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DEM BILL TO STOP PROPOSED CUTS TO BADGERCARE
WPR News - Dem bill to stop proposed cuts to BadgerCare
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Wednesday February 29, 2012
by Shamane Mills
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(STATE CAPITOL) There's a plan to undo part of a budget law that, among other things, put Governor Walker in charge of Medicaid. Two Democrats have a bill that would stop proposed cuts to BadgerCare.
Health care changes passed in Act 10 last year didn't immediately get the overwhelming attention that other changes in the budget repair bill did: namely limits on collective bargaining. That's partly because it wasn't clear how the state's health secretary would control Medicaid costs using new-found power that restricted legislative oversight. Now, with BadgerCare coverage for thousands in doubt Rep. Jon Richards of Milwaukee and Sen. Jon Erpenbach of Middleton are proposing a bill to increase funding for BadgerCare by eliminating recently passed corporate tax cuts. Erpenbach says some companies have low pay and no health benefits, so workers turn to public health programs, "There are corporations that enjoy our tax breaks that our governor has given them since he's been in office. At the same time, they're 'double dipping' because they put some of their employees on BadgerCare. If they're going to continue to do that they should pay their fair share."
In addition to rolling back corporate tax breaks, the bill would prohibit higher cost sharing for those on BadgerCare and strike the requirement that a photo ID must be shown for benefits. Proposed changes to BadgerCare require federal approval. The request for a waiver is still pending.
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