The governor says it’s unlikely that counties will be able to receive federal Medicaid dollars to expand local BadgerCare programs.
Earlier this week, 20 Wisconsin counties asked the state for the ability to apply directly for federal Medicaid money, much like a county in Ohio was granted. Governor Scott Walker says it’s not going to happen because Wisconsin and Ohio have very different circumstances. Walker says the entitlement plan approved under the recent state budget would not allow the state to act as a pass through for federal funds, also noting that Wisconsin’s plan will allow the state to make sure all residents living in poverty have access to care.
Walker and majority Republicans earlier this year rejected federal dollars to expand Medicaid programs, opting instead to have those living above 100 percent of the poverty line move to the federal health exchange system.
Walker says the idea of bypassing the state and allowing counties to apply for federal funding is not legal here and it’s not going to work. He says “it’s a nice measure to get attention,” but the proposal does not have a practical impact.
WSAU