May 24, 2013

Weather

Fair

61°
Conditions at Madison, Dane County Regional-Truax Field, WI
Save Email Print Bookmark and Share
Posted: Sat 9:18 AM, Apr 28, 2012
A A

Feds OK Wisconsin Medicaid Changes Aimed At Cost Saving

Posted Saturday, April 28, 2012 --- 9:20 a.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Federal officials have approved plans by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's administration to cut costs in state health programs.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (http://bit.ly/JM2oFj) reports the changes will lead to some 17,000 people leaving programs or being turned away.

The Obama administration said Friday it had approved the changes after previously requiring the Walker administration to scale back the cuts.

Originally the cuts would have affected 64,800 people. The changes, effective July 1, will cause some adults to leave the program but will shield children from impacts originally proposed by the state.

The state is making the cuts to bridge a gap in the Medicaid program.

State Health Services Secretary Dennis Smith says the changes aim to preserve the "core, safety-net functions" and are necessary "to keep the Medicaid program sustainable."

___

Information from: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, http://www.jsonline.com

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

Next Story >

Comments (1)

By posting this comment I have read and agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy:
You must agree to the Terms of Service to continue.

Read Comments

Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.
  • by Randall Location: Madison on Apr 28, 2012 at 09:43 AM
    As someone disabled who relies on Medicaid for medical help, I am mortified by this. Yet another reason to vote Walker out. Walker does not have to worry about health insurance, or healthcare options, so this does not affect his sleep at night, but it sure is keeping me up at night. I know the standard is to be angry and think anyone who needs Medicaid is lazy, but you have to use common sense and step away from hysteria and realize there are people who are disabled or unable to work enough to afford health insurance. Once you are ill the ability to get medical coverage becomes incredibly expensive. That is something healthy people do not understand. Now imagine being ill and not being able to work enough and needing to go to a doctor but being turned away because you have no way to cover the medical expenses. Is Walker's cost saving plan to just turn away people who need Medicaid for medical services?? How Walker thinks he is getting into Heaven is beyond me.
    [ Report Abuse ]

NBC15 News Videos