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MADISON, WI- A bipartisan bill has gained support in the Republican-controlled Wisconsin Legislature to allow low-income mothers to stay on Medicaid for a year after giving birth. Currently, mothers must recertify for the program 60 days after giving birth.
The proposed expansion would cost the state more than $21 million and extend coverage to nearly 5,300 more mothers. If Wisconsin were to accept federal Medicaid expansion funds, the cost of expanding coverage for new mothers would drop to around $17 million. Wisconsin is one of just 10 states that have not accepted federal funds to expand Medicaid eligibility above the federal poverty line, despite pushes from Democrats to do so.
The bill is similar to Medicaid expansion proposed by Democratic Governor Tony Evers in his budget proposal last month. Republicans rejected Evers’ request in the last budget cycle to establish one year of postpartum Medicaid benefits, opting instead to extend them to 90 days.