As Congressional leadership proposes up to $2.3 trillion in cuts to the federal Medicaid program, more than 100 Wisconsin organizations—representing county leaders, direct service providers, health care providers, advocates, and many others in every county across the state—are calling on Wisconsin’s Congressional delegation to protect Medicaid.
“With almost 1 in 5 Wisconsinites receiving health care coverage and/or long term care services through one of the state’s Medicaid programs, the impacts of any of these cuts will have disastrous impacts on the health, wellbeing, and economic security of thousands of families across the state.” shared William Parke-Sutherland, Government Affairs Director for Kids Forward.
Wisconsin’s 19 Medicaid-funded programs currently provide services to:
- 1 in 3 Wisconsin children across both rural and metro areas;
- 1 in 3 Wisconsinites with disabilities;
- 4 in 7 Wisconsin nursing home residents;
- 1 in 6 Medicare beneficiaries in Wisconsin; and
- 1 in 7 Wisconsin adults ages 19-64, more than half of whom are parents/caretakers
“I’ve been thinking a lot about what would happen if Wisconsin lost the federal 60% Medicaid investment in community-based long term care services. It is difficult to think about what that reality would do to regional economies, let alone impact on the people eligible for those services,” shared Patti Jo Becker, Director of Program Operations for the Community Living Alliance, which provides community-based services to seniors, children and people with disabilities or chronic illnesses, and employs over 300 people. “The ripple impact of this action would be felt for years to come.”
Wisconsin’s workforce would be significantly impacted. This would include not only low-income Wisconsin workers who rely on Medicaid for their health and long term care coverage, but also the health care workforce providing services to Wisconsin’s Medicaid recipients through counties, home and community-based services, hospitals, nursing homes, and many other employers.
“Disability Service Provider Network members rely almost entirely on Medicaid funding to offer these services, which are a less expensive and more integrated alternative to institutional care.” said Erin Smith, Disability Service Provider Network. “If they were to receive less Medicaid funding, they would not be able to continue operating these services which would drastically impact the lives of their clients and result in massive job losses.”
Disability Service Provider Network (DSPN) is Wisconsin’s leading trade organization representing home and community-based service providers. DSPN members provide services in over 400 different locations, employ 4,500 full-time staff and serve over 10,000 individuals, primarily those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“The long term impact of rising health care costs and hit to the Wisconsin workforce could not be absorbed by the Wisconsin state budget even with substantial tax increases,” shared William Parke-Sutherland, “Nor could they be absorbed by Wisconsinites whose health and livelihoods would be at stake were these cuts implemented.”
