On Wednesday, February 12, the Senate Committee on Health will hold a public hearing on two familiar pieces of legislation.

Senate Bill 4, which aims to clarify the legality of direct primary care agreements by exempting them from insurance regulations, is a reintroduction of a first introduced bill in the 2017-2018 session. Last session, a similar bill, SB 905, failed to pass due to late-session opposition from groups such as Wisconsin Family Action and the Wisconsin Catholic Conference, primarily over nondiscrimination language that included “gender identity.” The new version of the bill removes that language, which may make it more likely to pass legislature but could draw objections from Gov. Tony Evers, who previously vetoed a version he felt lacked strong enough protections.

This session’s bill, SB 4, is supported by groups such as Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, the Wisconsin Academy of Physician Assistants, and the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin, the bill clarifies the requirements for a valid direct primary care agreement and exempts such agreements from insurance law.

The second bill on the agenda, Senate Bill 23, would extend Medicaid eligibility for postpartum women from 60 days to 12 months. Wisconsin is one of two states who have not extended Medicaid coverage for postpartum women to 12 months. This proposal has garnered broad support from organizations including the Alliance of Health Insurers, Molina Healthcare Inc., Elevance Health, the Wisconsin Academy of Physician Assistants, Nurse-Family Partnership and the Wisconsin affiliate of the American College of Nurse-Midwives, with no registered opposition as of February 7. Notably, 23 of the 33 state senators and 67 of the 99 state assembly representatives have signed on as coauthors.

Last session, the bill passed the State Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support in a 32-1 vote, with former Senator Duey Stroebel as the lone dissenter. While the legislation is expected to move swiftly through the Senate, its ultimate success will depend on Assembly leadership.