Bill Extending Coverage for New Moms Advances in Wisconsin State Legislature

Tuesday, February 25th, 2025 -- 12:01 PM

(Wisconsin Radio Network) As Republicans in Washington work to make deep cuts to Medicaid, a bill extending coverage for new moms is advancing in the Wisconsin Legislature.

According to the Wisconsin Radio Network, the measure would allow women covered by Medicaid to maintain coverage for a full year after birth of a child.

Authored by Republican state Senator Jesse James, it cleared the Senate Health Committee with bipartisan support. Wausau area Republican Representative Pat Snyder is the bill’s Assembly sponsor.

At a public hearing last week, he called the measure “the right thing to do.” Former Republican Representative Donna Rozar of Marshfield sponsored the bill in the previous session, and said she was proud that the Senate passed it 32-1.

It failed to advance in the Assembly, where Speaker Robin Vos remains opposed to  what he characterized as an expansion of welfare. Proponents say expanding postpartum coverage to 90 days is inadequate.

Wisconsin and Arkansas are the only states that have yet to implement the 12-month coverage extension.

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