The Survival Coalition of more than 20 statewide disability organizations supports the state budget passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Governor Evers overnight that continues to invest in the current levels of Medicaid supports and significantly increases special education funding. Survival also strongly supports the Medicaid rate increases for personal care, home health care, and private duty nursing: three critical supports that allow people with disabilities and older adults to remain in their homes and communities and out of institutional care.
The budget includes added Medicaid funding that allows the program “cost to continue” in spite of increases in the number of people projected to be in Medicaid, as well as increasing costs for Medicaid-covered health care, including rising prescription drug costs.
Survival Coalition also supports the budget’s continued funding for a Family Care minimum fee schedule. This ensures all residential providers will receive at least a base rate. Wisconsin’s Medicaid provider network is fragile, and many providers have of home and community-based services have struggled to stay in business
Survival Coalition has long been concerned about the inadequate reimbursement rate for special education. The state currently reimburses local public school districts at just 32.1% of their costs. This budget makes progress in getting to the 90% state reimbursement that Survival Coalition supports. The Governor’s budget would have reimbursed at 60%. This budget increases reimbursement to 42% the first year, and 45% the second year of the budget.
Survival Coalition continues to be concerned about potential devastating cuts to Medicaid and other public programs at the federal level that would impact Wisconsin’s disability community. This state budget shows the state’s commitment to investments that allow people with disabilities to be safe, healthy, and contributing members of their communities. Press release doc
