Sponsor
Alderman Sarrazin
Title
Resolution Urging the Full Use of Federal Grants to Improve the Wisconsin Health Care System (SB38 and AB53)
WHEREAS, the federal Affordable Care Act encourages innovation in states provided the goal is to ensure a greater level of health coverage. The decision to turn down federal grants for Wisconsin, however, will not improve health care coverage; it actually makes it harder for people to qualify for Badger Care. An estimated 88,000 adults who currently qualify for the program will be dropped, including thousands from Racine County. Leaving up to $1.3 billion of Medicaid grants on the table by 2017 will improve neither the economy nor our health care system. Some of these federal funds will flow through insurance exchanges rather than Medicaid, but much will be lost; and
WHEREAS, in 2014 thousands of Medicaid recipients will be placed in private health insurance exchanges and required to pay premiums. The transition from Medicaid to private insurance and the premium cost could result in the loss of health care due to confusion and inability to pay; and
WHEREAS, in Racine County over 19,000 (10%) people remain uninsured. Some Racine County health issues include: 52% more people per doctor, 9% more early deaths, 14% more low birth weight babies, 11% more air particulate, 13% more poor mental health days, 35% more sexual infections, and more obesity, smoking, etc. compared to the rest of the State 1; and
WHEREAS, being underinsured and uninsured impacts County Human Services Departments because it can lead to untreated mental health or substance abuse and lack of preventive health care that can lead to loss of jobs, the inability to function and loss of self-sufficiency. Being underinsured and uninsured impacts local health care provider Wheaton Franciscan, whose Racine hospital deals with $20 million per year of unfunded healthcare.
Wisconsin Assembly Bill 53, and its companion, Senate Bill 38, require the state to take action to qualify for enhanced Medicaid grants.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Racine Common Council urges the Wisconsin Legislature to support Assembly Bill 53 and Senate Bill 38 and accept enhanced federal Medicaid grants to improve the state's health care system.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, as an alternative, the Racine Common Council encourages the Governor and the Wisconsin Legislature to authorize and enable counties to enhance Medicaid funding at the county level, thereby ensuring their citizens in participating counties have access to affordable health coverage
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be provided to Governor Walker, Wisconsin Department of Health Services Secretary Rhoades, and the Racine County state legislative delegation.
1 www.countyhealthrankings.org