Evers, DHS Secretary Release County-Specific Budget Proposals

Governor Tony Evers and Department of Health Services
Secretary-designee Andrea Palm have released county-specific data for
investments in the governor’s budget proposal for DHS. The data is an attempt
to demonstrate what $1.6 billion in new federal money could mean to communities
around the state when it comes to healthcare. Currently, 1.1 million residents rely
on Medicaid for their healthcare needs, and the governor’s budget proposal
would expand Medicaid to cover childless adults, parents and caretakers with
incomes up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level. The governor says the expansion
would give an estimated 82,000 additional residents access to healthcare, and
the drawing down of new federal money is estimated to save Wisconsin taxpayers
$324.5 million. Evers’ plan calls for reinvesting those savings to “improve
healthcare access and quality” for all residents.

The detailed plan for Fond du Lac County proposes $35
million of new investments, including $12.2 million to expand Medicaid, $11.9
million to provide coverage for current Medicaid, BadgerCare Plus, SeniorCare
and FoodShare Employment and Training program members and a $5 million increase
in hospital funding. Read more about the proposed Fond du Lac County Investments here.