, pregnant women, people with disabilities and the elderly who need long -term care.
- 1 in 4 black women Rely on Medicaid to cover healthcare.
- 52% of black girls under the age of 18 covered by Medicaid.
- Medicaid pays for 65% of births by black mothersmaking it the largest payer for black maternal health.
When Medicaid is funded and fully protected, it supports well -being at every stage of life. When it is degraded, the consequences first hit the vulnerable communities.
2. Medicaid and maternal health
States are increasingly using Medicaid to improve the results of maternal health, especially covering Doula and midwives and expanding after childbirth care.
- Doula and midwife cover: 23 states now return to Doula care and 19 return all the licensed midwives. This means more access to culturally capable low intervention support for pregnant women.
- 12 -month postpartum coverage: Previously, Medicaid only covered women for 60 days after birth. By 2025, every state except Wisconsin has adopted a policy to expand coverage to 12 months – a crucial step in improving the results for new mothers and babies.
3. Medicaid and drug pricing: The 340B program
The 340B drug pricing program allows for healthcare providers serving low -income patients to buy discount medicines. Ideally, these savings are reinvested in patient care and services.
- The program helps to extend access to basic medicines and improve treatment attachment.
- However, reforms are needed to ensure transparency – producers must show that they are really saving to reduce patients’ costs and improve care in inadequate communities.
4. Medicaid and Reproductive Health: A Mixed Bag
While Medicaid has expanded access to many types of care, reproductive health is where it is still painfully short.
- The modification of HydeIn place since 1976, it prohibits the use of Medicaid federal funds for abortion except rare cases. Only 16 states use government funds to cover the care of abortions for Medicaid recipients.
- In Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic (June 2025), the Supreme Court ruled that Medicaid beneficiaries could not sue states to limit the provider’s access. This opens the door to states from preventing Planned Parenthood and similar clinics from patients with Medicaid coverage – they may lose access to STI tests, cancer screenings, contraception and much more.
This decision could lead to clinical closures and reduced access to reproductive care even for those who pay from the pocket.
Conclusion:
“One Big Beautiful Bill” has introduced significant federal cuts in Medicaid, endangering access to health care for millions. States are now facing difficult decisions: either additional funds are distributed to maintain coverage levels or applying services reductions. Some states, such as New York, are exploring new sources of revenue and cost reduction strategies to tackle the expected shortages. Others may consider policy adjustments or seek federal exemptions to mitigate the impact of these cuts. For more information on the forthcoming changes to Medicaid:
In the urgent need for black women’s health, we closely monitor these developments and support policies that protect and expand access to care. We will continue to provide updates and resources to help our communities tour these changes and support fair healthcare solutions.
