As we’ve been sharing on this blog, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) recently submitted a proposal for federal approval that will result in tens of thousands of working Wisconsinites losing BadgerCare and Medicaid coverage.
Despite attempts from the public and advocacy groups to call on DHS for a transparent process and adequate public input, they held only two public hearings on the proposals prior to Thursday’s vote by the Joint Finance Committee (JFC). In addition, those hearings were held before DHS answered basic questions about what they were proposing and how many people would be affected. We didn’t get the answers to many of those questions until the Fiscal Bureau analysis of the proposals was released two days before last week’s JFC meeting. The proces has left many unanswered questions on how the proposals will be implemented as well as their overall effects.
Democratic members of the legislature have organized public hearings to brief their constituents about the proposals and take public testimony. (We shared those dates in a previous blog post.) Here’s some great coverage of the hearings in La Crosse and Eau Claire.I have been lucky enough to attend both the Eau Claire and Wausau hearings. The response from members of the community has been tremendous. Yesterday in Wausau, constituents were shocked after I shared a brief presentation on the changes-based on this Save BadgerCare overview sheet. As these changes are complex, and we have not had access to an adequate level of detail, it is understandable that the public is unfamiliar with the extent to which the program would be changed under the waiver proposal.
One young woman in Wausau shared that she is avoiding treatment for depression, because she is worried that just when her body becomes used to anti-depressants she will become ineligible for BadgerCare, and be unable to afford the prescription. She is a hard working college graduate in the childcare field, without access to employer sponsored insurance. Beyond concerns about needed mental health care, BadgerCare allows her to go to the doctor when she’s sick, so she can return to work quickly after kids bring germs with them to her workplace (as we all know they do).
An advocate in Eau Claire, who works with people enrolling in BadgerCare, spoke about the importance of express enrollment for kids (a provision this waiver would remove). She told a story about a family she worked with last week, who called when their child had a 103 degree fever. She was able to help the mother to enroll the child in BadgerCare through express enrollment immediately, printing the card to take to the father, who took the child directly to urgent care. This family was eligible for BadgerCare, and was able to access services when their child needed them because of express enrollment.
If you live in near one of the upcoming hearings – please come to listen and share your story. I guarantee you’ll be inspired by the activism and engagement of your fellow community members. If you can’t make it to the hearing, but would like to add your story, please email me at seskrich@wccf.org. The next hearings are in:
Oshkosh: Friday, November 18th 4pm-6pm
UW Oshkosh Reeve Memorial Union, Room 202
800 Algoma Blvd, Oshkosh, WI
RSVP
Green Bay: Monday, November 21st 4pm-6pm
Central Library Auditorium
515 Pine Street, Green Bay, WI
RSVP
Sara Eskrich
