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appropriations, some local government appropriations, and a small amount of patient fee revenue.

The State of Wisconsin has increased the percentage of low-income families with health insurance through a variety of initiatives:

• Healthy Start Expansion. Wisconsin has increased the Medicaid income limit for low-income pregnant women and children under age six since 1988 when the program began, from 120% of FPL to the current level of 185% FPL. In 1989, the asset test was eliminated for Healthy Start.

• W-2 Health Plan. Provisions of 1995 Wisconsin Act 289 authorized the W-2 welfare reform program. As part of this reform, Wisconsin created the W-2 Health Plan, which was designed to provide health care to low-income families, dependent children, and working parents who could not afford health insurance. The program was designed as a bridge to self sufficiency, providing affordable health insurance to low-income, working families and assuring a transition to private health insurance. The program applied to persons in W-2 work programs and other low-income families. The federal waiver required for Wisconsin to implement this health care component was not granted.

BadgerCare. Provisions of 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, enacted on October 11, 1997, authorized statutory language and state matching funds from state GPR (tax revenues) to create the BadgerCare program. BadgerCare began July 1, 1998.

Prenatal Care for Unborn Children. Provisions of 2005 Wisconsin Act 25 enacted on July 25, 2005, authorized the Department of Health and Family Services to provide BadgerCare benefits to unborn children of women who are not otherwise eligible for Medicaid, such as non-qualifying aliens.

BadgerCare Plus. Provisions in the 2007-2009 Biennial Budget, which was enacted on October 26, 2007, will authorize statutory language and state matching funds from state tax revenues to create the BadgerCare Plus program. This program, to begin February 1, 2008, will provide a consolidated, streamlined program for all children, pregnant women, parents and caretaker relatives. It also expands coverage for pregnant women to 300% FPL, caretaker relatives and parents to 200% FPL and covers all uninsured children. Under SCHIP we are requesting coverage of those children with incomes that exceed Medicaid income limits, but do not exceed 300% FPL.

WISCONSIN

Effective Date:

Approval Date: 7