As the economy continues to struggle, Milwaukee has become a poorer community with high rates of unemployed, uninsured and underinsured residents. According to the US Census Bureau, the City of Milwaukee is now the 4th poorest city in the United States.
The Milwaukee Health Care Partnership’s primary focus is medically underserved, ‘vulnerable’ Milwaukee County residents, defined to include those covered by government insurance programs and uninsured individuals with incomes below 200% of the federal poverty level.
According to the Milwaukee Health Care Partnership’s quarterly Coverage Report, over 420,000 individuals, account for about 44% of the county’s vulnerable population. Here are the statistics for Milwaukee County residents as of July, 2011:
In 2008, the first phase of a BadgerCare Plus (Medicaid) expansion plan focused on children, pregnant women and custodial parents, and resulted in over 15,000 new Milwaukee County enrollees. The health systems worked closely with the state and county to support a seamless transition for patients moving from the county’s sun-setting General Assistance Medical Program (GAMP) and into coverage under the new BadgerCare Plus for Childless Adults program. Starting in 2009, the Partnership coordinated the five health systems’ collective investment of close to $600,000 to facilitate identification, enrollment and subsidization of application fees for eligible patients, supporting the successful transition for 12,300 patients, including 5,000 new enrollees. Additionally, the health systems and local philanthropy have sustained a BadgerCare Enrollment Fee Trust Fund to assure coverage for Milwaukee County’s neediest residents.
The Partnership has also supported the development and facilitation of a community-wide Enrollment Task Force focused on outreach and enrollment/re-enrollment of qualified low-income and uninsured individuals in public and private health insurance programs. The task force is made up of over 40 participating organizations, including over 20 community-based enrollment sites.
Under the leadership of the Wisconsin Hospital Association, members of the Partnership worked in collaboration with state officials to implement a hospital assessment. Revenues from the hospital assessment were used to fund the BadgerCare Plus for Childless Adults expansion and improve Medicaid reimbursements. The coverage expansion and improved reimbursement rates help to support access for citizens living in households below 200% of the federal poverty level.