Even though Congress failed to act on the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, an advocate says a threat remains for key programs that are popular in Wisconsin.
Monday, the public is invited to Rhinelander to hear two speakers talk about the funding threats to Medicaid that they say will impact people with disabilities, their families and the local economy.
Lynn Breedlove is co-chair of Wisconsin Long-Term Care Coalition.
He says the Trump budget includes cuts for Medicaid programs...
"....about 1 in 5 people in Wisconsin use one or more Medicaid services. That's 1.2 million people. Major cuts to funding for those are really going to have a big negative impact to people in our state...."
Breedlove says Wisconsin has high quality Medicaid programs....
"....a lot of people in Wisconsin who would not be able to afford health insurance without the subsidies they are getting through the Affordable Care Act. It's important to realize that those subsidies are at risk here as well as the dangers to Medicaid that I said...."
Programs affected include Badgercare, which provides healthcare to low-income people and another popular program...says Breedlove...is Seniorcare which is a Medicaid program that subsidizes prescription drug costs for senior citizens. Long-term care programs like Family Care and nursing home care for low-income people represent over 100,000 people.
Breedlove says they will be encouraging people to contact their Congressional representatives to let them know their thoughts. Lisa Pugh from The Arc-Wisconsin will also speak.
The meeting is Monday, April 3 from 6-8 p.m. at the Headwaters, Incorporated office on East Timber Drive in Rhinelander.
