The Senate for a second time since the last session passed a bill that would extend Medicaid coverage for postpartum mothers in Wisconsin from 60 days to a full year after childbirth. The measure received almost unanimous support, passing 32-1 with Sen. Chris Kapenga, R-Delafield, casting the only “no” vote.

Bill author Sen. Jesse James, R-Thorp, said at a news conference that Wisconsin has a responsibility to support mothers and babies.

Pregnant women in Wisconsin can currently receive Medicaid coverage if they have an annual income of up to 306% of the federal poverty level, however, they risk losing their coverage 60 days after giving birth. Newborns already receive a year of coverage in Wisconsin.

The bill received an outpouring of support from members of the public during a bill hearing. This included, James noted, support from mothers who dealt with heart failure, preeclampsia and other health issues.

"I'VE NEVER SUPPORTED an expansion of welfare. I can’t imagine that I would ever support one,” Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said about the postpartum Medicaid bill. “But we have to talk about it as a caucus.” (Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner photo)

“That’s why we’re here today,” James said. “Those moms are why we’re here today — their stories of life-threatening heart conditions, postpartum complications and the postpartum depression … Let’s give them the care they need.”

Senate President Mary Felzkowski, R-Tomahawk, said it is morally and fiscally “the right thing to do” for Wisconsin.

According to a fiscal estimate by the Department of Health Services, the policy would cost $18.5 million in all funds, including $7.3 million in general purpose revenue. If Wisconsin joined other states that have accepted the full federal Medicaid expansion, the cost for the postpartum coverage would be reduced to $15.1 million in all funds including $5.2 million in general purpose revenue.

Wisconsin is one of only two states in the country that haven’t opted to expand Medicaid coverage for postpartum moms — and despite bipartisan support — due to opposition from Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, the bill continues to face challenges in becoming law.

“Why is Wisconsin fighting for last place?” Sen. Jodi Habush Sinykin, D-Whitefish Bay, asked during floor debate.

Sen. Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee, said he was glad that the proposal was being voted on again but also said it is “odd” that lawmakers were speaking about extending the benefit in a national political environment where the federal Medicaid program as a whole is under threat.

“I would hope that we could take that initial step beyond (this bill) … to do our best to ensure that Medicaid overall is protected,” Larson said. “If the feds decide to set fire to Medicaid, as has been happening with other areas of government, there is no way that other states can make up for it.”

Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein, D-Middleton, noted on the floor that the Senate also passed the bill last session 32-1, and the Assembly is the reason it was unsuccessful.

Assembly Speaker Vos was one of the major obstacles to the advancement of the bill in the Assembly last session, and he continues to oppose the bill, having termed it an expansion of “welfare.”

“(Assembly Republicans) sat on it and did nothing and since that time, women and babies have been hurt because they haven’t received the care that they need,” Hesselbein said. “I’m very hopeful after our action again today that we could talk to the Republicans in the state Assembly and get this done.”

Felzkowski told lawmakers to remember it can take more than one legislative session for a bill to pass and expressed confidence the Assembly will eventually come around.

“Sometimes it takes two or three (sessions), sometimes it takes four. We’ll get the Assembly there,” Felzkowski said during the floor session. “I promise.”

When asked about the bill during a news conference Tuesday, Vos didn’t commit to bringing it up for a vote, saying his caucus hasn’t discussed it yet, but added he hasn’t changed his own position.

“My position has been fairly clear from the very beginning. I’ve never supported an expansion of welfare. I can’t imagine that I would ever support one,” Vos said. “But we have to talk about it as a caucus.”

More than 70% of the Assembly are co-sponsors on the bill, including 28 Republicans — who represent more than half of the Assembly Republican caucus — and 44 Democrats. It needs a simple majority of 50 votes to pass.

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