New Nonpartisan Report Shows Wisconsin Taxpayers Would Have Saved Millions if Health Care Program was Expanded
Sunday, August 17th, 2014 -- 9:26 AM
(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) -Wisconsin taxpayers would have saved $206 million over two years, 73% more than previously estimated, if officials had fully expanded its main health care program for the poor under the federal Affordable Care Act, a new nonpartisan report shows.According to the Milwaukee Journal, if officials decide to change course and expand the program in the next state budget, state taxpayers would save another $261 million to $315 million through June 2017, according to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau. The bureau serves the Legislature and is widely respected by lawmakers from both sides of the aisle.
In all, the state could have saved more than $500 million over 31/2 years, the report shows. That would have allowed Gov. Scott Walker and legislators to put more money toward schools or roads or cut taxes more deeply than they did over the last year.
In addition to saving state funds, the full expansion would have served an estimated 87,000 more adults each month under BadgerCare Plus, according to the fiscal bureau.
The new figures reassert one of the chief differences between the GOP governor and his Democratic opponent, former Trek Bicycle Corp. executive Mary Burke. Burke said the new numbers highlight the need to expand BadgerCare, while Walker said he would not do so because he didn't believe the federal government would follow through with funding promises that are written into law.
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