These rule changes could be put into effect without the approval of the full Legislature. Instead, the only legislative oversight would be passive review by the Joint Committee on Finance, which is not required to hold a public hearing even in the event of an objection.

These drastic changes being rushed through the legislative process would allow unelected bureaucrats to trump the will of the Legislature and override existing statutes. In fact, a drafting note from the Legislative Reference Bureau calls the constitutionality of this provision into question. It would open the door to far-reaching changes to our state’s vital Medical Assistance programs without any public input -- all under the guise of a “budget adjustment” bill.

Further, this could severely impact the thousands of Wisconsin residents who utilize these programs -- from infants to the elderly, to individuals living with disabilities or mental illness. Through potential reductions in eligible income levels alone, the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau estimates that roughly 65,000 Wisconsinites could lose access to health care coverage.