Announcements
- January 1, 2018: Waiver for former foster care youth effective
- December 29, 2017: Final waiver extension application submitted to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
- November 7, 2017: Status update for the waiver amendment.
- Frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding the BadgerCare Reform Demonstration Waiver Amendment.
Rewarding Work: BadgerCare Reform
The Department of Health Services (DHS) has launched the application process for the Section 1115 BadgerCare Reform Demonstration Waiver Amendment, which includes policy changes aimed at helping more people move from government dependence to true independence by encouraging work and providing incentives for healthy lifestyles. Amendments to the Section 1115 demonstration waiver, known as the BadgerCare Reform Demonstration Waiver, are reforms that build on Governor Scott Walker’s “Wisconsin Works for Everyone” initiative, aimed at helping more people move into employment. These reforms affect nonpregnant adults without dependent children who are mentally and physically able to work and who are receiving government-funded health care benefits. It also assists BadgerCare Plus members who are battling addiction. The reforms are based on changes in state law under 2015 Wisconsin Act 55. DHS must obtain approval from CMS before these changes can take effect.
Section 1115 demonstrations and waiver authorities in Section 1915 of the Social Security Act are vehicles states can use to test new or existing ways to deliver and pay for health care services in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Learn more about all current and concluded state programs authorized under these authorities.
Listed below are the current Section 1115 demonstration waivers with information about timelines, documents, public hearings, and how to submit comments.
Extension
DHS is adding a request to the waiver amendment to extend the current Section 1115 BadgerCare Reform Demonstration Waiver. The current waiver expires December 31, 2018, and per CMS regulations, DHS must submit an extension request one year in advance of the waiver expiration. This request does not change the waiver amendment application DHS submitted to CMS previously.
Timeline
- January 19, 2018: CMS letter of completeness
- January 12, 2018: Updated waiver extension application submitted to CMS
- January 11, 2018: Tribal consultation
- December 29, 2017: Waiver extension application submitted to CMS
- December 7, 2017: Public hearing in Green Bay
- December 5, 2017-January 5, 2018: Public comment period
- December 5, 2017:
- Draft waiver extension application published
- Public hearing in Janesville
- November 20, 2017: Public notice published
DHS Requesting Five-Year Extension for BadgerCare Reform Demonstration Waiver
- October 30, 2017: Notification to tribes
Documents
Copies of documents are posted below for you to download at no charge.
- January 19, 2018: BadgerCare Reform Demonstration Waiver Extension – Application (revised January 19, 2018) (16 MB PDF)
- January 12, 2018: BadgerCare Reform Demonstration Waiver Extension – Application (revised January 12, 2018) (16 MB, PDF)
- December 29, 2017: BadgerCare Reform Demonstration Waiver Extension – Application (16 MB, PDF)
- December 20, 2017: BadgerCare Reform Demonstration Waiver Extension – Presentation: English (PDF) | Hmong (PDF) | Spanish (PDF)
- December 5, 2017: BadgerCare Reform Demonstration Waiver Extension – Draft Application (16 MB, PDF)
- November 20, 2017:
You can request copies by contacting Al Matano at:
Division of Medicaid Services
P.O. Box 309
Madison, WI 53707-0309
Phone: 608-267-6848
Fax: 608-266-3205
Email: alfred.matano@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Public Hearings and Comments
Two public hearings were held to solicit input for the waiver extension:
Tuesday, December 5, 2017
10 a.m.–1 p.m.
Pontiac Convention Center
The Regal Room
2809 N. Pontiac Dr.
Janesville, WI 53545
Notice of Public Hearing
Watch the live webcast.
Thursday, December 7, 2017
10 a.m.–1 p.m.
Brown County Central Library
515 Pine St.
Green Bay, WI 54301
Notice of Public Hearing
Watch the live webcast.
In addition, written comments were accepted from December 5, 2017–January 5, 2018. Written comments can be sent to the Division of Medicaid Services at:
P.O. Box 309
Madison, WI 53707-0309
Fax: 608-266-1096
Email: wisconsin1115clawaiver@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Amendment
The waiver amendment was submitted to CMS on June 7, 2017. More information about the waiver amendment can be found below.
Timeline
Milestone dates of the Section 1115 BadgerCare Reform Demonstration Waiver Amendment:
- November 7, 2017: Status update for the waiver amendment
- June 15, 2017: CMS letter of completeness
- June 7, 2017: Final waiver amendment application submitted to CMS
Wisconsin Works for Everyone: DHS Submits Application to Reform BadgerCare Plus for Childless Adults
- May 1, 2017: Tribal consultation; public hearing in Milwaukee
- April 26, 2017: Public hearing in Wausau
- April 19, 2017 – May 19, 2017: Public comment period
- April 19, 2017: Draft waiver amendment application published
- April 17, 2017: Public notice published
- March 27, 2017: Notification to tribes
Documents
Copies of waiver documents are posted below for you to download at no charge:
- June 7, 2017: BadgerCare Reform Childless Adults Waiver – Waiver Amendment Final Application (PDF, 10 MB)
Section 7.2 Summary of Public Comments and Wisconsin DHS Response (pages 25-33 of the final application) (PDF)
- April 25, 2017: BadgerCare Reform Childless Adults Waiver – Presentation: English (PDF) | Hmong (PDF) | Spanish (PDF)
- April 19, 2017: BadgerCare Reform Childless Adults Waiver – Waiver Amendment Draft Application (PDF)
- April 19, 2017: BadgerCare Reform Childless Adults Waiver – Full Public Notice (PDF)
- April 17, 2017: BadgerCare Reform Childless Adults Waiver – Abbreviated Public Notice (PDF)
You can also request copies of the waiver documents by contacting Al Matano at:
Division of Medicaid Services
P.O. Box 309
Madison, WI 53707-0309
Phone: 608-267-6848
Fax: 608-266-3205
Email: alfred.matano@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Public Hearing and Comments
Two public hearings were held to solicit input on the BadgerCare Reform Demonstration Waiver Amendment:
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
11 a.m.–2 p.m.
Northcentral Technical College
Auditorium 1004
1000 W. Campus Dr.
Wausau, WI 54401
Notice of Public Hearing
Watch a recording of the live webcast.
Monday, May 1, 2017
4–7 p.m.
Milwaukee Center for Independence
MCFI Main Campus, Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Building
2020 W. Wells St.
Milwaukee, WI 53233
Notice of Public Hearing
Watch a recording of the live webcast.
In addition, written comments were accepted from April 19–May 19, 2017. Written comments were sent to the Division of Medicaid Services at:
P.O. Box 309
Madison, WI 53707-0309
Fax: 608-266-1096
Email: wisconsin1115clawaiver@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Former Foster Care Youth
Wisconsin applied for and received CMS approval for a Section 1115 demonstration waiver to continue providing Medicaid coverage to former foster care youth who were in foster care and receiving Medicaid benefits in another state when they turned 18 years old. Effective January 1, 2018, Wisconsin continues providing Medicaid coverage to former foster care youth who were in foster care in another state when they turned 18 years old. This amendment results in no eligibility or benefit changes for these individuals.
