Revived Proposals Could Also Impede ACA Implementation by Using Inconsistent Income Measures
After a period of hibernation, THEY have re-emerged, and I’m not talking about the 17-year cicadas or a new wave of zombie movies. These changes have gotten less attention than the potential cicada eruption, but they could be much more damaging in Wisconsin than locusts or zombies. The re-emerging menace is the portion of the budget bill that resurrects a number of harmful changes to BadgerCare that were initially proposed by the Wisconsin Dept. of Health Services (DHS) in 2011.
A year ago, DHS reached an agreement with federal officials on various BadgerCare changes that took effect last July. When that compromise was reached, state proponents of the changes spoke with pride about the fact that coverage for children was being protected. However, the 2013-15 state budget bill resurrects DHS proposals that the department estimated, before it withdrew portions of its waiver request, would cause more than 29,000 children to lose their BadgerCare coverage.
If the changes are approved by the Legislature and are eventually allowed by federal law, the damage wouldn’t be limited to causing thousands of children to lose their BadgerCare coverage. The revived (undead) proposals could also impede administration of the health care reform initiatives that take effect in 2014 by creating inconsistent definitions of income for purposes of state and federal law. In addition, at least 150,000 children who remain in BadgerCare could have narrower benefits and much higher co-pays and deductibles.A new report by the Wisconsin Council on children and Families summarizes those proposals, which have thus far been overshadowed in the budget by the proposed changes relating to eligibility of adults. You can also read about the proposals in this article by David Wahlberg in today’s Wisconsin State Journal.
The good news is that most of the portions of the undead proposals that would adversely affect kids are precluded by the Affordable Care Act until 2019 (or until another President changes or waives those protections). The bad news is that the fact that the resurrected changes aren’t an imminent threat has kept them from getting the serious attention that is warranted before they are folded into state statutes (where they will remain dormant for many years).
“Because these changes have no fiscal impact in the 2013-15 budget, they have been completely overshadowed by far more pressing budget issues, and they don’t belong in the current bill,” said WCCF Executive Director Ken Taylor. “Pushing them through now, years before they can take effect, prevents a critically important issue from receiving the thorough scrutiny it deserves.”
The WCCF issue brief is available here. See also our press release. The proposals will be considered sometime in the next few weeks by the Joint Finance Committee.
Jon Peacock
