MADISON, Wis.— It only took a matter of seconds for Republicans, who control the Legislature, to end a special session called by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers to expand Medicaid in the Badger State.

The decision ultimately means Wisconsin will lose out on federal funding, including a one-time bonus of $1 billion in coronavirus relief money.


What You Need To Know

  • Last week, Gov. Tony Evers called a special session of the Legislature to consider expanding BadgerCare Plus

  • The governor proposed using the savings from Medicaid expansion, and a one-time bonus of $1 billion in federal coronavirus relief funding, to pay for more than 50 economic development projects across Wisconsin

  • Republicans, who control the Legislature, gaveled in and adjourned the special session Tuesday in mostly empty chambers with only a few lawmakers in attendance

  • Accepting federal money available through the Affordable Care Act would have increased the minimum income threshold to qualify from 100% of the federal poverty rate to 138%, making about 91,000 more people eligible for BadgerCare Plus in Wisconsin

Gov. Evers hoped to use the savings and stimulus funds to pay for more than 50 projects across the state. Among them, investing $11 million toward rural emergency medical services across Wisconsin by distributing the funds on a per ambulance basis.

The impact of expansion


Cross Plains EMS Chief Erika Mabrey would tell you a little bit goes a long way.

“Being a rural department, granted there are departments that are smaller than us, I can't imagine being smaller than Cross Plains because everyone is stretched thin in regards to staffing,” Mabrey said. “Sometimes equipment can be an issue.”

Cross Plains EMS Chief Erika Mabrey checks equipment on ambulance.


With three full-time staff, including herself, and a couple of paid part-time positions, most of Cross Plains EMS relies on volunteers. A total of about 30 people at the department might sound like a lot, but Mabrey said it's not when you need to be ready to go around the clock.

“We need people and whether it's to make something nicer for the volunteers to come in or to try to get more full-time staff just to keep stability here, more money would be huge,” Mabrey said.

However, the money that Mabrey was hoping for is all but gone.

“We need to get this ambulance out the door,” Mabrey said. “We need to keep training. We need to make sure we're following all the requirements as outlined by the state, and we can't do that without help.”

No debate, no votes


Both the Assembly and Senate chambers in Madison sat mostly empty Tuesday as Republican leaders adjourned the special session called by Gov. Evers to expand BadgerCare with no debates and no votes.

The Assembly session lasted roughly 40 seconds, while the Senate was wrapped up in less than 10 seconds. For years, Democrats have pushed to expand eligibility for the state's Medicaid program called BadgerCare Plus. Tuesday's lack of action was the latest defeat to the effort.

Empty Assembly chamber on Tuesday during special session called by Gov. Evers.


“The projects the governor has identified, which have been community projects throughout the state, they will not happen,” Assembly Minority Leader Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) said during a press conference. “They will not receive funding. It's not just about recovery, it's about opportunity. We haven't had this before.”

Unlike previous attempts in past years, $1 billion of one-time federal stimulus money was available this time. Democrats hoped the outcome would be different and questioned why Republicans refused to join 38 other states in accepting expansion.

“It's not Republican opposition, it's Wisconsin Republican opposition,” Hintz told reporters. “Of all of our neighboring states: Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, neighboring or neighborhood, Wisconsin is the only upper Midwestern state that continues to reject the funding.”

Democrats hold press conference calling on Republican leaders to meet for the special session called by Gov. Evers and approve BadgerCare expansion.


Republicans have long opposed Medicaid expansion and called the latest attempt a political stunt. Leaders in the caucus don't want to move people from private insurance to BadgerCare Plus out of fear less federal money will be available in the future, causing Wisconsin to pay a higher share for coverage.

“Everyone who wants insurance in our state has access and options,” Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) and Sen. Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) said in a joint written statement released last week. “Our unique-to-Wisconsin solution is working, and we will not shift tens of thousands of people off their private insurance to a government-run system.”

Tuesday afternoon, Republican leaders double-downed on their quick rejection of Medicaid expansion in a letter sent to Gov. Evers electronically. 

 

GOP Letter to Governor Evers on Medicaid Expansion by Anthony DaBruzzi on Scribd

 

 

Last week, Gov. Evers called a special session proposing to use $850 million of the $1 billion in federal money to pay for the more than 50 economic development projects, including the investment in rural EMS, and to save the remaining $150 million.
 


Tuesday afternoon, Gov. Evers expressed frustration over Republicans' unwillingness to take up his proposal, pointing out that 70% of Wisconsinites support Medicaid expansion.

“It’s breathtaking that after a year of working to prevent us from responding to COVID-19, Republicans would rather keep playing politics with our economic recovery than invest $1 billion into our state’s economy and support communities in their own districts,” Gov. Evers said in a statement. “I think we should be doing everything we can to make sure our economy bounces back from this pandemic, and this special session was about finding common ground and getting bipartisan support for our efforts. Clearly, it’s disappointing Republicans don’t seem to take that responsibility seriously, and they’ll have to explain to Wisconsinites why they made the decision they did today.”

According to the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau, estimates show Wisconsin would have saved about $635 million over the next two years because of a higher federal reimbursement rate under Medicaid expansion. Those savings are in addition to the one-time $1 billion approved under the coronavirus stimulus bill.