Medicaid Program (Medical Assistance)

On September 30, the Department of Health Services (DHS) released a list of 39 Medicaid reforms to find $554 million in savings to balance the Medicaid budget as part of the Governor’s 2011-2013 budget.

The savings include the caps on Family Care and other community-based long-term care programs; changes in Personal Care payments; expansion of Logisticare Medicaid transportation services; eligibility, cost-sharing, and other significant changes in Badgercare; and expansion of various Medical Home initiatives.

Disability advocates are still analyzing the proposals, which will be shared with DAWN members. DHS has committed to having a public hearing to gather input, and disability advocates have been communicating with DHS Secretary Dennis Smith in the past months to share ideas on Medicaid savings that could improve, or at least not harm, long-term care recipients.

The 39 proposals, which include suggestions from advocates, fall into three categories: 1) ideas that show promise; 2) ideas that do not affect people with disabilities directly; and 3) ideas that cause concern.

Read the letter from Secretary Smith to see each of the 39 items in more detail at this website.

Provide feedback on each reform idea (click on the “+” by each reform topic area) at this website.