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Ryan Applauds Expansion of Health Care Choice and Coverage for Wisconsinites
Wisconsin Granted waiver for Second Phase of BadgerCare Plus
JANESVILLE – Wisconsin’s 1st District Congressman Paul Ryan commended the efforts of state and federal officials in helping secure the second phase of the BadgerCare Plus program, expanding access to affordable health care for Wisconsin residents. Earlier today, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services granted Wisconsin a waiver to expand its BadgerCare Plus program. Ryan worked with the Doyle Administration, CMS, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to negotiate the approval of this waiver on behalf of Wisconsin.
Last year, Wisconsin received a waiver to institute BadgerCare Plus, a Medicaid-funded program which provides health insurance for children under the age of 19 years. As a result of today’s waiver, the second phase of the BadgerCare Plus program will provide affordable health care coverage to low-income, uninsured, childless adults for implementation on January 1, 2009. An estimated 81,000 chronically uninsured adult Wisconsin residents will have access to health care coverage as a result of this expansion.
Following today’s announcement, Ryan issued the following statement:
“Securing the second phase of the BadgerCare Plus program marks a tremendous step forward for health care reform in Wisconsin. The BadgerCare Plus program emphasizes choice and compassion for Wisconsin’s most vulnerable, providing a fiscally responsible approach to health care reform.
“I commend the efforts of Governor Jim Doyle and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services for their commitment to innovative health care reforms such as BadgerCare Plus. Administrator Kerry Weems at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also deserve praise for granting this waiver. The bipartisan commitment between Madison and Washington on this issue has been remarkable.
“BadgerCare Plus epitomizes Wisconsin’s proud tradition of reforming our social safety nets though innovation and empowerment. I was proud to work with the Wisconsin Congressional delegation, state and federal officials in advocating for this waiver. I will continue my efforts to push for comprehensive health care reform – boosting transparency, portability, affordability, and access to private health insurance coverage.”
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Contact: Conor Sweeney (202)
226-7326
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