Scott Walker's Plan To Take Control of Medicaid Decisions in Wisconsin

huffingtonpost

WASHINGTON -- So far, most of the attention on Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's (R) budget repair bill has focused on the section that would strip public employees of their collective bargaining rights. Less noticed is a provision in the 144-page piece of legislation that could dramatically change the state's Medicaid program.

The bill would grant the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) sweeping authority to making changes to the state's Medicaid program -- which covers one in five residents -- with virtually no public scrutiny. According to an analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau, Walker's plan would use "emergency" powers to allow DHS to restrict eligibility, raise premiums and change reimbursements -- all moves traditionally controlled by the legislature.

While most of the attention on Wisconsin is over Walker's attempted suppression of the Unions, focus has been taken off another major calamity the governor has in the works: removing the legislature from determining elements of the medical assistance program, Medicaid.

According to Walker's proposal. "emergency powers" would be granted to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Included are the powers to restrict eligibility for Medicaid, raise premiums, and change reimbursements. All of these powers and more would be granted to the DHS, and remove its obligation to have such moves approved by the Wisconsin legislature.

In other words, the DHS can do whatever it pleases to the Medicaid program and people would have no legislators to contact or to protest to and therefore no say whatsoever in what goes on as far as Medicaid is concerned.

This man is dangerous. He is in effect attempting a takeover of all the states by Republicans who would grant no rights whatever to non-Republicans, or those of us "little people" who, they believe, are not entitled to a voice in their state governments.

All hail the Koch brothers and the other corporate powers whom Republicans worship.

And still they persist in saying Obama is a dictator?

It certainly doesn't work with the current system in place. Right now, the Federal Government simply turns over a bill to the states that they have to pay towards Medicaid. Problem -- the States can't cover the bill.

In essence, all this bill will do is allow the Governor of the state, which could be a Democrat next election, control over the Medicaid budget and allow the state to scrutinize whom they should cover, and can cover, and who should not receive any entitlement program money.

How can this be bad? As taxpayer funds dry up and more and more states face blazing red budgets, why shouldn't they work to have greater control over their own funds? How is it fair for a state to have no control over how many people qualify for a program that they have to pick up a significant portion of the tab for?

reply to post by Sestias


Looks like the past two years have taught Republicans how to take some pages from the Democrats playbook.

This has been happening since Obama took office. If they didn't get something passed for some reason, they found ways to piggyback it on other bills.

What's good for the goose is good for the gander. Right?

Right?

Now, I wonder how long till the Republicans change the locks on the doors to keep the Democrats out of sessions?

Or how long till Republicans flee to a state to prevent Democrats from passing a bill?

Or how many 3000 page bills Republicans will write, but no one will read, and pass hurredly in the middle of the night on a weekend, with all kinds of hidden goodies that we "won't find out till we pass the bill."

I don't know both sides of this story, but I do know that we have becomes accustomed to a lot of government aid to get through our lives.
Healthcare for many, benefits for government workers, police, fire, snow removal, libraries, swimming pools, road repair, animal control, the list seems endless and it's all paid for by tax dollars.

At some point taxpayers will not be able to afford the level of service they have become accustomed.

Is this a necessary cut?
I don't know, but I do know that 20% of Wisconsin on Medicaid is a HUGE number....doesn't even take into account those on Medicare
That means that 80% less the % of citizens on Medicare pay for the health care of 20% of the state....and I bet a good number of those don't have health care themselves. :shk:

Originally posted by lpowell0627

In essence, all this bill will do is allow the Governor of the state, which could be a Democrat next election, control over the Medicaid budget and allow the state to scrutinize whom they should cover, and can cover, and who should not receive any entitlement program money.

Therein lies the problem. "The state" cannot scrutinize anything. The DHS can do whatever it pleases without the legislature's, or the peoples', consent. It has sweeping dictatorial powers. There will be no one to appeal to if your Medicaid account is screwed up or if you are dropped unfairly or just if you want to have some input into the process.

Under Walker's plan, the state legislature will have no authority at all in the matter of Medicaid.

The Democrats have never put state social programs in a situation where they cannot be amended or changed by the state legislature.