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Lawmakers Vote to Extend Medicaid for New Moms

Missouri Lawmakers have voted to help new mothers struggling with addiction pay for treatment programs.

The bill, approved by the House Friday in a 133-6 vote, would allow women to receive Medicaid coverage for more than a year after giving birth to pay for substance abuse and mental health programs.

Currently, Medicaid coverage ends about two months after a woman gives birth.

If the proposal is approved by the governor, Missouri will need a waiver from the federal government to enact the extension. Missouri's waiver would be the first request of its kind, and a notable expansion for a state that didn't expand Medicaid after the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010.

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