Ensuring that health care in Wisconsin is accessible and affordable while increasing our health care workforce to care for our most vulnerable people remains a top priority for me as a legislator representing rural counties. That is why I have authored legislation to help solve the shortage of certified nursing assistants through our long-term care system and expand programs to engage our young students to pursue a career in health care in Wisconsin. I have also sought to increase access to telehealth and broadband so that patients can contact physicians outside of western Wisconsin.
That’s why I’m pleased that the state budget, recently approved by the governor, supports my longstanding commitment to making health care more accessible and affordable by allocating more than $3 billion in new money for our state’s health care system.
Maintaining funding for Wisconsin’s Medicare Stability Plan, which lowers rates for those who buy plans through the online health insurance exchange (the marketplace), is a key component of the budget. People would have had to pay 21.4% more for insurance in the market without this initiative, according to the Office of the Insurance Commission. Because of this program, Wisconsin remains one of the states with the best health care systems and the rate of uninsured people is much lower than the national average.
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The budget also increased the amount of Medicaid compensation received by hospitals and increased supplemental payments to rural hospitals. These increases help cover costs for primary care physicians, emergency visits, and hospital services for behavioral health units. In addition, the supplemental payments that have been earmarked will expressly help places like our 93rd Caucus. This includes higher funding for hospitals that treat many Medicaid patients as well as additional payments to rural hospitals.
In addition, there are a number of focused initiatives to support our long-term care industry. In the last budget, it supported an increased allocation of $440 million to the industry and this budget includes more than that with an investment of $492 million. Increased rates of reimbursement for personal care are being provided along with much needed increases in home and community services and in the direct care workforce to assist people with family care. In an effort to ensure that nursing homes can continue to provide care for their residents, the money will also help provide more incentive payments for nursing facilities and help defray the cost of residents who need ventilators.
I’m glad to see that our state’s health care system continues to be more accessible and affordable thanks to the Governor signing this sensible budget passed by the Republican legislature.
Warren Petrick represents Wisconsin Assembly District 93.
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