The Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee (JFC) will meet this Thursday (Nov. 10) to consider the proposals by the Department of Health Services (DHS) to make dramatic changes to the BadgerCare Program. Although the JFC is not taking public testimony, Democrats are hosting a public hearing in the Capitol Thursday at about the same time (beginning at 10:30 a.m. in Room 400 NE), as well as several other hearings over the next couple of weeks.
According to a lengthy (51 page) analysis released by the Legislative Fiscal Bureau today, DHS estimates that the proposed BadgerCare changes will reduce enrollment by more than 64,000 people, including more than 29,000 children.
The JFC meeting is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. in Room 412 Northeast. The BadgerCare proposals are the fourth and last item on a substantial agenda. The JFC co-chairs and the chairs of the Senate and Assembly health committees haven’t been willing to hold public hearings on the proposals, as requested by the Save BadgerCare Coalition and other advocates. However, Democrats have scheduled several hearings to provide an opportunity to brief their constituents about the proposals and to take public testimony from the people who are likely to be affected by the proposed changes.
The following is the current schedule of public hearings:
Thursday, November 10th 10:30am-1:30pm – Madison Public Hearing
State Capitol Room 400NE
Madison, WI
Friday, November 11th 4pm-6pm – Eau Claire Public Hearing
Chippewa Valley Technical College, Business Education Center – Room 30A
620 West Clairmont Avenue
Eau Claire, WI
Monday,November 14th 4pm-6pm – Wausau Public Hearing
Location TBD
Wausau, WI
Friday, November 18th 4pm-6pm – Oshkosh Public Hearing
UW Oshkosh Reeve Memorial Union, Room 202
800 Algoma Blvd
Oshkosh, WI
Monday, November 21st 4pm-6pm – Green Bay Public Hearing
Central Library Auditorium
515 Pine Street
Green Bay, WI
Jon Peacock
