MADISON — Representative Todd Novak (R-Dodgeville) joined seven of his Assembly Republican colleagues in announcing a vote on a postpartum Medicaid coverage extension for new mothers and requiring healthcare providers to cover supplemental breast cancer screenings for at-risk women.

The postpartum Medicaid extension bill, Senate Bill 23 (SB 23), extends Medicaid coverage for new mothers to one year after childbirth. This is a critical period for the health and well-being of both mother and baby, and similar policies are already in place in 48 states.

The second bill, AB 263, requires health insurance providers to cover additional breast cancer screenings when a standard mammogram is deemed insufficient. The bill reduces financial burdens on patients and expands access to early detection for women at greater risk of developing breast cancer.

Both bills were being withheld from the Assembly floor due to a lack of support among members of the Assembly Republican Caucus. Rep. Novak and his colleagues announced an agreement to bring the bills to the Assembly floor after extensive private negotiations with their caucus colleagues.

“It is not fun, and it is not easy, but we were finally able to convince our colleagues and the Speaker that these bills must be passed,” said Novak. “By passing these bills, we have shown that we can put doing what’s right over politics and that we can work for the betterment of all Wisconsinites.”

Both bills passed the State Assembly on Thursday, February 19, and will now head to Governor Tony Evers’ desk for his signature.

The Assembly also passed several bills authored by Rep. Novak, including AB 664 requiring the service of butter in schools; AB 894, which codifies federal law relating to predatory gift card use fees and expiration dates; and Assembly Bills 973 and 1002, which create a new grant program to fund Economic Support Specialists at Aging and Disability Resource Centers.

Rep. Novak can be reached at (608) 237-9151 or by email at Rep.Novak@legis.wisconsin.gov. Additional information on Rep. Novak can be found at his website RepNovak.com.