Severe Maternal Morbidity Disparities Before and During the COVID Pandemic in a Medicaid Population

Abstract

This study assessed racial and ethnic disparities in severe maternal mortality during delivery through 6 weeks postpartum, before and during the COVID pandemic, in a statewide Medicaid population. This retrospective, population-based, cohort study used Medicaid claims data linked to birth certificates from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Health Services Data Warehouse that included all individuals giving birth between January 1, 2017, and October 31, 2021, in Michigan who had Medicaid insurance during the month of childbirth. The SMM rate increased more during the COVID pandemic for Black (1.36 [1.26-1.46]) compared to White individuals (1.17 [1.09-1.26], p-value<0.01 Black vs White). The Black-White and Hispanic-White disparities in severe maternal morbidity, already high in the Medicaid population, widened during the COVID pandemic. Multilevel interventions are needed to reduce disparities in maternal morbidity and mortality.

Conflict of interest disclosure: No conflicts to disclose.