A Democratic bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Postpartum Lifeline Act requires 12-month continuous, full benefit coverage for pregnant individuals under Medicaid and CHIP. This bill amends the Social Security Act to change the coverage requirements for these individuals. It moves the coverage from an optional state election to a requirement. The changes impact both Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program. The law includes specific provisions regarding the effective date and exceptions for states requiring new legislation.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +10
Would women be better off under this?
Significantly improves postpartum health security for pregnant individuals.
- Scored +9
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
It guarantees essential postpartum healthcare access for pregnant individuals through Medicaid and CHIP.
- Scored +8
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Provides essential healthcare coverage for pregnant individuals in low-income families.
The opposite
- Scored -5
Does this leave more decisions to the states?
The bill reduces state discretion by turning optional Medicaid coverage into a requirement.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Extended Health Coverage: Pregnant individuals will receive full benefit coverage for a 12-month period that begins on the last day of their pregnancy and ends on the last day of the month in which that 12-month period ends (Section 2(a) and Section 2(b)).
-
Mandatory State Participation: The bill changes the language from the option of a State to a requirement that a State plan provide this coverage (Section 2(a)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Delayed Implementation: The amendments generally take effect on the 1st day of the 1st calendar quarter that begins after one year from the date of the Act's enactment (Section 2(c)).
-
Legislative Delays for Certain States: In cases where the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines that a State plan requires new State legislation to meet these requirements, the State will not be considered out of compliance until after the close of the 1st regular session of the State legislature that begins after the Act's enactment (Section 2(c)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would women be better off under this? — Significantly improves postpartum health security for pregnant individuals. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Provides essential healthcare coverage for pregnant individuals in low-income families. Would children be better off under this? — Extends coverage under CHIP, which benefits children of eligible families.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — It guarantees essential postpartum healthcare access for pregnant individuals through Medicaid and CHIP. Does this put more money into Medicaid, the health coverage for people on low incomes? — The bill mandates continuous Medicaid coverage for a full 12 months postpartum.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill increases federal requirements on states regarding Medicaid coverage mandates. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — The bill reduces state discretion by turning optional Medicaid coverage into a requirement.
- 6/16/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Introduced in Senate
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.