From WisPolitics.com/WisBusiness.com …
— A total of 313,579 Wisconsinites signed up for health coverage through the Affordable Care Act marketplace during open enrollment for 2025, setting a new record for the state.
State officials today announced the final tally, which marks an increase of 18% from the previous record and exceeds last year’s total by more than 47,000, according to the release.
The updated total comes after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services earlier this month released figures showing the state’s enrollment total was already on track to exceed the prior year’s record high.
Gov. Tony Evers today said health care “should not be a privilege only afforded to the healthy and the wealthy” and touted the impact of the Affordable Care Act on millions of Americans, including those in the state with pre-existing conditions.
“This record enrollment proves just how important it is that we continue to defend and protect access to healthcare, close our uninsured gap, and support programs that help make a real difference in the lives of folks and families across our state,” Evers said in a statement.
At the national level, CMS reports a total of nearly 24.2 million plan selections were made during the 2025 open enrollment period. That exceeds the prior year’s total of 21.3 million.
See more in the release below.
— U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, grilled Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on whether he would commit to keeping the abortion pill on the market if confirmed to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Kennedy declined to make the commitment at yesterday’s U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee hearing.
Before asking Kennedy about mifepristone, Baldwin questioned him on whether a drug could be considered safe if 97%, 98% or 99% of people did not have any complications, and how many studies he would need to consider a drug to be safe.
Kennedy did not provide direct answers, saying it would depend on the situation and what kind of studies.
“The most widely used medication abortion drug, mifepristone, has been FDA approved for nearly 25 years,” Baldwin said. “More than 100 studies have confirmed that 99% of patients who took the abortion pill had no complications. So with all of that, I can only conclude that you would commit to keep this science-backed and proven medication on the market and accessible for women. Is that correct?”
Kennedy said President Donald Trump has not chosen a policy on the drug, and “I will implement his policy.”
Baldwin asked Kennedy if he would implement Trump’s policy “regardless of what the science says.”
He said “the devil is in the details.”
“If you’re telling me 99% of women did okay, but 1% died, I would say that is not a beneficial risk profile,” he said.
Baldwin said that isn’t what studies of mifepristone show. But Kennedy said he would need to see details of the studies, adding: “I can’t buy a pig in a poke.”
Baldwin has strongly criticized Kennedy’s appointment as health and human services secretary, saying he would be “downright dangerous for Wisconsin families.” U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh, praised the pick at a hearing yesterday on his confirmation before the Senate Finance Committee.
— In the latest GOP radio address, Sen. Jesse James touts his legislation to extend Medicaid coverage for postpartum mothers.
The Thorp Republican says Wisconsin is just one of two states that limits postpartum Medicaid coverage for mothers to 60 days.
The effects of childbirth don’t end when the child is born, and limiting coverage to just two months leaves many women vulnerable and without accessible healthcare, he says.
“Inconsistent healthcare coverage can lead to worse health outcomes, less predictable expenditures, and higher administrative costs,” James says. “Extending Medicaid coverage can save lives and align Wisconsin with the 48 other states already ensuring healthier outcomes for moms, babies, and families across the nation.”
James says his bill is a “vital step towards building a healthier, stronger Wisconsin for everyone.”
— Madison startup WellStack’s data platform will be used by Hartford HealthCare for patient care management, the company announced.
The collaboration is aimed at accelerating Hartford HealthCare’s digital health strategy, according to the release. Through the partnership, WellStack’s platform also will provide Hartford HealthCare with real-time analytics and advanced predictive modeling.
“We are thrilled to partner with Hartford HealthCare, a system known for its commitment to innovation and excellence,” WellStack CEO Rich Waller said in a statement. “Together, we will enable better clinical decisions, improve operational workflows, and ultimately deliver better care outcomes for patients.”
Hartford HealthCare, based in Connecticut, has more than 500 locations.
See more at Madison Startups.
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