Post by Logan on Apr 30, 2016 11:45:26 GMT -6
State could shift care of elderly, disabled to for-profit companies
Madison — Gov. Scott Walker's administration wants to shift multibillion-dollar programs serving more than 55,000 elderly and disabled people from long-standing nonprofits to national for-profit health insurance companies.
Administration officials contend the plan, affecting the Family Care and IRIS programs, would save money for taxpayers and improve the health of patients by combining care for their long-term needs with attention to their immediate medical issues.
But skeptics like Tom Frazier, co-chairman of the Wisconsin Long-Term Care Coalition, say the state took 16 years to develop the current Family Care model and the nonprofits within it and shouldn't go too fast in overhauling it. They point out that the national insurers have sizable clout and deep political connections on their side, including a well-regarded executive at one company who is the former chief of staff to both Walker and his health secretary, Kitty Rhoades.
And they argue the state hasn't yet proved the cost savings, better health outcomes or other basic premises of the sweeping changes.
Read more: www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/state-could-shift-care-of-elderly-disabled-to-for-profit-companies-b99711873z1-377452231.html
Madison — Gov. Scott Walker's administration wants to shift multibillion-dollar programs serving more than 55,000 elderly and disabled people from long-standing nonprofits to national for-profit health insurance companies.
Administration officials contend the plan, affecting the Family Care and IRIS programs, would save money for taxpayers and improve the health of patients by combining care for their long-term needs with attention to their immediate medical issues.
But skeptics like Tom Frazier, co-chairman of the Wisconsin Long-Term Care Coalition, say the state took 16 years to develop the current Family Care model and the nonprofits within it and shouldn't go too fast in overhauling it. They point out that the national insurers have sizable clout and deep political connections on their side, including a well-regarded executive at one company who is the former chief of staff to both Walker and his health secretary, Kitty Rhoades.
And they argue the state hasn't yet proved the cost savings, better health outcomes or other basic premises of the sweeping changes.
Read more: www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/state-could-shift-care-of-elderly-disabled-to-for-profit-companies-b99711873z1-377452231.html