In February 2021, First Lady of New Jersey, Tammy Murphy, and the New Jersey Department of Human Services announced multiple new Medicaid initiatives for mothers and their babies.
The initiatives:
- allow the state Medicaid program to cover doula care;
- require obstetrical providers, nurse midwives, or other licensed health care professionals to complete a perinatal risk assessment during a beneficiary’s first prenatal visit to help identify trends in risk factors; and
- increase the Certified Nurse Midwife rate to be equivalent to 95 percent of the current physician rate for prenatal, labor and delivery, and postpartum services.
These initiatives are specifically intended to support healthy and equitable birth outcomes in the state. Learn more.