MADISON, WI (WTAQ) – Wisconsin seniors will have no changes in their popular Senior Care prescription drug program — but BadgerCare recipients could pay more if they don’t take care of themselves.
That’s what the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee decided Thursday.
The committee endorsed Governor Scott Walker’s budget proposal to increase BadgerCare Plus premiums for those engaging in risky behaviors. The behaviors and increases were not specified, but everything would be spelled out before the state seeks a federal waiver to allow the change.
The panel left the state’s Senior Care program alone. The governor wanted the 87,000 recipients to try getting their medicines from Medicare Part “D” first, and then use the state program as a backup.
Opponents said it would have cost many seniors more money, and they would have had to deal with a more complicated federal program.
Walker proposed the move for the second time in 5 years, to save the state just over $15 million.
Lawmakers had talked about raising the annual fee for Senior Care, and perhaps capping the enrollments — but they ended up doing neither.
Finance co-chair John Nygren said it was decided to leave the program alone because seniors have gotten accustomed to it. The panel’s 4 Democrats voted no, as a protest to Walker’s refusal to accept federal Medicaid funds under Obamacare.
(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)
