Last week, one state legislator singlehandedly denied care for 16,500 people about to give birth in Wisconsin.
For almost a decade, Representative Robin Vos has blocked Wisconsin from passing post-partum Medicaid extension, which would ensure that new moms on Medicaid have health insurance for a year after giving birth, instead of the current 60 days.
Here’s 5 reasons why Vos blocking post-partum care extension is harmful and short-sighted:
1. It would save lives.
New mothers are especially at risk of serious health conditions, including hemorrhage and cardiomyopathy. Nearly three out of every four pregnancy-related deaths occur after giving birth. Rural women—like many in Vos’ district— and Black women continue to bear the brunt of this broken, inadequate health care system. Uninterrupted health care coverage can also help to prevent costly emergency department visits and hospitalizations. Currently, Medicaid only covers up to 60 days post-partum. For anyone that’s given birth or has a partner or loved that has, you know how woefully inadequate this can be.
2. It has overwhelming bipartisan & community support.
In a time of deep partisan divisions, expanding post-partum care has widespread support across the state. 52 organizations, including Wisconsin Right to Life, registered in support of the bill. Literally no one registered against it. 20 Republicans and 46 Democrats co-sponsored this bill.
3. It’s less than 1/10 of 1% of the medicaid budget.
Extending post-partum care for an additional 10 months after giving birth would have the same impact on our state budget as a rounding error. Adding post-partum care is literally the least we can do.
4. Every other state except Arkansas has expanded post-partum care.
5. Representative Vos said he cares about babies.
Yet, he offers no other solutions to fix this tragic problem.“I saw this as a pro-life bill to help mothers have coverage for up to a year, in order to let them know that they would have the help they needed if there were any postpartum complications with their pregnancy,” said Republican Representative Donna Rozar, a retired registered nurse. “I thought it was a commonsense bill.”
