State And Federal Coverage For Pregnant Immigrants: Prenatal Care Increased, No Change Detected For Infant Health

• DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2016.1198
• Publication Date: 2017-04-03T19:28:17Z
• Authors: Laura R. Wherry; Rachel Fabi; Adam Schickedanz; Brendan Saloner
• Keywords: Prenatal Care

Expanded health insurance coverage for pregnant immigrant women who are in the United States lawfully as well those country without documentation may address barriers access to pregnancy-related care. We present new evidence on impact of states' public expansions (both state-funded and under Children's Health Insurance Program) their prenatal care use, mode delivery, infant health. Our quasi-experimental design compared changes women's outcomes states expanding nonimmigrant same state nonexpanding states. found that use increased among all following expansion cesarean section with less than a high school diploma. no effects incidence low birthweight, preterm birth, being small gestational age, or death. State programs cover appear have improved utilization observable mortality.