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Clinicians and advocates warn against rollback of 12‑month postpartum Apple Health coverage
Summary
Proposed change to Medicaid postpartum coverage in House Bill 2041 — rolling coverage back to 6 months for new applicants after July 2026 — drew unanimous opposition from clinicians, tribal health leaders and advocates who said behavioral‑health and maternal‑mortality evidence supports 12‑month coverage.
The House Appropriations Committee heard substantial opposition to proposed changes in House Bill 2041, which would alter Apple Health (Washington’s Medicaid) postpartum coverage. Under a substituted bill briefed to the committee, the state would continue 12 months of coverage only through June 30, 2026; persons newly approved on or after July 1, 2026 would receive six months of continuous postpartum eligibility.
Megan Morris, committee staff, outlined the change and budget assumptions. She said the fiscal note’s implementation date affects the estimated savings; using the bill’s July 1, 2026 date, staff estimated medical‑assistance savings of roughly $9.5 million general fund state and $18.7 million total per fiscal year beginning in FY 2027, with multi‑year general‑fund savings thereafter.
The nut graf: dozens of clinicians, tribal leaders and advocacy organizations told the committee that 12‑month postpartum coverage is essential because many pregnancy‑related deaths occur in the months after delivery and behavioral‑health conditions are a leading cause of pregnancy‑related mortality in Washington.
Testimony included front‑line descriptions: Talia Anton, a doula with Humminbird Indigenous Family Services, said behavioral‑health conditions including overdose and suicide “are the leading cause of pregnancy related deaths in Washington.” Li Chi Leong of Northwest Health Advocates, Cindy Gamble of the American Indian Health Commission and Dr. Judy Kimmelman of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists cited state Maternal Mortality Review findings and urged continued 12‑month coverage. Courtney Norman of Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates added that perinatal mood and anxiety disorders commonly emerge several months postpartum and that a six‑month cutoff “leaves a newly diagnosed parent with only one month of access to care.”
Advocates pressed legislators to consider the health equity implications: testimony stressed that maternal mortality and morbidity disproportionately affect American Indian/Alaska Native people and other populations that rely on Medicaid. Several witnesses offered technical assistance and urged the Legislature to find revenue alternatives rather than reduce coverage.
The hearing ended without a committee vote; staff noted the bill was not assumed in the Senate operating proposal and that IT and eligibility system changes would be required to implement any change.
