The federal government currently pays a fixed portion of states’ Medicaid costs, varying by state but averaging about 64%. Previous congressional budget and health plans have proposed converting Medicaid into a block grant or imposing a per capita cap. This article describes how, under these proposals, costs will shift to states and how it will effect programs.

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Recently, a leaked copy of the plan to eliminate the ACA and develop a per-capita plan for Medicaid (the federal program that funds Family Care/IRIS, BadgerCare, Katie Beckett, Children's long-term supports and autism programs, etc. in Wisconsin) was released. While changes in the plan are expected, here's an overview of the direction the bill would take regarding the ACA and Medicaid.

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Talk of major changes to Medicaid have many people with disabilities worried.  Right now, Medicaid programs must meet certain federal requirements, but they are administered by the states.  Indicators point toward the Trump administration moving to a block grant system for Medicaid.   Details are sketchy, but there's fear that this would mean significantly less funding for Medicaid.   

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Survival Coalition has launched an important survey for adults and children with disabilities, older adults, their families, care providers, and low income adults. You can take this survey, share the link, and ask everyone you know to take it. Many people are unaware that the health care, supports, services, and programs they are familiar with (Family Care, IRIS, CLTS, Katie Beckett) are funded by Medicaid. Policymakers in Wisconsin and Washington, D.C. are proposing big changes to Medicaid, including Medicaid Block Grants. These changes could happen quickly and could have big impacts on the disability community. The survey asks about the Medicaid services and supports that you or your loved ones use to help you live your life and stay healthy, and how important these supports are to your life. Deadline to fill out the survey is Jan. 31.

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Policymakers in Washington and Wisconsin are discussing changing Medicaid to a block grant program. This will change the way Wisconsin delivers many Medicaid services to people with disabilities, older adults, families, and children. Medicaid block grants are intended to reduce federal Medicaid spending and reduce future growth in Medicaid budgets.  The Wisconsin Long-Term Care Coalition has created a document to help people talk to policymakers about how block grants would effect them.

	WLTCC Questions for Policymakers about Medicaid Block grants
	WLTCC Questions for Policymakers about Medicaid Block grants.pdf, 310KB ∞

The future of Medicaid will be a big issue in 2017. Federal efforts are underway to change Medicaid to a block grant program that states would administer.  This could have a major impact on programs such as Family Care, IRIS, BadgerCare, SeniorCare, and many other programs that older adults and people with disabilities rely on.  Check out this presentation for information on what block grants are all about. Thank you to the Board for People with Developmental Disabilities and The Arc/Wisconsin for this helpful explanation.

	WPBDD Medicaid Block Grants Presentation
	Medicaid Block grants.pdf, 1.3MB ∞

Discussions taking place at the federal level about Medicaid block grants, which cap funding for the program, would have a major impact on the 1.2 million Wisconsinites, including people with disabilities and older adults, who use Medicaid programs (Family Care, IRIS, MAPP, BadgerCare, SeniorCare, CCS, CRS, Katie Becket and more).  This op-ed piece written by Barbra Beckert of Disability Rights Wisconsin explains in detail about how these block grants could effect many people.

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