Wisconsin Senate Passes Mental Health Parity and Contraceptive Coverage Bills, But Can’t Override Veto of In-Home Care Expansion
The Wisconsin state Senate on Oct. 16 passed bills mandating mental health parity and contraception coverage, but failed in its attempt to override Gov. Scott McCallum's (R) veto of a bill expanding programs for home care of the elderly and disabled, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. By a vote of 22-11, the Senate passed without discussion SB 157, which would require health insurers to cover mental illness, alcoholism and drug abuse problems "just as they do other illnesses." The Senate also passed SB 128, which would require health insurers to cover federally approved prescription contraceptives and services, by an 18-15 vote. Both bills now move to the state Assembly, "where their fate is uncertain."
In-Home Care Reductions Stand
The Senate voted 18-15 -- short of the two-thirds needed -- to override McCallum's veto of a budget provision allowing for 1,960 new beneficiaries in the Community Options Program, which offers in-home health care for the elderly, and 688 new beneficiaries in the Community Integration Program, offering in-home care for the disabled. The veto reduced the number of new COP slots to 1,000 and the number of new CIP slots to 250. All 18 Democrats in the Senate voted to overturn the veto. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Chvala (D) said the COP program, which has 9,000 people on its waiting list, saves an average of $34 per day over the cost of caring for seniors in state-funded nursing homes. McCallum "commended" Senate Republicans for "holding the line on state spending" (Jones, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/16). For further information on state health policy in Wisconsin, visit State Health Facts Online.
