A bill introduced on the first day of the Iowa Legislature’s new session would allow pregnant women covered by Medicaid to keep coverage for 12 months after the end of pregnancy. Only three states, including Iowa, have not extended postpartum Medicaid for a full year; currently, Iowa law allows for 60 days of coverage after a pregnancy ends. Advocates say longer coverage would help thousands of women annually to manage postpartum complications and other issues. Similar legislation has advanced in recent years but has never made it to Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ desk. No hearing date was immediately set for House Study Bill 500.