OPA creates website for coalition showing candidates’ responses to key school Medicaid questions
OPA recently created the Wisconsin School Medicaid Coalition website. The site shows legislative candidate responses to questions about whether, as legislators, candidates will co-sponsor legislation to increase the percentage of billed Medicaid funds that are sent back to school districts and whether they will vote for the legislation when it is brought up on the floor of the Assembly or Senate. The coalition has had favorable bipartisan responses to the questions.
Currently, just 60% of billed Medicaid funds in Wisconsin are sent to school districts. This is much lower than most states, many of which send 100% of the funds back to schools, where the funding should go and is desperately needed.
The coalition also asked the candidates for Governor whether they will support sending 100% of billed Medicaid funds back to schools. Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, responded that he will include the plan to go to 100% in his 2027-29 state budget proposal if he is elected and he will sign it into law if it passes the Legislature. Mr. Crowley also shared information in his response regarding his strong support for public schools, his plan for public education if elected, and the fact that his three kids currently attend public schools. The coalition has not yet received a response from Congressman Tom Tiffany, the Republican gubernatorial nominee.
The percentage of funds going to schools is particularly important right now as Wisconsin is in the process of reversing the federal “Free Care Rule.” Previously, school districts were only allowed to bill Medicaid for services provided to students who had Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). The federal government now allows states to change this policy, thereby allowing for billing for services provided to more students, as long as the state requests the change in its Medicaid plan. Wisconsin is implementing this change.
The coalition plans to promote the responses among its members and in social media. After the election, coalition members will lobby for the increased percentage in the upcoming 2027-29 state budget and possibly in separate legislation.
The coalition will keep advocating hard for this change until it happens. The change is basic common sense and it will help kids.