Yesterday, the Energy & Commerce Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill which would cut $715 billion in Medicaid funding over 10 years and would result in 13.7 million people losing health care coverage. Despite stated intent to protect people with disabilities from funding cuts and changes to Medicaid, Wisconsinites with disabilities would not be shielded from the impact.
Thousands of Wisconsinites with disabilities rely on Medicaid programs to access critical health and long-term care services. Many of the proposed cuts and changes in the budget reconciliation bill would impose burdensome paperwork requirements on Medicaid participants, increase costs to states, and would result in otherwise-eligible individuals being cut from the program and from access to health and long-term care services. Individuals with disabilities would likely be disproportionately impacted.
Jill Jacklitz, Executive Director of Disability Rights Wisconsin (DRW), stated, “This proposal would have devastating consequences for people with disabilities in Wisconsin. The reality is that thousands of individuals who rely on Medicaid for essential health care and long-term supports—like mental health care, primary care, and home and community- based services—would be at risk of losing access. Medicaid is a lifeline, and slashing it threatens the dignity, health, and self-determination of people with disabilities.”
Additional provisions in the bill impacting access to and affordability of insurance coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace (ACA) would result in additional loss of access to health insurance and health care. These proposed changes to Medicaid and the ACA, coupled with draconian changes proposed for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) passed by the House Agriculture Committee would result in irreparable harm to individuals with disabilities and massive impact on the Wisconsin state budget.
Disability Rights Wisconsin (DRW) is a statewide private non profit organization with a mission to advance the dignity, equality, and self-determination of people with disabilities. DRW serves as the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy system for the State of Wisconsin, charged with protecting the rights of children and adults with disabilities and keeping them free from abuse and neglect.
