Tennessee is making history as the first state in the United States to offer free diapers to families who are part of its Medicaid program. Meanwhile, Delaware is also taking steps to extend a pilot program that provides this valuable service to postpartum parents.
The National Diaper Bank Network reports that a staggering 92% of families in Tennessee who receive diapers are working but still struggle to afford them. However, there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon. TennCare, Tennessee’s Medicaid program, has announced that starting in August, it will be the first Medicaid agency in the country to provide coverage for up to 100 diapers per month for its TennCare and CoverKids members under the age of 2. This initiative aims to alleviate the financial burden faced by these families and ensure that their little ones have access to clean and essential diapers.
Hundreds of packages of 50-count newborn diapers are lined up in a box at the Bare Needs Diaper Bank, eagerly awaiting distribution to families in need.
According to Nicole Willis, the marketing and communication manager for Mid-South Food Bank, the increasing prices of essential items have not only put a strain on families but have also resulted in a surge in demand at the bank.
According to Willis, as the demand for food increases, it is inevitable that there will be an increased need for diapers. She believes that this will not only benefit families in need and the Bare Needs Bank, but most importantly, it will ensure that babies are provided for and protected from diaper rash. By addressing this need, they can work together to alleviate the burden and support these families and infants.
Parents and legal guardians will soon have the convenience of collecting diapers directly from pharmacies in the pharmacy benefit manager network. Once the initiative is ready to launch, TennCare will provide detailed information on how to enroll in the program.
The pilot program in Delaware, which offers free diapers and wipes to postpartum parents for the first three months after giving birth, has been granted an extension by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
In Delaware, new parents can receive a weekly supply of 80 diapers and one pack of baby wipes for the first twelve weeks after giving birth. This program has been extended for another five years using Medicaid funding, as approved by CMS.
Martha Lodge, spokesperson for the Delaware Health and Social Services, highlighted the importance of having enough diapers not only for the well-being of the child but also for the parent. She emphasized that diaper need is linked to maternal depression and stress.
Newborn babies typically go through approximately eight to 10 diapers per day, which adds up to about 300 diapers monthly. As they grow into toddlers, they tend to use around 150 diapers per month.
