Waukesha Times

Congressman Scott Fitzgerald of Wisconsin's 5th District has co-introduced a new legislative proposal aimed at addressing perceived inequities in Medicaid funding under the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare. The bill, titled the Ending Medicaid Discrimination Against the Most Vulnerable Act, seeks to modify federal support for Medicaid by targeting specific provisions related to coverage and funding.

The proposed legislation intends to phase out the enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for able-bodied adults, which was introduced under Obamacare. This measure is designed to prioritize Medicaid resources for traditional populations such as children, pregnant women, disabled individuals, and seniors. According to Congressman Fitzgerald, "For too long, taxpayers in Wisconsin and other states that made a conservative choice to not fully expand Medicaid under Obamacare have been forced to subsidize a program they do not use."

In addition to adjusting FMAP allocations, the bill aims to simplify the adoption of healthcare models like Wisconsin’s BadgerCare Plus by reducing Medicaid expansion eligibility from 138% to 100% of the federal poverty level (FPL). The legislation also proposes ending an additional FMAP bonus provided to states that expanded their programs later than others.

Congressman Chip Roy expressed concerns about current policies: "Obamacare's Medicaid expansion perpetuates a scam in which states get seven times as much money from the federal government for able-bodied adults than the traditional Medicaid population including pregnant women, children, disabled people, and the elderly."

Since its inception in 2010 through Obamacare mandates and subsequent modifications following a 2012 Supreme Court decision allowing state discretion on expansion choices—Wisconsin remains among ten states opting against full expansion. This decision aligns with efforts focused on curbing welfare dependency while safeguarding taxpayer funds.

Wisconsin's alternative approach involves BadgerCare Plus—a state-level initiative providing health insurance coverage below 100% FPL—which is recognized for cost-saving benefits while offering low-income residents essential support services without relying heavily on federal assistance dollars.

Critics argue that enhanced FMAP incentives encourage prioritizing care toward non-traditional beneficiaries over more vulnerable groups who rely extensively upon vital medical aid systems supported via existing frameworks already burdened financially due largely because discrepancies between different levels required when allocating respective shares paid out-of-pocket versus those reimbursed federally.