The Section 1115 BadgerCare Reform Demonstration Waiver allows Wisconsin to provide Medicaid coverage for adults ages 19–64 who are not pregnant and do not have dependent children under the age of 19 living in their home. (These adults are often called "childless adults.") Below is information on the history, timeline, and submission of the waiver and waiver amendments.
Waiver Amendment for HSAs
As required by Wis. Stat. § 49.45(60), which was created by 2017 Wisconsin Act 271, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has submitted an amendment to the current Section 1115 BadgerCare Reform Demonstration Waiver to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for approval to establish and implement a savings account program for BadgerCare Plus childless adults that is similar to health savings accounts.
Timeline
- December 21, 2020: Final waiver application submitted to CMS
- November 18, 2020: Tribal consultation
- November 12, 2020: Public hearing webinar
- November 5, 2020: Public hearing webinar
- October 26–November 27, 2020: Public comment period
- October 26, 2020: Draft waiver amendment application published
- October 26, 2020: Public Notice published
- October 19, 2020: Notification to Tribes
Documents
- BadgerCare Reform Demonstration Medicaid Health Savings Account Waiver Amendment – Final Application (PDF)
- BadgerCare Reform Demonstration Medicaid Health Savings Account Waiver Amendment – Abbreviated Public Notice (PDF)
- BadgerCare Reform Demonstration Medicaid Health Savings Account Waiver Amendment – Full Public Notice (PDF)
- BadgerCare Reform Demonstration Medicaid Health Savings Account Waiver Amendment – Draft Application (PDF)
- BadgerCare Reform Demonstration Medicaid Health Savings Account Waiver Amendment – Public Hearings Presentation: English (PDF) | Hmong (PDF) | Spanish (PDF)
Public Hearings and Comments
All public comments are included in the waiver request submitted to CMS.
Public Hearings
Two public hearings were held to solicit comments on the waiver amendment for health savings accounts. Due to the public health emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic, DHS conducted webinars in place of in-person hearings.
- November 12, 2020: Watch a recording of the hearing (includes sign language)
- November 5, 2020: Watch a recording of the hearing
Written Comments
Written comments were accepted from October 26 through November 27, 2020.
Current Waiver
Waiver Extension
DHS requested an extension to the Section 1115 BadgerCare Reform Demonstration Waiver on December 29, 2017. The current waiver was set to expire on December 31, 2018, and per CMS regulations, DHS must submit an extension request one year in advance of the waiver expiration. This request did not change the waiver amendment application DHS submitted to CMS on June 7, 2017.
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
- October 30, 2017: Notification to tribes
Documents
Copies of documents are available for you to download at no charge:
- January 19, 2018: BadgerCare Reform Demonstration Waiver Extension – Application (revised January 19, 2018) (PDF, 16 MB)
- January 12, 2018: BadgerCare Reform Demonstration Waiver Extension – Application (revised January 12, 2018) (PDF, 16 MB)
- 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 also request copies of the waiver documents by contacting:
Division of Medicaid Services
PO Box 309
Madison, WI 53707-0309
Phone: 608-267-6848
Fax: 608-266-3205
Public Hearings and Comments
Two public hearings were held to solicit input for the waiver extension:
Tuesday, December 5, 2017
Pontiac Convention Center
Janesville
Watch a recording of the live webcast.
Thursday, December 7, 2017
Brown County Central Library
Green Bay, WI 54301
Watch a recording of the live webcast.
In addition, written comments were accepted from December 5, 2017, through January 5, 2018.
Previous Waiver Amendment
The Section 1115 BadgerCare Reform Demonstration Waiver amendment was submitted to CMS on June 7, 2017. The amendment included a number of policy changes, many of which were included in 2015 Wisconsin Act 55. On October 31, 2018, CMS approved the Section 1115 BadgerCare Reform Demonstration Waiver amendment.
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
- 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 available for you to download at no charge:
- June 7, 2017: BadgerCare Reform Childless Adults Waiver – Waiver Amendment Final Application (PDF)
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:
Division of Medicaid Services
PO Box 309
Madison, WI 53707-0309
Phone: 608-267-6848
Fax: 608-266-3205
Public Hearing and Comments
Two public hearings were held to solicit input on the BadgerCare Reform Demonstration Waiver amendment:
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Northcentral Technical College
Wausau, WI
Notice of Public Hearing
Watch a recording of the live webcast.
Monday, May 1, 2017
Milwaukee Center for Independence
Milwaukee, WI
Notice of Public Hearing
Watch a recording of the live webcast.
In addition, written comments were accepted from April 19 through May 19, 2017.
