New Report Finds Refusing BadgerCare Is an Outrageous Cost to Taxpayers
By June 30, 2019, the LFB concludes that Wisconsin taxpayers will lose out on more than $2.7 billion by not fully expanding BadgerCare.
The High Cost of Refusing BadgerCare Expansion
MADISON – Rep. Peter Barca today released a new report from the Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB) that found at the end of this budget cycle, refusing BadgerCare expansion will have cost Wisconsin taxpayers nearly $700 million. By June 30, 2020, this failure will cost Wisconsin more than $1 billion.
“It makes little sense to leave federal money on the table as this puts Wisconsin taxpayers on the hook to make up the difference,” said Assembly Democratic Leader Barca. “Gov. Walker and legislative Republicans’ refusal to expand BadgerCare has cost Wisconsin taxpayers nearly $700 million so far. By July 2020, he will have cost taxpayers alone more than $1 billion in state dollars.”
“It is inexcusable that Gov. Walker and the Republicans put the health of our citizens at risk and cost taxpayers by still refusing to accept federal dollars to expand BadgerCare,” Rep. Barca said.
The LFB report also found that Wisconsin will have missed out on more than $1.7 billion in federal dollars available under the Affordable Care Act. By June 30, 2019, the LFB concludes that Wisconsin taxpayers will lose out on more than $2.7 billion by not fully expanding BadgerCare.
“Yesterday afternoon, on a bipartisan basis, the Assembly discussed why it is important to expand access to opioid treatment and resources. But Republicans still refuse to take the one step that would make the biggest impact – expanding BadgerCare for 87,000 Wisconsinites.
“Wisconsin taxpayers could be $380 million ahead in the next budget cycle, which helps the state pay for substance abuse treatment and other important medical programs. Republicans are putting their political ideology over people.”
It is clear that the federal government will continue to fund Medicaid expansion – Medicaid funding was included in the final Trump–Ryan health care package. Thirty-one states and 62 senators have made it clear that they do not want their states to lose this funding.
Many Republican-led states that initially did not accept expansion dollars are changing course. In Kansas, a state lead by Republicans, substantial steps were taken recently aimed at expansion. A majority of Republicans in Kansas’ Senate attempted to pass Medicaid expansion and a veto override in the Kansas House came close to victory. Even Georgia’s Republican Governor Nathan Deal is exploring this option. Yet, not one Wisconsin Republican will consider accepting federal money to help tens of thousands of Wisconsinites. This shows how extreme they truly are.
The LFB memo is here.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
Mentioned in This Press Release
Recent Press Releases by State Rep. Peter Barca
Connecting Workers with Career Opportunities
Feb 5th, 2018 by State Rep. Peter BarcaRTA Builds Transportation Options in Southeastern Wisconsin
Statement from Rep. Barca on Republican Budget
Sep 6th, 2017 by State Rep. Peter Barca"Republicans should be ashamed of this budget."
Statement from Rep. Barca on the Assembly Passage of Foxconn Bill
Aug 17th, 2017 by State Rep. Peter Barca"Along with my Democratic colleagues, I’ll work tirelessly to make this a better deal."
