Wisconsin Postpartum Medicaid Expansion: Vote Scheduled After Years of Advocacy

Wisconsin Poised to Expand Postpartum Medicaid Coverage, Becoming 49th State to Do So

Madison, WI – After years of advocacy and a day of Democratic amendments aimed at securing coverage, Wisconsin is on the verge of expanding Medicaid benefits for new mothers, providing up to one year of postpartum care. The Wisconsin Assembly is scheduled to vote on the legislation tomorrow and passage would make Wisconsin the 49th state to offer a full year of postpartum Medicaid coverage, leaving Arkansas as the sole outlier.

Representative Jill Billings, a key proponent of the expansion, expressed both relief and a sense of long-awaited progress. “After years of advocacy and a full day of Democrats proposing amendments that would add postpartum Medicaid coverage to every bill on the floor, Republicans have finally agreed to pass legislation expanding postpartum Medicaid coverage in session tomorrow,” Billings stated. “Wisconsin will become the 49^th state with one year of postpartum Medicaid coverage.”

The push for expanded coverage stems from alarming statistics regarding maternal mortality. According to Billings, approximately 30% of maternal deaths occur more than 60 days after delivery, highlighting the critical need for continued healthcare access beyond the traditional 60-day postpartum period. “This moment has been years in the making,” Billings explained. “In 2021, I coauthored AB 592, which would have expanded postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to one year. By expanding postpartum Medicaid, we will save dozens of lives every year.”

The legislative breakthrough comes amidst a flurry of last-minute negotiations as the two-year legislative session nears its end. The expansion of postpartum Medicaid is being considered alongside a bill to remove out-of-pocket costs for breast cancer screenings, which also gained unanimous support in the Assembly. Both measures have already passed the state Senate, signaling a strong bipartisan commitment to improving women’s health.

Democratic Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer, speaking at a news conference alongside Democratic colleagues, underscored the importance of the measures. While details of Neubauer’s remarks were not provided in the initial statement, her presence and the context of the conference suggest strong support for both the Medicaid expansion and the breast cancer screening bill.

Governor Tony Evers is expected to sign both bills into law next week, solidifying Wisconsin’s commitment to maternal health. The passage of this legislation represents a significant victory for advocates who have long argued that extending Medicaid coverage is essential for ensuring the well-being of new mothers and reducing maternal mortality rates in the state, which has been identified as one of the highest in the country.

The shift in position by Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, who previously opposed expanding welfare programs, was a key factor in unlocking the legislative logjam. While the reasons for Vos’s change of heart were not detailed, his willingness to compromise paved the way for the passage of these critical healthcare measures.

Wisconsin’s previous maternal healthcare legislation, passed last year, allowed pregnant women to temporarily receive Medicaid coverage while their eligibility was being processed and included coverage for doula services and remote monitoring of vital signs. The expansion of postpartum coverage builds upon these existing efforts to improve maternal health outcomes across the state.