Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Examines Health Care Issues in Wisconsin Gubernatorial Race
Health care has "surged to the forefront" in the Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial primary, but "it's an open question whether there is the political will" to address the issue at a time when the state faces increased budget deficits, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Summaries of the health care proposals offered by the three candidates appear below:
- Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk: Falk said that she would increase the state's cigarette tax by 85 cents per pack -- the only health-care-related tax increase proposed by a candidate -- which she said would raise an additional $250 million per year for the state. Falk said that she would use the additional revenue to cover the cost of the state's health programs and to restore $1.3 billion in tobacco settlement funds that Wisconsin lawmakers used to balance the state's budget. In addition, Falk said that she would ensure that state residents do not lose their health coverage. She also advocates "prescription drug fairness" and said that she supports T-Rx, a proposal defeated in the state Legislature earlier this year that would have allowed individuals without prescription drug coverage to purchase treatments at the same price as Medicaid beneficiaries.
- U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett: Barrett said that he would expand eligibility for SeniorCare -- a new state program that allows low-income residents ages 65 and older who pay a $20 annual enrollment fee to purchase generic drugs for a $5 copayment and brand-name treatments for a $15 copayment -- to include individuals ages 60 to 64. Barrett also plans to address the issue of hospital expansions but said that he "resists" additional state regulation of hospital construction and rates. According to Barrett, state health care programs "would be hampered by the shortage of tax dollars," and the state's financial problems "preclude any plans with big price tags." He said that he would not propose tax increases. In addition, Barrett has asked the General Accounting Office to investigate "why health care costs are so high" in southeastern Wisconsin (Manning, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 9/8). A William M. Mercer study released earlier this year found that total medical, prescription drug and administrative health care costs are 55% higher in the Milwaukee area than in other Midwestern metropolitan areas (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 2/11).
- Wisconsin Attorney General Jim Doyle: Doyle said that hopes to develop programs to allow elderly residents to receive care in their homes, rather than nursing homes, where care costs more. Doyle has not offered a plan to cover the cost of the proposal, the Journal Sentinel reports (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 9/8).
Some Agreement
The three candidates each hope to expand BadgerCare, which provides health coverage for state residents who do not qualify for Medicaid (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 8/14). In addition, they support legislation to establish large purchasing pools of private sector and government employees to "harness their purchasing power" to negotiate health insurance and prescription drug discounts, according to the Journal Sentinel. "We need to try to drive down the cost of health insurance. The state can form buying pools (of private-sector employees) for leverage in the marketplace," Doyle said. The candidates also agree that the state should move to "get more Medicare and Medicaid money" from the federal government, a proposal that has "gained political and community support statewide" (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 9/8).
