Contact: Lisa Pugh, State Director (608) 422-4250

Madison, WI – Wisconsin residents with disabilities and their families have been working hard to educate their members of Congress about the impacts of significant cuts to Medicaid included in the bill passed today by the House of Representatives. All Wisconsin GOP members – Congressmans Duffy, Grothman, Ryan, Gallagher – ultimately voted for the bill that includes an $880 billion cut to Medicaid funding to states.

Many of their constituents rely on the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid for comprehensive health care coverage and long term services and supports that enable them to live full lives in the community,” says Lisa Pugh, Director The Arc Wisconsin. “We are disappointed that our stories did not seem to matter.”

As written the bill will fundamentally change the 50-year Medicaid partnership with states which yields Wisconsin a 60% funding match amounting to billions. A review of the bill’s impact by the Congressional Budget Office predicts that due to the significant cuts states will have to consider eliminating programs, reducing benefits and optional services, cutting provider rates or other options.

IRIS and Family Care community-based services and things like personal care and prescription drugs are all considered optional services in Medicaid, but they are very important to Wisconsin residents with disabilities,” says Pugh. “We need to protect these vital supports. They are cost-effective and keep people from ending up in costly nursing homes or other institutional settings.”

The Arc Wisconsin now intends to work with US Senators on both sides of the aisle to oppose this harmful legislation. We continue to encourage disability advocates to reach out to Senators Johnson and Baldwin to voice their concern about this bill.

This week, The Arc released another video illustrating how Congress’ proposed changes to the ACA and Medicaid would negatively impact Americans with disabilities and their families. The video features Calvin who has Bilateral Fronto-Parietal Polymicrogyria and Cerebral Palsy and relies on multiple insurance plans to cover his medical and therapeutic treatments.

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