Legislation lifting an enrollment cap on Wisconsin’s Family Care program is heading back to the state Senate, after the state Assembly this morning approved an amended version of the bill.
The proposal would reopen enrollment in Family Care, a program that provides long-term assistance for the elderly and disabled so they can receive in-home care. The amended adopted by the Assembly has no impact on the cap, but would require any further expansion of the program to first win approval before the Legislature’s budget committee.
The Senate will need to approve the amendment before the bill can go to the governor.
State Representative Dean Kaufert (R-Neenah) says any expansion of Family Care needs to be closely examined first because of concerns about the long term financial stability of the program.
The cap was put in place under the state budget approved last summer. Federal officials have ordered the state to remove it, but Kaufert says it was never intended to be permanent and a brief time out helped officials find the needed cost savings and efficiencies.
AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (:54)
