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The Health Care Reform Initiative

What is in the News

Gov. Walker Confronts the Federal Government in Health Care Reform

In a controversial series of moves, the Walker administration has chosen to take on the federal government over several health care issues:

1) Because the federal government has not approved the Walker administration’s plan to cut back Medicaid programs in Wisconsin, Walker may drop 53,000 adults from BadgerCare rolls on his own. Read more in this Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article: “Thousands of Wisconsinites Could Lose Health Coverage”: http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/feds-ok-some-medicaid-changes-but-thousands-could-lose-coverage-iq3clku-135331808.html

2) Wisconsin is returning $38 million earmarked for health exchanges to the federal government because of his opposition to federal health care reform. Health exchanges are a marketplace for individuals and small businesses to buy insurance that will be mandated in 2014. Read more in this Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article, “Walker to Return $38 million Earmarked for Health Exchanges”: http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/walker-to-return-38-million-earmarked-for-health-exchanges-nt3rver-137621263.html

Walker’s decision on health exchanges has insurers worried that his action will lead to loss of control of exchanges in the state. Read more in this Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article, “State’s Decision to Halt Health Exchanges Worries Insurers”: http://www.jsonline.com/business/states-inaction-on-health-exchanges-concerns-reform-advocates-ud3km6u-136515053.html

3) Gov. Walker's administration is returning nearly $11 million in federal grant money that could have helped make cost-saving improvements to existing health programs for the poor. Read more in this Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article, “State to Return $11 Million Federal Grant in Dispute Over Health Care Law”: http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/state-to-return-11-million-to-feds-in-dispute-over-health-care-law-2e3smok-137788398.html

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New Medicare Benefits and You

Approximately 50 people attended the “New Medicare Benefits and You” presentation at Stonefield Apartments on December 13, 2011. The following is a summary of the presentation. Speakers were:

• Dr. Aaron Dunn, Dean Clinic of Dodgeville and Mineral Point
• Nancy Howard, Benefits Specialist, Aging and Disabilities Resource Center of Iowa County
• Doug Hill, Director, Know Your Care Wisconsin
• Billy Feitlinger, Executive Director, Alliance for Retired Americans

Dr. Dunn: The recently passed Affordable Care Act (ACA) has wisely made preventive screening tests available to people on Medicare at low cost and often free of charge. We’re all familiar with “silent killers” – conditions and diseases that can seriously harm you without showing any noticeable symptoms, at least at first. Some of the most important are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, breast cancer, colon cancer and osteoporosis. The good news is that most of these afflictions can be detected early if preventive services are taken advantage of. An excellent example of detecting a silent killer is screening for a weakened wall in the main artery that brings blood to the abdomen. This painless test called “abdominal aortic aneurysm screening” has saved numerous lives. How do you decide which screening tests to take? The first step is to schedule an annual wellness visit with your doctor to discuss which services are appropriate for your particular situation. Such a visit is normally free under the provisions of the new Affordable Care Act

Nancy Howard: Health care insurance for seniors is frequently a complicated matter that may require knowledgeable assistance. In Iowa County, the best source of free assistance is Nancy Howard at the Aging and Disabilities Resource Center, in the new Health and Human Services Building, 303 W Chapel St, Dodgeville, phone 877-794-2372.

Nancy explained that someone with regular Medicare A and B coverage is best positioned to make use of the benefits of the ACA at minimal cost. If you have signed up with a private Medicare Advantage plan, you will have to call the plan to find out what services are available to you and at what cost. For certain tests and insurance situations, co-pays and deductibles may apply. Persons with lower income may receive help in paying these fees. If you feel you have made a mistake in choosing your insurance plan or in paying for services, Nancy may be able to help you. She can also help with selection of insurance plans that cover prescription drugs under Medicare Part D. For those with computer access, the website mymedicare.gov is highly recommended as it allows you to see your Medicare information, your eligibility for preventive services and your prescription drug information with the use of a password. Nancy passed out packets of information to everyone who attended the meeting. To obtain one, contact Nancy Howard at 877-794-2372.

Doug Hill and Billy Feitlinger: Whereas a few years ago insurance companies were able to exclude people from buying health insurance or to charge high rates on the basis of pre-existing conditions, or to set an upper limit on the amount of medical care a person can receive, these practices will no longer be permitted under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In addition to encouraging the use of preventive services, the ACA over time is doing away with the infamous “donut hole” in Medicare Part D coverage of prescription drugs. Many more benefits will become available to people of all ages in the coming years. Some people want to repeal the ACA, or as it is commonly called, “ObamaCare”. However, these people are probably not aware of the many benefits that it is providing. Prevention of disease is so important to the health of our seniors that we need to be in touch with Congress about protecting the ACA. An informative booklet, “Your Guide to Medicare’s Preventive Services” was handed out to audience members. 

For more information about the benefits of the ACA to the citizens of Wisconsin, click here: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/statehealthreform/wisconsin.html# or go to Know Your Care.

What's Next 

Our Heath Care Task Force continually seeks reliable sources of information about new and proposed federal and state health care legislation. We communicate this information to our local communities through forums, press releases, etc. The task force is also deeply interested in researching and recommending modifications that would improve state and national legislation.

OUR CURRENT HEALTH CARE PROJECTS:

• Monitoring Walker administration proposals - With cost-cutting as its paramount goal, the Walker administration will soon be unveiling its vision for health care in our state. We can expect significant changes to the BadgerCare system and tense interplay with the Federal government over implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). It is essential that we monitor these developments closely and initiate public discussion when appropriate.
• Considering end-of-life care - Often neglected as a healthcare issue, palliative care and end-of-life planning are on the agenda for Grassroots Citizens of Wisconsin this year. Working in cooperation with the Bioethics Committee of Uplands Health in Dodgeville together with regional and statewide coalitions, we are developing plans to raise awareness of the medical, legal, ethical and spiritual dimensions of decision-making as life moves toward its close.

Who We Are

In 2006, Grassroots members concerned about the lack of universal health insurance coverage and escalating medical costs started a Health Care Reform Task Force to monitor the rapid-fire developments and to educate local people about what is going on in Washington D.C. and Madison. We work closely with the statewide Health Care Reform Coalition, headed by Citizens Action Wisconsin, and host local forums and discussions. Today over 100 people from throughout southwest Wisconsin are part of our Health Care Reform Initiative.

Core group members include Dr. Aaron Dunn, John Simonson and Bill Spevacek of Mineral Point; Earl Barnes, Kent Mayfield and John Wright of Dodgeville; Gail Ginsberg of Ridgeway; Lola Gregg of Avoca; and Jeff Ware of Fennimore.

What We Have Done
Topics for our local forums, held in Spring Green, Dodgeville, Platteville and Darlington, have included:

• "Exploring health care models around the world"
• "A close-up look at the top national health care reform plans"
• "Defining the key issues in health care reform"
• "So why is health care reform so hard to achieve?"
• "Health care reform: A question and answer session"
• "Paying for health care"
• "National health care reform: What should it look like?"

We've run a Dodgeville Chronicle advertisement addressing the need for health care reform, which was signed and paid for by local citizens.

In partnership with the Dodgeville Chamber of Commerce, we co-sponsored a dialogue between Dr. Aaron Dunn and a representative of the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce organization.

We continue to encourage our members to volunteer and financially support the Community Connections Free Clinic in Dodgeville.

To Join Our Health Care Reform Initiative contact:

Earl Barnes
2473 Mount Hope Road
Dodgeville, WI 53533
grassroots@merr.com
Telephone: (608) 623-2109