MADISON (WSAU) Governor Scott Walker says he might try to work out a deal to spare 53,000 childless adults from losing their Badger-Care next year. The cut-offs are possible because the federal government will not act on the state’s entire plan to cut a half-billion dollars in Medicaid spending by December 31st.

Yesterday the Republican governor told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he’s open to negotiating with federal officials on the vast array of spending reductions and coverage changes the state has proposed. And then Walker would ask lawmakers to change their previous actions, so the 53,000 recipients would not be dropped from Badger-Care. Earlier this month Washington approved some – but not all – of the state’s proposed cuts in Medicaid which are aimed at ending huge deficits in the government’s health programs.

The federal government says Wisconsin can raise monthly premiums on some adults in Badger-Care-Plus – but it will need more time to consider other changes, especially those involving children. About 1.2-million people – or one of every five Wisconsinites – get some type of Medicaid coverage.