The Sconi

Medicaid is front and center of Sen. Tammy Baldwin’s (D-WI) agenda as she pushes for its federal expansion so that 90,000 Wisconsinites that don’t currently qualify, can finally take advantage of the program. 

Baldwin is co-sponsoring the bill with Sens. Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and named it the Medicaid Saves Lives Act. 

“Thanks to @healthywomenWI for supporting the Medicaid Saves Lives Act and my efforts to make sure Senate budget legislation includes an expansion of quality, affordable health care for working families in Wisconsin,” Baldwin said in a July 16 tweet. 

UpNorthNewsWI said Baldwin turned to a federal health care act after not being able to get very low income Wisconsin residents into the existing state medical program BadgerCare. 

“Since Republicans in the state Legislature have made it clear that they have no interest in allowing these very low-income workers to get on the BadgerCare program, we are creating a federal alternative,” Baldwin said, UpNorthNewsWI reported.

The push to expand the Medicaid program at the federal level is proposed as a part of the $3.5 trillion budget being put together currently, the Journal Sentinel reported.

“I am working with my Senate colleagues to make sure we open the door to quality, affordable health care coverage for those who have been shut out by the Republican-controlled legislature in Wisconsin and our budget legislation will include a federal investment to help close this coverage gap," Baldwin said, according to the Journal Sentinel. 

Journal Sentinel reported that while there are financial incentives for states who expand Medicaid, Wisconsin is the only state who has partially expanded, not hitting the 138% mark that would give them the incentive money.

UpNorthNewsWI reports that over 160 Wisconsin organizations support the bill.