A revamped Medicaid program for more than 55,000 disabled and elderly Wisconsin residents will involve three agencies in each of three regions, health officials said Wednesday. The program will continue to allow people to hire their own caregivers if they want, the state Department of Health Services said in a “concept paper” about the changes. The state budget last year called for changes to the Family Care program and an alternative called IRIS — Include, Respect, I Self-Direct. Dane County and seven other counties that haven’t switched to Family Care will have to adopt it. The changes, expected to begin next year, are designed to keep spending in check for a population that makes up 20 percent of Medicaid enrollment but 40 percent of the Medicaid budget, with long-term care expected to cost $3.4 billion this year, officials said. The agencies running the new program, some of which could be from out of state, may eliminate many current providers. Public hearings will be held Monday in Eau Claire and Madison.
For the article from the Wisconsin State Journal, click here.
