MADISON, Wis.. – Wisconsin physicians today called on the State Assembly to reject legislation that threatens to take away health care and make seeing a doctor more difficult for Wisconsin families. The Assembly is holding a hearing today on Assembly Bills 934 and 936, which threatens to eliminate health care for Wisconsin families and leave them without coverage.

“As physicians, we strongly urge legislators to help more people get health care, not threaten to take it away from our fellow Wisconsinites or make them jump through flaming hoops to get medical treatment that can potentially save their lives,” said Dr. Ann Helms, a critical care neurologist in Milwaukee and Wisconsin State Lead for the Committee to Protect Health Care. “In the middle of a deadly and devastating pandemic, Republican politicians want to put up barriers to health care that will effectively prevent people from seeing a doctor, getting the care they need and putting their health and wellbeing at risk. In a pandemic that has sickened millions of people and contributed to lingering health complications for millions of Americans from long-COVID, taking away people’s health care is both counterproductive and especially cruel. Wisconsin’s Legislature should expand health care and make seeing a doctor and getting treatment as affordable as possible to as many people as we can.”

Bills 934 and 936 would take away health care from Wisconsinites who turn down additional work hours, and add red tape to the medical assistance eligibility process, effectively blocking the Department of Health Services from automatically renewing medical assistance programs for eligible individuals.

“People who get adequate medical care are healthier, more productive, and care better for their families,” said Dr. David Lang, a family physician from Osceola. “Assembly Bills 934 and 936 are cruel political stunts that will endanger lives and do nothing to support Wisconsin families or strengthen their future.”

Medicaid covers one in three children and one in eight Wisconsin adults, with 74 percent of the adults on Medicaid employed. More than 1 million Wisconsinites are enrolled in Badgercare Plus, a health care program for low-income individuals.

Wisconsin’s Republican Legislature has repeatedly refused to expand health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Wisconsin is one of 12 states that has rejected health care expansion under the ACA and the only state without a coverage gap. More than 126,000 Wisconsinites would be eligible for health care if Wisconsin approved Medicaid expansion.

Wisconsin Medicaid is a health care program for people with disabilities, people 65 years and older, and offers free or low-cost health care coverage to many Wisconsin residents. Badgercare Plus is available to all children under age 19, regardless of income; pregnant women with incomes up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level; parents and relatives caring for a child up to 200 percent of the FPL; farm families and other families who are self-employed if their income is under 200 percent of the FPL; and other qualifying individuals.

About the Committee to Protect Health Care

The Committee to Protect Health Care is a national mobilization of doctors, health care professionals, and advocates who are building a pro-patient health care majority in Congress and in states so that we can live in an America where everyone has the health care they need to thrive. To learn more: www.committeetoprotect.org

Print Friendly, PDF & Email