The Budget Repair Bill being discussed in the Legislature has focused on employee benefits, but includes a sweeping shift of authority for setting Medicaid policy. If passed, this unprecedented seizure of legislative authority would put critical decisions affecting the lives of 1.1 million Wisconsinites in the hands of unelected bureaucrats, with minimal public and legislative involvement. This bill would give the Department of Health Services the ability to rewrite Medicaid policy related to benefits, reimbursement, eligibility, and a wide range of other important aspects. It could impact BadgerCare Plus, Core and Basic as well as Family Care, SeniorCare and Children’s Waivers, among other programs vital to families’ lives.
On February 14th The Legislative Fiscal Bureau released the following in a memo titled Non-Fiscal Policy Items Contained Within the Budget Adjustment Bill (SS SB 11): (http://www.thewheelerreport.com/releases/February11/0214/0214lfbnonfiscal.pdf)
“There is one item included on the non-fiscal list that should be noted. That item is entitled, “Medical Assistance — Study and Implementation of Program Changes.” The provision could potentially give broad authority to the Department of Health Services, with approval of the Joint Committee on Finance, to significantly modify the medical assistance program and supersede most statutory provisions regarding the program. While the provision may result in significant savings in the future, it has been included on the list because it would remove the entire Legislature from determining substantial elements of the medical assistance program.”
This proposal would affect:
- 775,000 children and adults have basic medical coverage in BadgerCare
- 90,000 Wisconsin children and adults with severe mental illness use Medicaid services
- 9,800 children and young adults (0-21) with severe disabilities utilize Medicaid community based supports and medical coverage
- 20,509 people with developmental and physical disabilities stay independent at home and in their communities with Medicaid funded supports
- 18,000 seniors stay independent at home and in their communities with help from Medicaid
- 90,000 Wisconsin seniors rely on SeniorCare for affordable prescription drugs
Additionally
- This proposal would open the door to far-reaching changes in Medicaid under the guise of a ‘budget repair bill”.
- This proposal would yield NO savings to the state budget in this biennium.
- Major Medicaid decisions that affect families’ lives should not be made behind closed doors.
- The proposal would give the Administration the authority to implement emergency rules making critical changes that supersede current statutes.
- The Administration would be able to extend the emergency rules for as long as four years, with no obligation to define the emergency.
- This proposal severely limits the debate on this very important issue, silences the voices of families and individuals and weakens the legislative branch of government.
- A system that supports 20% of Wisconsin’s population deserves to have open public hearings when rules are changed.
This is an argument that I have heard very little about from the media. I believe that this is a discussion that Governor Walker is happy that he has not had to defend. When did it become OK to allow unelected officials to set policy with minimal legislative input? But more importantly, when did we elect officials who do not get input from the people?
Nothing I’ve read stated that money would be cut from Medicaid or othe HHS programs,though their services make up a huge portion of our spending budget.It appears they want less politics,more dept leaders input into decisions,which would mean better care where needed most.Families can always advocate for their needs,but due to limited resources,HHS dept must prioritize.
Do you think state workers and teachers do not pay taxes??? Also, our fight is not about contributing to our retirement and health insurance….but we are taking a pay cut. Many of us commenting here work very dangerous jobs. Notalib, you are uneducated in your facts….which is why I will not give any more of my attention to your ignorance.
I want a figure on how much money our state is losing by the insane amount of police officers, WHO ARE ON OUR SIDE, to patrol the capital 24/7 for a peaceful demonstrations? I talked to a Watertown officer who told me he was making $600 for a single night of service. I’m done debating with hard headed, ignorant people like Notalib. And….let’s remember to pray for him and his family when he’s facing financial uncertainty, and not cheer for his family’s demise. We are not those types of people. Clearly all of his information is obtained from Koch endorsed commericals that he catches between the Simpsons and Family guy.
Well obviously they don’t pay taxes! They’re all rich and have their own private rides specifically made for them! (Like the Public Transportation)
! A little thing like doing unconstitutional things in that bill isn’t a big deal as long as conservatives do it!
… Oh wait, wasn’t called unconstitutional when they did it under both Tommy Thompson and Jim Doyle…?
… I thought Walker was above all that stuff!
So they’re taking money from the health insurance fund…to provide health insurance costs for state employees?
Am I not reading that right, or what? Seems like that is what the fund is supposed to do. Not at all like taking money from the medical malpractice fund and putting it into the general revenues fund.
If you want to support the recall, go to this link:
http://defendingwisconsin.org/ & sign up to sign the actual petition.
This group has been set up specifically to create a database of signers, so that when the actual recall petition is filed in November they can contact the supporters and get the signatures they need quickly, within the 60-day time frame.
I agree the voice of the people is being ignored, they are being told by the people to return and do their jobs instead of acting like complete jackasses but they are grandstsnding protecting their campaign funds they need from unions, thats what they are really doing it for.
I’m not sure who you’re referring to, but I was at a town hall full of folks last night who were pretty vocal in their support of what Sen. Chris Larson is doing.
Did you go to the town hall? I was trying to get my daughter to go…but she wasn’t feeling well. Too bad. Did the Fox News show up there?
Yeah, I was there. It was a packed house, but alas, no Tea Party folks bothered to make an appearance, nor was Faux News there.
FLASHBACK: Gov. Walker Promised To End Late-Night Votes Because ‘Nothing Good Happens After Midnight’
http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/485843/flashback%3A_gov._walker_promised_to_end_late-night_votes_because_%E2%80%98nothing_good_happens_after_midnight%E2%80%99/#paragraph2
I guess Scott Walker believes campaign promises are made to be broken.
Did he say he didn’t vote for CCW because it was in the midddle of the night?? The man is a nut!
What is with this national guard rumor, that they were called home to by Scotty’s bully boys and girls.
I hardly believe Obama, although conspicuously missing from our cause would send the national guard back home to do Walker’s bidding, especially when no national guard could be called back to New Orleans during the Katrina disaster.
This cannot be true.
And what was the scoop with Milwaukee county mental health facility? Wasn’t there a death or something because of Walker’s cuts. Too bad, because I sincerly think he needs to be committed or at least on some serious meds