MADISON, Wis. – After years of blocking a bipartisan effort to expand postpartum Medicaid coverage in Wisconsin, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos reversed course Thursday, allowing the bill to pass 95-1. The vote, which came on the same day Vos announced his impending retirement due to a recent heart attack, extends health insurance for new mothers from 60 days after birth to a full year, aligning Wisconsin with every other state except Arkansas.
The turnaround marks a significant concession from Vos, a Republican who has wielded considerable power over the legislative agenda in Wisconsin for years. His opposition to the expansion, rooted in concerns about expanding “welfare,” as reported by ProPublica last fall, had stalled the bill despite widespread bipartisan support and mounting pressure from advocates.
“Go out and accept your victory lap,” Vos reportedly told Republican caucus members Wednesday evening, according to one lawmaker. “You won.”
The legislation now heads to Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who is expected to sign it into law. Evers has long championed the expansion, arguing it is crucial for improving maternal health outcomes in the state. Wisconsin’s current 60-day coverage period falls far short of the 12 months recommended by health experts, and a third of pregnancy-related deaths in the state occur after that initial period, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
The path to Thursday’s vote was not without turbulence. Rep. Patrick Snyder, the Republican lead sponsor of the bill, had threatened to withdraw from the upcoming election if the measure failed, potentially jeopardizing a GOP seat in a swing district. “I just said if we can’t receive this thing passed, I just don’t perceive I can come back,” Snyder told ProPublica, emphasizing the importance of delivering on a promise to his constituents.
Vos’s announcement of his retirement, citing a heart attack he experienced in the fall and a need to reduce stress, added another layer of complexity to the day’s events. He stated, “To my leadership team and my caucus colleagues, thank you for your trust, thank you for your candor and your willingness to carry responsibility when it is heavy.”
The bill’s passage also followed a last-minute push by Democrats, who employed a procedural tactic of attaching the postpartum coverage extension to other bills in an attempt to force a vote. While initially met with resistance from Republicans, who deemed the amendments “not germane,” the strategy ultimately proved effective. A similar tactic was used to advance a stalled bill on breast cancer screenings, which also passed Thursday.
The legislation is estimated to cost the state $9.4 million annually once fully implemented, with the federal government covering an additional $14.1 million, as reported by WJFW.
Advocates, including Kate Duffy, a Wisconsin mother who has campaigned for the expansion under the moniker Motherhood for Decent, celebrated the victory as a result of sustained grassroots organizing. “We just would not shut up about this,” Duffy said, crediting relentless pressure from Wisconsin women for the outcome.
Despite the passage of the bill, the future of Vos’s leadership remains uncertain, and the legislative session is expected to conclude soon as lawmakers prepare for the campaign season. The bill now awaits Gov. Evers’ signature, but the circumstances surrounding its passage – and Vos’s unexpected retirement – leave lingering questions about the future of Republican leadership in Wisconsin.
