LARSON Weekly Report - February 2, 2012

Dear Friend,

Legislation needed to correct two unintended consequences that were created by Governor Walker's budget have been introduced, but have yet to be signed into law due to inaction by Republican legislators. Continue reading for more information.

As usual, please feel free to contact me with any questions, concerns or opinions you may have about our community or our state.

Sincerely,

Chris Larson
State Senator, District 7
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FamilyCare Cap Removal Needed Immediately
Currently, about one out of five Wisconsin residents rely on our state's health safety net programs for their health care needs. The number of individuals enrolled in Wisconsin's Medicaid programs has been steadily increasing in recent years due to our state's ailing economy, continued loss of family-supporting jobs, and increased health care costs. Given the hardships our neighbors our facing, it is one of the worst times to consider any additional cuts to our health safety net.

As you may know, Governor Walker’s 2011-2013 Biennial Budget instituted a cap on the FamilyCare program. During the budget debate, my Democratic colleagues and I expressed our concerns about how family, friends and neighbors would suffer by being denied these life-saving services. Unfortunately, voices from across Wisconsin were once again ignored and the cap went into effect on July 1, 2011.

FamilyCare is a bipartisan community-based, long-term care program that plays a vital role in Wisconsin’s health safety net. The program serves our state’s most vulnerable neighbors, including the elderly and individuals with disabilities, to enhance their health and quality of life.

This past December, the federal government stepped in, ordering Governor Walker and the Wisconsin Legislature to pass legislation immediately in order to lift the caps on FamilyCare. As a result, Senate Bill 380 and Assembly Bill 477 were introduced. If the Legislature fails to pass Senate Bill 380 or Assembly Bill 477, Wisconsin will have to forfeit the $1.75 billion it is expected to receiving in matching federal funds for our Medicaid programs, including FamilyCare.

As a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 380 and Assembly Bill 477, I will continuing doing what I can to usher these bills through the legislative process and look forward to supporting them when they reach the Senate Floor for a vote. I will also continue to monitor the FamilyCare program to ensure that our family, friends and neighbors receive the same level of coverage and quality of care once the cap has been removed.

Senate Bill 380 and Assembly Bill 477 have been referred to the Senate Committee on Health and the Assembly Committee on Aging and Long Term Care respectively. Both have yet to be scheduled for a public hearing. I am encouraging the chairs of these committees to schedule this legislation for a pubic hearing as soon as possible so that we can make the necessary changes to open up FamilyCare for those most in need immediately.

Click here to view a copy of this legislation.
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A Pattern of Assault
The full-scale attack on FamilyCare is not the first time that Governor Walker and his administration have put out a bounty on Wisconsin’s health safety net. In his backwards budget, Governor Walker cut nearly $500 million from our state’s Medicaid programs, which will have an especially devastating effect on our neighbors in Milwaukee County.

Notable health care cuts placed in the most recent biennial budget are listed below:
Only extends SeniorCare through 2012, bringing uncertainty to the long-term availability of the program, which is a cheaper option to Medicare Part D for our seniors and taxpayers.

Substantially restricts women's access to preventative health care, including: cancer screenings, pap tests, birth control and medical exams.
Reduces the eligibility and services for BadgerCare, which provides services to working families and had a wait-list of 50,000 Wisconsinites in June 2010.

The Governor continued his extreme agenda announcing an additional $554 million in cuts this past October. With these cuts, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) estimates that almost 65,000 Wisconsinites, including 30,000 pregnant women and children, will lose their current BadgerCare health care coverage.

Another group that will be disproportionately affected by these additional Medicaid cuts are people suffering from chronic illnesses, such as cancer and heart disease. Chronic and life-threatening illnesses often leave individuals unable to work, causing them to exhaust their lifesavings and unable to cover their medical expenses without the use of Medicaid.

Wisconsin's vital health care programs ensure that our families and neighbors are able to receive quality, affordable health care to prevent costly emergency room visits. These programs also help save valuable taxpayer dollars by keeping our loved ones in their own homes and active in their communities instead of placing them in nursing homes and in-patient facilities.