The Quality Institute’s new report, Navigating the Obstacles: The Complex Journey of Perinatal Care in New Jersey, lays out the different coverage rules for perinatal care in New Jersey based on a person’s insurance status. The report also identifies policy changes that would close existing gaps.

You can read the full report and recommendations and a one-page brief here.  On January 28, join us for a MAP Work Session to review the report and hear from a panel of experts working to bridge gaps in care across New Jersey. Register

Perinatal care—the care provided during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum—is critical for maternal and infant health.  Access to comprehensive care varies depending on each person’s insurance coverage. The differences in coverage disproportionately affect more vulnerable individuals and families.

Our illustrative report describes the patient journeys of three patients navigating the system – Anna, Sarah, and Amanda – and paints a vivid picture of the different challenges they face. Anna struggled to access Medicaid-covered doula services; Sarah faced gaps in care due to the Supplemental Prenatal and Contraceptive Program’s (SPCP) limited scope of coverage; and Amanda’s commercial plan left her overwhelmed by high out-of-pocket costs. These stories reflect systemic issues that demand urgent attention. Over 50 percent of births in New Jersey are covered through state-regulated insurance markets, including Medicaid, SPCP, and Cover NJ. The systemic barriers outlined in this report too often harm pregnant individuals and their newborns.

The Call to Action: Five Key Recommendations

Our report, supported by the Community Health Acceleration Project, the NJ Birth Equity Funders Alliance, and the Community Foundation of New Jersey, lays out actionable steps to create a more equitable, high-quality perinatal care system in New Jersey.

• Expand the scope of SPCP Coverage: Add prescription drug benefits, behavioral health services, dental care, and postpartum care to address critical needs that arise throughout the perinatal period.
• Mandate Coverage and Better Support Doula Services: Require coverage of doula services, increase funding for training, and broaden credentialing requirements to build a more robust doula workforce.
• Advance Behavioral Health Integration: Standardize benefits across insurance markets and enable the licensing and payment for care models that integrate physical, behavioral, and social health services.
• Strengthen Postpartum Care: Ensure comprehensive postpartum coverage that includes mental health, chronic disease management, and preventive care.
• Ensure Coverage and Raise Awareness of Dental Care Throughout the Perinatal Period: Educate providers and patients about the importance of oral health, throughout the perinatal period, to a healthy pregnancy and new born baby.

A Path Forward

New Jersey can lead the nation in advancing birth equity and improving maternal infant health. By implementing the recommendations in this report, we can ensure that every pregnant individual, regardless of socioeconomic status or insurance coverage, has access to the care they need during this critical phase of life.