Medicaid and Waiver Services


	The Issue	The Latest Scoop	Action Steps	Lead Contacts	More Information

The Issue

Medicaid (MA) is the largest funding source for services to people with disabilities. It serves an estimated 121,000 people with disabilities in Wisconsin. The program is a state-federal partnership: for every $1 spent on services, 42 cents is contributed by the state and 58 cents by the federal government.

People with disabilities rely on Medicaid to pay for needed services to keep them healthy and to pay for help to assist them to live in the community. Under current law, people who are eligible can enter an institution without having to wait (entitlement). Support in the community is not an entitlement. Consumers and families wanting services in the community rather than in an institution may have to wait for years.

Some of the services paid for by Medicaid include:

Personal care services that help with bathing, dressing and feeding someone with a disability.
Therapy services such as speech therapy and physical therapy that help make individuals with disabilities more independent.
Durable medical equipment such as wheelchairs, machines that help people communicate and other medical equipment.
Transportation to and from doctors’ appointments and other medical related appointments.
Community services through the Community Integration Program waiver including vocational training, funding to modify homes to help people live in their own homes.
Basic medical care.
Medicaid also pays for people to help them quit smoking and for smoking related illnesses.

The Latest Scoop (Updated: 08/18/2008)

Family Care Program

In his 2006 State of the State address Governor Doyle announced that he will expand the long-term care program Family Care statewide in five years. The Governor also will increase the number of Aging and Disability Resource Centers around the state. Aging and Disability Resource Centers provide information and referrals to people and counsel them about benefits they could be eligible to receive. Family Care will provide long-term care services, including services now offered under the Community Options Program (COP) and Community Integration Program (CIP).

Family Care will be expanded and administered in regions. Groups of counties are working together to plan how to run Family Care together. The groups will form Care Management Organizations (CMO’s) to manage funding, provide case management, and oversee services.

It is anticipated that when Family Care gets going in an area that waiting lists for services will begin to disappear. Family Care is designed to cost less than the current programs by consolidating administration and using the most effective services to meet people’s needs.

Medicaid Budget

Because of growing costs and larger numbers of people using Medicaid, BadgerCare, and Senior Care, more money is going to be needed in the next two years to keep the programs working. BadgerCare and Senior Care are funded through the Medicaid program. Without more money, the state will have to reduce services or drop people from the programs.
The Governor, members of the State Assembly, and half of the State Senate are up for election on November 7th. People concerned about the future of Medicaid, BadgerCare or Senior Care can ask candidates about their ideas for increasing the funding.

Action Steps

Attend candidate forums and town hall meetings.
Vote in the November elections.
Support adequate funding to assure individuals will get quality services and supports they need to allow full access to all Medicaid services.
Work to ensure the concepts of self-determination are included in the Family Care program.

Lead Contacts

Chris Thomas-Cramer
Wisconsin Council on Developmental Disabilities
201 W. Washington Avenue
Madison WI 53703-2796
Phone: Voice (608) 266-0979; TDD (608) 266-6660
Email: thomacm@dhfs.state.wi.us
Fax: (608) 267-3906

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