Wisconsin Health Care Associations Hope Programs Funded in New State Budget Will Help Ease Labor Shortages

Monday, July 10th, 2023 -- 11:00 AM

(By Joe Schulz, Wisconsin Public Radio) Wisconsin health care associations hope programs funded in the new state budget will help ease persistent labor shortages affecting everything from hospitals to long-term care providers.

The budget was crafted by Republicans but signed Wednesday by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. Hospitals, assisted living facilities, disability service providers and dental providers will all benefit from funding that goes toward workforce programs, and other initiatives.

According to the Wisconsin Hospital Association, the budget increases Medicaid reimbursement for hospitals to bring it closer to the actual cost of care. Eric Borgerding, the association’s president, said it especially targets hospitals with higher Medicaid patient volumes in rural and urban communities.

Medicaid is a federal program that insures low-income people. In Wisconsin, much of Medicaid is administered through the state's BadgerCare Plus program. Borgerding said the association is still calculating the extent to which the increase will bring Medicaid reimbursement closer to the cost of care. But he said the increase amounts to around $200 million in combined state and federal funding.

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