The Tale of Two Bills
While disappointed that the Medicaid expansion bill died, the Healthy Wyoming coalition remains optimistic. The overwhelming support across the state swayed more legislators to express their support for expansion than ever before. Not to mention, the 67th Legislature ended on a high note with Gov. Mark Gordon signing the “Medicaid for Moms” bill on March 3.
“We are delighted that Medicaid for Moms passed once it was heard on the floor but are very disheartened that the Medicaid expansion bill wasn’t allowed the same opportunity to be heard,” Healthy Wyoming director Ana Marchese said.
“Wyoming constituents want this. Our coalition will not give up the fight to pass Medicaid expansion,” she said.
Medicaid expansion has economic benefits for the whole state. Hospitals urgently needed this measure to reduce the burden of unpaid emergency room visits. Wyoming’s economy needs better coverage for employees, and we know that healthier employees mean stronger businesses. Expanding Medicaid is an absolute necessity in fighting the mental health crisis in Wyoming.
Medicaid for Moms – Success
House Bill 4 “Medicaid for Moms” made it over the finish line once the bill was allowed to be heard on the Senate floor. HB4 almost didn’t survive the deadline for bills to pass the first reading in the second chamber.
On the final day for bills to be heard for their initial vote in the Senate, Majority Floor Leader Sen. Larry Hicks (R-Baggs) attempted to hold the bill back. It would have died for failing to advance past a procedural deadline.
However, as the day came to a close, Senate Labor, Health, and Social Services Chairman Fred Baldwin (R-Kemmerer) made a motion to override Hicks’ obstruction and bring HB4 to the floor. The motion passed, and the Senate voted to pass the bill.
Pro-life champions
House Bill 4–Medicaid twelve-month extension postpartum coverage garnered early support from Governor Gordon.
Jen Davis, the health and human services policy adviser for the governor, testified in favor of the bill during the Senate Labor, Health & Social Services Committee meeting on Feb. 22.
“Governor Gordon as a pro-life governor believes that this is an avenue to ensure that we take care of women and infants,” Davis said during her testimony.
Additionally, pro-life legislators helped pass the bill in both chambers. HB-4 passed the House with strong support from pro-life legislators, including Rep. Cody Wylie, of Rock Springs, who penned a powerful op-ed about his support for HB-4.
Before COVID-19, mothers in the program only received postpartum care for 60 days. Federal funds allowed “Medicaid for Moms” to extend coverage for an additional 10 months, but those extra funds were set to expire in April before House Bill 4’s passage.
House Bill 4 extends postpartum insurance coverage offered through Wyoming Medicaid to mothers to 12 months after birth, allowing for the health and recovery of moms so they can take care of their babies and go back to work.
Medicaid expansion’s early death
Despite having more support than ever across the state, the Medicaid expansion bill, House Bill 80, died without being heard by Wyoming legislators.
The House Majority Floor Leader, Rep. Chip Neiman, R-Hulett, refused to allow House Bill 80 on the floor for debate before the first reading deadline meant there were no other opportunities for the bill in the 2023 general session.
Medicaid expansion deserves to be heard and debated by our elected legislators. Wyoming voters, regardless of party or region, want Medicaid expansion. We aren’t giving up. Our coalition continues to grow, and our movement continues to strengthen.
According to a Republican polling firm New Bridge Strategy’s poll done in 2021, a majority of voters, 65%, want their state legislators to support Medicaid expansion. The poll demonstrates that, regardless of political party or region of the state, Wyoming residents want their family, friends, and neighbors to have healthcare. That support spanned across party lines, with 58% of Republicans supporting Medicaid expansion, 64% of Independents, and 98% of Democrats, according to the poll.
Wyoming is now the only state in the West that has not expanded Medicaid after South Dakota voters bypassed state lawmakers with a ballot measure in November 2022.
Closing
The passage of postpartum extension is paving the way for the future of expansion in Wyoming. We know that when we work together, we can win. HB-4 was the first instance in recent memory that the Wyoming Legislature approved a meaningful increase to Medicaid access—and we made it happen in what might be the most hostile legislative body. Of course, HB-4 is no Medicaid expansion, so the fight continues. Today, we celebrate. Tomorrow, we fight.
