Wisconsin officials announce sweeping Medicaid changes
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin health officials have released a sweeping package of sweeping Medicaid reforms designed to save more than half-a-billion dollars.
The state budget directs the Department of Health Services to identify $444.6 million in Medicaid savings. Agency officials say they’ll actually have to save $554.4 million to balance the program.
A major portion of the package calls for asking the federal government for a waiver to restrict eligibility for people if they have access to employer-based insurance, require young adults to join their parents’ insurance rather than BadgerCare Plus and require recipients to be state residents.
DHS officials didn’t immediately release an estimate of how many people would lose coverage under the proposals, but said the changes would not impact anyone making less than 100 percent of the federal poverty level.
