Contact: Sen. Hansen
608-266-5670
(Madison)—According to analysis by the Department of Health Services, Governor Evers’ budget would provide $92 million in new healthcare funding for Brown, Marinette and Oconto counties. The increase in funding would result from the state taking its fair share of federal Medicaid funding available through the MA expansion under the Affordable Care Act.
“Governor Evers’ plan to get our fair share of federal funding through the MA Expansion will not only save Wisconsin taxpayers millions, it will make it possible for over 4,500 people in the 30th Senate District who currently earn too much to qualify for BadgerCare and too little to afford their own health insurance to finally get health care. That’s a big win-win,” said State Senator Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay).
According to the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau, the refusal by Scott Walker and the Republicans to take the MA Expansion money has cost Wisconsin taxpayers over $185 million per year since the Affordable Care Act became law in 2014. During that same time Wisconsin went from having the 12th lowest rate of uninsured children in 2013 to a tie for 20th just a few years later.
“For too long the health care needs of many hard-working people have been ignored and neglected by former Governor Walker and the Republicans in Madison. While they refused to get our share of the federal MA Expansion money for purely political reasons, thousands of people in our area and across the state were left behind and on their own to struggle with their families’ health problems. Fortunately Governor Evers has been listening to the people rather than the special interests and has produced a budget that reflects their concerns.”
But beyond the tax savings, the expansion means even more for area residents by increasing access to dental services, preventing lead poisoning in children and infants, increasing funding for dementia care as well as improving access to mental health and addiction treatment.
“In Northeast Wisconsin we have thousands of hardworking people who can’t afford health insurance and a significant problem with people being unable to get dental services and mental health and addiction treatment. Governor Evers’ budget takes a big step forward in connecting people and families to those critical services.”