Overshadowed in Gov. Scott Walker’s controversial budget repair bill is a provision that could lead to some 70,000 people losing health insurance.

The measure would give the state Department of Health Services the authority to restrict eligibility, modify benefits and make other changes to Medicaid with less legislative review than required now.

The proposal has drawn the criticism of health care advocates and Democratic lawmakers upset by what they see as unchecked power for the administration.

Walker spokesman Cullen Werwie said changes and flexibility are needed to plug the $1.8 billion hole in the state’s Medicaid budget over the next two years. The program, which includes BadgerCare Plus, Family Care, SeniorCare and other health plans, accounts for half of the state’s estimated $3.6 billion budget gap.

Under current rules, people earning up to twice the federal poverty level can participate in the programs. Walker’s bill would allow the state to disqualify those earning more than 133 percent of the poverty level; that includes about 63,200 parents and another 6,800 adults, according to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau.

More troubling to opponents is the process for making the rule changes.