# The Effects of Postpartum Medicaid Policies on Postpartum Depression Care Among Low-Income Women

> **NIH NIH K01** · BOSTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CAMPUS · 2024 · $53,999

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
This goal of this K01 is to provide the mentorship and training for Dr. Sarah Gordon to become an independent
investigator studying access to mental health services among low-income populations. Nationally, 1 in 8
women experience symptoms of postpartum depression (PPD), and rates of PPD are twice as high among
women enrolled in Medicaid compared to commercially-insured women. This research examines the effects of
postpartum Medicaid eligibility and benefit policies on PPD care among low-income women using a two-phase
explanatory mixed-methods design. Aims 1 and 2 will analyze secondary data from a novel linked database of
all payer claims data, birth certificates, and individual-level income data, consistent with NIMH’s strategic
objective to combine data from multiple sources of information to identify underserved groups. Using a
regression discontinuity design, Aim 1 will evaluate the effects of retaining Medicaid eligibility beyond the
pregnancy-related Medicaid eligibility limit of 60 days postpartum on utilization rates across the PPD care
continuum: screening, diagnosis and treatment. Aim 2 will use a difference-in-differences approach to measure
the effects of Medicaid reimbursement for PPD screening during well-child visits on PPD screening, diagnosis,
and treatment rates in the postpartum year, comparing outcomes among women who maintain versus lose
Medicaid eligibility at 60 days postpartum. Aims 1 and 2 will implement multi-level modeling techniques to
examine county-level moderators of policy effects. In Aim 3, I will conduct semi-structured qualitative interviews
with key policy informants, providers, and patient focus groups to explore how postpartum Medicaid policies
impact access to PPD services. Purposive qualitative sampling and will be guided by county-level moderators
of policy effects observed in Aims 1 and 2 and a geospatial cluster analysis of patterns of high and low rates of
PPD screening and treatment.
Dr. Sarah Gordon is an assistant professor at the Boston University School of Public Health. She has four key
training objectives: (1) acquire content expertise in the organization and delivery of mental health services, with
a focus on maternal mental health; (2) develop skills in mixed-methods research; (3) develop qualitative data
collection and analysis methods, and (4) acquire skills to measure and map area-level variation in policy
effects. Postpartum mental health conditions are a leading cause of preventable postpartum maternal morbidity
mortality. The goal of this proposal is to examine the effects of Medicaid policies in order to increase detection
and treatment of PPD, thereby improving postpartum mental health. This research is responsive to NIMH’s
high priority research area on women’s mental health during the perinatal period and consistent with priorities
outlined in the NIMH Strategic Plan, including to strengthen the public health impact of NIMH research.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10975097
- **Project number:** 3K01MH127253-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** BOSTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CAMPUS
- **Principal Investigator:** Sarah Hall Gordon
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $53,999
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2024-02-01 → 2027-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10975097

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10975097, The Effects of Postpartum Medicaid Policies on Postpartum Depression Care Among Low-Income Women (3K01MH127253-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10975097. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*