Summary
This memorandum collates and summarizes key federal activity on maternal health and gender equity thus far in 2021. Section II first examines prominent legislative activity on these fronts, including important statutory changes that authorize state Medicaid programs to extend postpartum coverage to a full year. The section also includes other prominent legislative proposals to improve maternal health, as well as mentions of maternal health issues in other important health-related hearings in 2021. Section III overviews developments on the regulatory front, beginning with an examination of key recent interagency work on maternal health, as well as the White House’s establishment of its Gender Policy Council. The section also discusses potential reversals on previous Trump Administration changes to the Title X family planning program and section 1557 protections.