Dunn County Supervisors support expanded Medicaid, crisis support

The Dunn County Board of Supervisors has passed two resolutions asking the state to provide additional resources for residents who are not getting the medical care or mental health and crisis services they need.

One resolution calls on the state of Wisconsin to tap into the federal Affordable Care Act to expand Medicaid coverage in the state. The board, at its October meeting, also supported increased state funding for medical assistance and Community Support Programs.

“The board recognized that we have many residents who are not getting the medical care or mental health and crisis services that they need,” said Paula Winter, Director of Human Services for Dunn County.  “The board is asking the state to provide adequate resources so our constituents can obtain these essential services.”

Under the Affordable Care Act, states can expand the number of people covered under Medicaid in exchange for increased federal matching funds, but, as the resolution stated, “historically the State of Wisconsin has declined Medicaid expansion funds.”

If Medicaid were expanded in Wisconsin, the resolution said, more than 700 additional county residents would qualify for Medicaid; statewide, some 90,000 additional individuals would qualify for Medicaid if the state participated in the expanded federal program.  Health care officials have indicated that providing unreimbursed care for those who fall short of qualifying for Medicaid drives up costs for everyone and could factor in the closing of health care facilities.

Studies have shown that participating in Medicaid expansion programs “reduced disease-related mortality among older adults” and encourages better participation in preventative care and compliance with medication, the resolution added.

The resolution asks the Wisconsin Counties Association to support the expansion of Medicaid as the state develops its 2025-27 state budget.

The board also requested that Wisconsin increase funding in the 2025-27 state budget to provide expanded Medical Assistance for Community Support Programming and Crisis Intervention services.

Counties are required to provide crisis intervention services, including emergency mental health services for persons in crisis situations. Community Support Programs offer community-based care for adults whose mental illness and functional limitations might otherwise require them to be institutionalized. Officials also said the expansion of Medical Assistance could save property tax dollars and allow more people to receive treatment.

The closure of the HSHS hospitals in Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls, as well as the Prevea Clinics, has affected the ability of county residents to access mental health services, the resolution said, and counties must bear a disproportionate share of the costs of both the Community Support Programming and Crisis Intervention services.  State-imposed levy limits make it difficult for counties to maintain these mandated services, the resolution said.

The resolution concluded: “the Dunn County Board of Supervisors does hereby request that the state of Wisconsin, in its 2025-27 state biennial budget, provide state GPR funding to cover the full non-federal share of MA CSP and Crisis services.”