Senate passes Randall bill extending Medicaid for new mothers to a full year

A bill sponsored by state Sen. Emily Randall (D-Bremerton) would extend Medicare coverage for new low-income mothers for a full year after childbirth.

The measure, SB-6128, was passed unanimously by the state Senate on Feb. 17 and is expected to adopted by the House of Representatives as well.

Babies of low-income mothers were already covered by Medicaid, Randall explained Monday, but mothers were limited to 60 days.

“In the months after 60 days, moms just dropped off the cliff,” she said.

The extension covers all the mother’s health needs, not just post-partum issues.

“We know that new moms have a lot of health challenges, and when you’re also caring for a small infant, it makes it even harder,” Randall said. “We want our moms to be best prepared to take care of their new kiddos.”

In the first year, the extension would cover mothers whose families earn 150% or less of the federal poverty level. Over four years, phases would increase the threshold to 193% of the federal poverty level.

The current federal poverty level is $21,720 for a family of three. Families of three earning $32,580 or less would qualify for postpartum Medicaid under the Randall bill. For a family of two — typically mother and child — the figures would be $17,240 and $19,140.

The bill would cost the state about $25 million over four years, Randall said, but federal matching funds could lower that amount.

Randall noted that studies have demonstrated a positive impact on future health outcomes, housing stability, financial security, and family cohesion when an individual’s first year of life is secure.

“We’re learning more and more about how adverse childhood experiences can affect a person’s adult life, and certainly an unhealthy mother is an adverse experience,” she said.

Postpartum depression, in particular, can be a threat to the child as well as the mother, she noted.

Randall said the bill had broad bipartisan support in the Senate, including from state Sen. Steve O’Ban (R-Tacoma) and Sen. Randi Becker (R-Enumclaw), and she expected similar bipartisan support when the bill reaches the House.

“Health care is one area in which we can have good conversations,” she said.

This story was originally published February 25, 2020 at 12:00 AM.