Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signed a bill into state law Wednesday that expands postpartum care for mothers through the state’s Medicaid program, BadgerCare Plus.
Evers signed Senate Bill (SB) 23, now 2025 Wisconsin Act 102, at Children’s Wisconsin Hospital in Wauwatosa.
“Almost seven years ago to the day, I first proposed expanding postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to a full year. It was one of the very first things I announced back in 2019 as part of my very first budget, and it’s been in every budget I’ve ever introduced as governor—that’s how long I’ve been fighting to get this done, folks,” Evers said in a statement.
“Expanding postpartum coverage is the right move for Wisconsin families, it’s the right move for our state, and it’s a privilege to be able to sign this bill into law today,” Evers added. “It’s been a long time coming, but I’m darn proud we got it done.”
Evers has made expanding postpartum coverage to one year a cornerstone of his “Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies” initiative, which he’s spent seven years working to pass, according to a press release from the governor’s office, including the proposal in each of his four budgets as governor and even going so far as to repeatedly and directly implore lawmakers in many of his major addresses over eight years as governor to do so.
Expanded coverage for new moms begins July 1.
