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Join CKF's Policy Committee

The Policy Committee monitors state and federal legislation, administrative rules and implementation issues related to BadgerCare+. During monthly conference calls, committee members share information on how public policy is affecting program applicants and participants, alert each other upcoming program and policy changes that could have a significant impact, and consider appropriate actions for mitigating those effects. Policy Primers, op-eds, e-mails, and telephone calls, are some methods by which the Committee informs legislators and the public about the effect that policy changes and raises issues for consideration by decision-makers. This year, the committee is pursuing a grant through the Centene Foundation to assist in the creation of multiple new policy papers that can help educate legislators, policy makers, the public, and even coalition members on issues impacting the accessibility and availability of Medicaid and BadgerCare+ coverage for Wisconsin childless adults.

 

This issue brief by the Wisconsin Council on Children & Families summarizes the remaining challenges and the next steps Wisconsin should take to protect the recent gains and then finish the job of covering all state residents: Achieving Health Care Access for All Children and Families: Protecting and Improving BadgerCare Plus

What is on the Policy Committee radar:

On December 21, 2011, the Policy Committee electronically delivered a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in regards of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) maintenance of effort waiver request. It includes points of information that CMS should review during the analysis of the waiver so the department can make a decision to best affect the families and children of Wisconsin. Read the letter here.

Next Policy Meeting
The next meeting will be on Thursday, February 16, 2012, 3:00pm to 4:00pm.
E-mail (info@ckfwi.org) to sign up.

Monthly Meeting Minutes

Policy Committee  Meeting Minutes, Thursday, January 19, 2012.

CKF Policy Committee Co-Chairs
 Sara Eskrich, (seskrich@wccf.org) 608-284-0580 ext. 313
Jennifer Winter (jwinter@centene.com) 800-547-1647 ext. 23246

Policy Updates

Operations Memos 11-37, July 15, 2011, BadgerCare+ Basic Plan Premium Change, From the Department of Health Services

Operations Memos 11-21, May 1, 2011 Administrative Renewals, From the Department of Health Services.

Operations Memos 09-06, 2009 Federal Poverty Level and BadgerCare Plus Premium Changes From the Department of Health Services.

Operations Memo 08-54, Transition of GAMP/GA/GR Medical Program Participants to the BadgerCare plus Core Plan for Childless Adults: From the Department of Health Services.

Administrators Memo 08-07, Transition of GAMP/GA Medical Participants to the BadgerCare Plus Core Plan for Childless Adults: From the Department of Health Services.

Operations Memo 08-53, BC+ Prenatal Program and Continuously Eligible Newborns: From the Department of Health Services.

Medicaid Citizenship and Identity Verification: Wisconsin Council on Children and Families (WCCF) has produced a good summary of the impact of the new requirements on enrollment.

Health Coverage Reform: For a good source on the latest health care coverage proposals swirling around Wisconsin, take a look at this Wisconsin Alliance for Women's Health web page.



Public Policy Primer Series

A series of fact sheets about public policy in Wisconsin as it relates to Medicaid.

PP#6 - Raising the Bar and Reducing Access: Analysis of the BadgerCare Income Verification Policy (update for PP#3)
A single policy change can have a dramatic effect. BadgerCare enrollment has dropped by thousands since the new Employer Verification forms went into effect. Analysis by DHFS reports that the cause of decreased enrollment was administrative snags, not ineligible families.

PP#5-Medicaid Funding in an Era of Budget Crisis (update for PP#1)
Within the context of Wisconsin's budget, this policy primer examines cuts in the Medicaid program. Increasing numbers of families are eligible for Medicaid in Wisconsin and the proportion of Medicaid dollars spent on Family health insurance is small. Medicaid benefits Wisconsin with quality healthcare, and because of federal Medicaid "match" funds, brings federal money back into the state.

PP#4 - Immigrant Access to Prenatal Care
Wisconsin’s Medicaid program does not cover preventative, prenatal care costs for low-income unqualified immigrants. If the state were to modify its AEMA plan to include prenatal care coverage upon first notice of pregnancy, costs might be shifted to preventative, prenatal care services that are much less expensive, thus reducing Medicaid costs in Wisconsin while delivering quality prenatal health care to its immigrant population.

PP#3 - Employer Verification of Insurance and Income
This policy primer looks at issues related to how income and insurance are verified when families apply for BadgerCare.

PP#2 - "Cost shifting" and Medicaid
Paying for health care coverage is costly, but it's often more costly to not pay up front. This primer looks at uncompensated care and self denial of care, both in the context of cost-shifting.

PP#1 - Medicaid and BadgerCare: Key Health Care Access Points
Get important facts about the budgetary impact of BadgerCare. Developed by Covering Kids and Families - Wisconsin to educate the public and legislators as the 2003-2005 budget was being debated.