Wisconsin Lawmakers Bolster Substance Use Treatment

With bipartisan support, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers (D) recently signed two pieces of legislation that will improve access to substance use treatment for people throughout the state.    

Medicaid is the largest payer of behavioral health services—including treatment for substance use disorder (SUD)—in the United States, and these bills will extend Medicaid coverage for postpartum women and individuals soon to be released from jails and prisons.

The first bill, 2025 Wisconsin Act 102, extends Medicaid coverage for postpartum women from 60 days to one year after birth. This coverage, which includes but is not limited to SUD treatment, is critical for new parents: Overdose death rates among pregnant and postpartum women ages 35-44 have more than tripled in recent years, and untreated opioid use disorder (OUD) can impair a parent’s ability to care for a newborn.

Extending postpartum women’s access to substance use treatment such as methadone and buprenorphine—both medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration and proved to reduce overdoses and support recovery—as well as counseling and other services can help keep parents and babies safe and healthy.

The second bill, 2025 Wisconsin Act 233, aims to extend Medicaid coverage for individuals soon to be released from jails and prisons. At present, Medicaid benefits are suspended for people during periods of incarceration. The law instructs the state’s Department of Health Services to apply for a federal waiver allowing Medicaid to pay for a targeted set of healthcare services—including medications for SUD, care coordination, and counseling services, as well as a 30-day supply of needed medications—up to 90 days before individuals reenter their communities.

This change could save lives: People who are incarcerated have significantly higher rates of SUDs than the adult general population, and they are most at risk for overdose immediately after release. This heightened risk exists because opioid tolerance often decreases during incarceration because of abstinence. People who receive medications for OUD while incarcerated also may be at risk for overdose if medications are not readily available immediately following their release. Extending Medicaid coverage can help ensure immediate access to medications and other supportive services and avoid other lapses in care.

These bills—passed with bipartisan support—were championed by legislators including state Senator Jesse James (R) and state Representatives Clint Moses (R) and Pat Snyder (R). The effort was informed by The Pew Charitable Trusts’ substance use prevention and treatment initiative, whose staff worked closely with Wisconsin lawmakers over the past year to improve access to substance use treatment. 

For postpartum women and individuals soon to be released from jails and prisons, access to effective substance use care can mean the difference between life and death. By extending Medicaid coverage to these groups, Wisconsin lawmakers have shown that they are committed to helping people on their recovery journeys.