Health Care Reform

Updated: May 30, 2008

Healthy Wisconsin

Healthy Wisconsin is a comprehensive health care reform plan that was introduced into the Wisconsin State Senate in their version of the 2007-09 state budget in June 2007. That version of the budget, which included the Healthy Wisconsin plan, passed the Senate on June 26th, 2007 on an 18-15 party line vote. It was not included in the final version of the budget that was published on October 26th, 2007. Senator Jon Erpenbach (D-Waunakee), a leading supporter of Healthy Wisconsin, introduced a separate bill on March 5th, 2008 (Senate Bill 562), which would have established the Healthy Wisconsin plan. Little action was taken on the bill because of its late introduction, and it died when the legislative session ended in mid-March. Below are links to more in-depth information regarding the specifics of, as well as the frequently asked questions about, the Healthy Wisconsin proposal.

Updated: May 2, 2007

The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services is holding a series of public hearings on several proposals for health care reform for Wisconsin. While the committee in interested in many ideas for reform, it is focusing on three proposals:

  • The Wisconsin Health Security Act (Senator Miller’s single-payer plan)
  • The Wisconsin Health Plan (Introduced last session by Representatives Gielow and Richards)
  • The Health Care Partnership Plan (AFL-CIO plan)

The Wisconsin Health Security Act

This plan features universal coverage provided through a publicly run, tax-funded, single-payer financing system. Benefits offered under the plan would be very comprehensive including preventive services, prescription drugs, long-term care services, mental health services (including substance abuse and brain injury treatment), and dental services. Patients would be able to choose their provider. The bill prohibits requiring copayments or deductibles as a condition for receipt of services under the plan.

Funding for the new health plan would come from the following sources: (a) existing funding for government programs such as Medicaid and Medicare; (b) a new wage tax on employers, and (c) a new graduated income tax on individuals. The bill directs that waivers be sought to use Medicaid and Medicare funding for this new health plan.

For more information about the Wisconsin Health Security Act, please visit http://www.wisconsinhealth.org/wiplan.html.

The Wisconsin Health Plan

The Wisconsin Health Plan combines the creation of a large purchasing pool with “consumer driven” incentives to promote health care quality and use market forces to drive down health care costs.

The proposal has three components:

  • All Wisconsin residents (under age 65) own a Health Insurance Purchasing Account;
  • All participants have an annual choice of health care plans and providers similar to the current state employee health plan;
  • The program is financed through a fair and simple mechanism. The funding mechanism is still under discussion. When first unveiled, the plan called for an assessment on wages to be paid by employers and employees.

While this plan will decrease the number of uninsured in the state, it features competing health plans combined with health care savings accounts, which could be complex to administer. More importantly, it is unclear whether mental health benefits would be covered and at what level.

For more information about the Wisconsin Health Plan, please visit http://www.wisconsinhealthproject.org/plan/index.htm.

The Wisconsin Health Care Partnership Plan

This plan was developed by the AFL-CIO and is designed to cover all employees and their dependents throughout Wisconsin. People who do not work for a company (e.g., self-employed, farmers, early retirees) could buy into the plan. Coverage is comprehensive and includes mental health coverage. Patients will have their choice of providers.

The plan would be financed by flat, per employee fees, paid each month by employers with deductibles and co-payments paid by employees.

This plan would provide near universal coverage and be easy for providers to bill. The benefit package would be comprehensive with mental health benefits covered. There would be substantial pubic sector control, including a commission that would set reimbursement rates.

For more information please visit the Wisconsin Health Care Partnership Plan website.