Health
Care
Families or individuals with disabilities, direct care workers, and low-income people have difficulty getting health care because of the lack or high cost of insurance.
- About the issue
- Why does this matter to people with disabilities?
- Are there any proposals that would make a change in this issue?
- Who can I contact with my questions?
- Background Information For This Issue
About the issue: (Top of page)
A lot of people across the nation do not have any health care insurance or have insurance that does not cover their needs. Many people can only get health insurance if they can afford to pay high premiums or deductibles. Without affordable and comprehensive health care insurance, it can be very difficult to get the right care for a disability or chronic condition. Because of the gaps in health care coverage, advocates argue that the system is broken.
Many families and people with disabilities are forced to rely on Medicaid or BadgerCare because private insurance is not available or affordable. People with disabilities who want to work often cannot because they would loose Medicaid coverage. Even with Medicaid coverage, people with disabilities do not always get their health care needs met.
Medicaid does not always pay doctors, dentists, therapists, hospitals, and other providers what it really costs to provide services. Providers can refuse to serve people on Medicaid. This is especially true in the area of dental care, where people often have to travel outside their own cities to find a dentist that accepts Medicaid. Providers that do treat people on Medicaid often charge people with good insurance more to make-up the funding gap and stay in business.
Another concern is the amount of money wasted in the current system. People without health insurance are more likely to use emergency rooms for their primary care. Emergency services are very expensive.
Why does this matter to people with disabilities? (Top of page)
Access to health care services is extremely important to the well-being and quality of life for people with disabilities. If people cannot get the health care services they need, it affects every area of their lives. Lack of comprehensive insurance also limits people’s choices. They cannot work and risk loosing Medicaid, or they can work only for certain employers that can afford to cover their health insurance.
People with disabilities are impacted when their direct service workers cannot get good health insurance coverage. One reason the turnover for direct service workers is high is because many agencies cannot provide affordable, comprehensive health care.
Are there any proposals that would make a change in this issue? (Top of page)
- Assembly Bill 16 - Hearing Aids
This bill requires health insurance coverage of hearing aids and cochlear implants for persons under 18 years of age. [More on Assembly Bill 16 ]
Outcome: The Senate version of this bill, SB-27, passed both houses of the legislature on April 23, 2009. It was signed into law as Act 14 by Gov. Doyle on may 21, 2009. - Assembly Bill 74 - Health Savings Accounts
This a companion bill to SB-45. This bill creates a non-refundable income tax credit for certain amounts for health savings account contributions that may be deducted or are exempt from federal income taxes. [More on Assembly Bill 74 ]
Outcome: This bill never passed out of committee before the end of the session. This matter will have to be addressed by the next legislature. - Assembly Bill 75 - State Budget
This bill is Gov. Doyle's proposed 2009-2011 State Budget. It covers all of the state's expenese and revenues for the next two years starting 7-1-09. It affects most of the services and programs used by people with disabilities. [More on Assembly Bill 75 ]
Outcome: This bill was passed by the legislature and signed by Gov. Doyle on June 29, 2009. It became Act 28. - Assembly Bill 141 - Autism Services (Alternative)
This bill offers an alternative approach to AB-15 and SB-3 for providing services to people with autism. It requires services be provided to all eligible persons under the MA autism benefit and prohibits the use of waiting lists for these services. [More on Assembly Bill 141 ]
Outcome: This bill was referred to the Joint Finance Committee and never passed out of that committee before the session ended. This matter will have to be addressed by the next legislature. - Assembly Bill 152 - Healthcare Workers and Overtime
This bill prohibits a health care facility from requiring an employee of the health care facility or an employee of a temporary help agency who is involved in providing direct health care services for patients, residents, or clients and who is paid an hou [More on Assembly Bill 152 ]
Outcome: This bill had a public hearing but didn't pass out of committee before the session ended. This matter will have to be addressed by the next legislature. - Assembly Bill 238 - Marriage Penalty
This bill is similar to one introduced last session. It would allow a disabled person receiving MA and who marries to be treated as a single person when determining MA eligibility by disregarding the income and assets of the spouse. [More on Assembly Bill 238 ]
Outcome: This bill had a public hearing and passed out of committee after being amended. It was referred to the Joint Finance Committee where it stayed until the end of the session. This matter will have to be addressed by the next legislature. - Assembly Bill 259 - Treatment of Alzheimer's Patients
This bill relates to the care and treatment of persons with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia in residential care facilities and more. [More on Assembly Bill 259 ]
Outcome: This bill had a public hearing but never passed out of committee before the end of the session. This matter will have to be addressed by the next legislature. - Assembly Bill 287 - Beer Tax
Increases the beer tax to fund law enforcement grants as well as alcohol and drug abuse treatment and prevention programs. [More on Assembly Bill 287 ]
Outcome: This bill had a public hearing but did not pass out of committee before the session ended. This matter will have to be addressed by the next legislature. - Assembly Bill 331 - Health Care Plans
This bill would require health care plans that cover hospital, medical, or surgical expenses to also cover the cost of orthotic devices and prosthetic devices that are prescribed by a doctor as medically necessary. [More on Assembly Bill 331 ]
Outcome: This bill had a public hearing but did not pass out of committee before the session ended. This matter will have to be addressed by the next legislature. - Assembly Bill 389 - Nursing Home Notification
This bill requires nursing homes to notify residents in writing when the facility has received a written violation or deficiency. [More on Assembly Bill 389 ]
Outcome: This bill had a public hearing but never made it out of committeee before the session ended. This matter will have to be addressed by the next legislature. - Assembly Bill 405 - BPA Free Kids Act
This bill prohibits the sale of bottles and cups for children that contain BPA, a chemical that can cause ADHD in children, obesity, and diabetes. [More on Assembly Bill 405 ]
Outcome: The companion bill in the Senate (SB 271) was passed by the Senate and Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Doyle on March 3, 2010. It became Act 145. - Assembly Bill 488 - Newborn Hearing Screening
This bill would require a hearing screen for all babies born outside of a hospital for possible hearing impairments. Current law requires screening for babies born in hospitals. [More on Assembly Bill 488 ]
Outcome: The Senate version of this bill passed both houses of the legislature. It was signed into law by Gov. Doyle on May 11, 2010. It became Act 279. - Assembly Bill 506 - Epilepsy Drugs
This bill prohibits a pharmacist from switching drugs used for the treatment of epilepsy unless written permission is obtained. [More on Assembly Bill 506 ]
Outcome: This bill had a public hearing but failed to pass out of committee before the session ended. This matter will have to be addressed by the next legislature. - Assembly Bill 526 - Psychotropic Medications
This bill requires informed consent before giving a psychotropic medication to a nursing home resident who has degenerative brain disorder. [More on Assembly Bill 526 ]
Outcome: The Senate version of this bill passed both houses of the legislature. It was signed into law by Gov. Doyle on May 11, 2010. It became Act 281. - Assembly Bill 789 - Autism Insurance Coverage
This bill would require insurance coverage for the services of behavior analysts for the treatment of autism. [More on Assembly Bill 789 ]
Outcome: The Senate version of this bill passed both houses of the legislature. It was signed into law by Gov. Doyle on May 11, 2010. It became Act 282. - Assembly Bill 955 - Abuse and Neglect of Patients and Residents
This bill would change current legal definition of abuse and neglect of patients and residents of care facilities. Under this bill, conduct by a health care provider may not be considered "abuse" or "neglect" if the act is unsatisfactory conduct as the re [More on Assembly Bill 955 ]
Outcome: This bill failed to pass out of committee before the session ended. This matter will have to be addresed by the next legislature. - Senate Bill 27 - Hearing Aids
This is a companion bill to AB-16. This bill requires health insurance coverage of hearing aids and cochlear implants for persons under 18. [More on Senate Bill 27 ]
Outcome: This bill was passed by both the Senate and Assembly on April 23, 2009. It was signed into law as Act 14 by Gov. Doyle on May 21, 2009. - Senate Bill 45 - Health Savings Accounts
This bill creates a non-refundable income tax credit for certain amounts for health savings account contributions that may be deducted or are exempt from federal income taxes. [More on Senate Bill 45 ]
Outcome: This bill failed to pass out of committee before the end of the session. This matter will have to be addressed in the next session. - Senate Bill 108 - Healthcare Workers and Overtime
This bill prohibits a health care facility from requiring an employee of the health care facility or an employee of a temporary help agency who is involved in providing direct health care services for patients, residents, or clients and who is paid an hou [More on Senate Bill 108 ]
Outcome: This bill had a public hearing and passed out of committee as amended. It was referred to the Joint Finance Committee where it remained until the end of the session. This matter will have to be addressed by the next legislature. - Senate Bill 209 - Beer Tax
Increases the beer tax to fund law enforcement grants as well as alcohol and drug abuse treatment and prevention programs. [More on Senate Bill 209 ]
Outcome: This bill did not pass out of committee before the end of the session. This matter will have to be addressed by the next legislature. - Senate Bill 271 - BPA Free Kids Act
This bill prohibits the sale of bottles and cups for children that contain BPA, a chemical that can cause ADHD in children, obesity, and diabetes. [More on Senate Bill 271 ]
Outcome: This bill was passed by the Senate and Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Doyle on March 3, 2010. It became Act 145. - Senate Bill 323 - Newborn Hearing Screening
This bill would require a hearing screen for all babies born outside of a hospital for possible hearing impairments. Current law requires screening for babies born in hospitals. [More on Senate Bill 323 ]
Outcome: This bill passed both houses of the legislature. It was signed into law by Gov. Doyle on May 11, 2010. It became Act 279. - Senate Bill 354 - Epilepsy Drugs
This bill prohibits a pharmacist from switching drugs used for the treatment of epilepsy unless written permission is obtained. [More on Senate Bill 354 ]
Outcome: This bill had a public hearing but failed to pass out of committee by the end of the session. This matter will have to be addressed by the next legislature. - Senate Bill 538 - Nursing Home Violations
This bill would require nursing homes who have state or federal law violations to notify residents of the violations within 15 days. [More on Senate Bill 538 ]
Outcome: This bill had a public hearing and passed out of committee but failed to pass the Senate by the end of the session. This matter will have to be addressed by the next legislature. - Senate Bill 594 - Facilities for Dementia
This bill would require facilities who provide services for dementia to have a description of their services or unit and provide that description to people seeking placement in the facility. [More on Senate Bill 594 ]
Outcome: This bill passed the Senate but failed to pass the Assembly by the end of the session. This matter will have to be addressed by the next legislature. - Senate Bill 609 - Psychotropic Medications
This bill requires nursing homes to obtain written consent before giving a psychotropic drug to someone with a degenerative brain disorder. [More on Senate Bill 609 ]
Outcome: This bill passed both houses of the legislature. It was signed into law by Gov. Doyle on May 11, 2010. It became Act 281. - Senate Bill 657 - Abuse and Neglect of Patients and Residents
This bill would change current law definition of abuse and neglect of patients and residents of care facilities. Under this bill, conduct by a health care provider may not be considered abuse or neglect if the act is unsatisfactory conduct as the resu [More on Senate Bill 657 ]
Outcome: This bill passed the Senate but did not pass the Assembly before the end of the session. This matter will have to be addressed by the next legislature. - Senate Bill 682 - Marriage Penalty
This bill is similar to AB-238. It would allow a disabled person receiving MA under the purchase plan and who marries to be treated as a single person when determining eligibility for MA by disregarding the income and assets of the spouse. AB-238 applies [More on Senate Bill 682 ]
Outcome: This bill failed to pass out of committee by the end of the session. This matter will have to be addressed by the next legislature.
Who can I contact with my questions? (Top of page)
John Shaw
Wisconsin Council on Developmental Disabilities
201 W. Washington Avenue
Madison WI 53703-2796
Phone: Voice (608) 266-7707; TDD (608) 266-6660
Email: John1.Shaw@wisconsin.gov
Fax: (608) 267-3906
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