Hospitals, Health Centers Agree: State Won’t Likely Take Medicaid Funds Anytime Soon

Panelists Say Whether State Takes Funds Eventually Depends On Medicaid Rolls

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Two groups that support taking federal money for Medicaid expansion in Wisconsin — hospitals and community health centers — agree the issue seems to be on the back burner.

Whether it moves to the front may depend on how many low-income people are getting coverage now. Changes to Medicaid enacted by Gov. Scott Walker last year expanded coverage to those below the federal poverty level while taking BadgerCare eligibility away from slightly higher income people.

“If you look at what Wisconsin did do on Medicaid, we have a net of 80,000 more people enrolled in Medicaid. We now probably have more people enrolled in Medicaid than we’ve ever had. And that was without taking the (Affordable Care Act) expansion,” said Eric Borgerding with the Wisconsin Hospital Association.

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Stephanie Harrison, CEO of the Wisconsin Primary health Care Association, said the state needs to keep close eye on whether those people stay insured.

“When you are talking about people at the lower end of the income spectrum being able to retain coverage is more of an art than a science,” said Harrison.

The two were part of a panel of speakers at a forum held by Wisconsin Health News.