SB 361

This bill changes the family income eligibility level to up to 133 percent of the

federal poverty line for parents and caretaker relatives under BadgerCare Plus and

for childless adults currently covered under BadgerCare Plus Core and who are

incorporated into BadgerCare Plus in this bill. BadgerCare Plus and BadgerCare

Plus Core are programs under the state's Medical Assistance program, which

provides health services to individuals who have limited financial resources. The

federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act allows a state to receive an

enhanced federal medical assistance percentage payment for providing benefits to

certain individuals through a state's Medical Assistance program. The bill requires

the Department of Health Services to comply with all federal requirements and to

request any amendment to the state Medical Assistance plan, waiver of Medicaid

law, or other federal approval necessary to qualify for the highest available enhanced

federal medical assistance percentage for childless adults under the BadgerCare

Plus program. DHS must ensure that any increased funding resulting from the bill

is used to improve access to and affordability of health care and to support health care

quality for Wisconsin residents.

Under current law, certain parents and caretaker relatives with incomes of not

more than 100 percent of the federal poverty line, before a 5 percent income disregard

is applied, are eligible for BadgerCare Plus benefits. Under current law, childless

adults who 1) are under age 65; 2) have family incomes that do not exceed 100 percent

of the federal poverty line, before a 5 percent income disregard is applied; and 3) are

not otherwise eligible for Medical Assistance, including BadgerCare Plus, are

eligible for benefits under BadgerCare Plus Core. The bill eliminates the childless

adults demonstration project known as BadgerCare Plus Core.