DOCTOR URGES SUPPORT OF MEDICAID FUNDING

As a family physician, I am deeply concerned about potential changes to Medicaid funding

and coverage. Medicaid is a lifeline to affordable, accessible health care for millions of low-

income individuals and families, including many of my patients.

I work at the Menominee Tribal Clinic, an IHS supported but independently-run Native owned

by the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin.  Most of our patients qualify for and have

Medicaid (BadgerCare) insurance for their healthcare needs, including working families,

pregnant women, and nearly our entire pediatric population.  If the Medicaid budget is

slashed, my patients-- and my entire clinic-- will be devastatingly affected.  

Regarding health outcomes, Native patients are already marginalized.  The Menominee

Reservation / County is our state’s poorest with the worst state health outcomes (#72 of 72

counties) for the past two decades.  Nationally, Native people’s life expediencies are nearly

one decade less than a white person’s.  In Wisconsin, Native patients’ maternal morbidity and

mortality is two and a half times higher than a white pregnant patient’s.  As a member of

Wisconsin’s Maternal Mortality Review Team, we discuss these disparities at nearly every

meeting. Unfortunately, those disparities will only widen with removing their access to

healthcare.

Again, cutting Medicaid is not a viable option.  We are talking about people's health and

literally their lives. Cuts would hurt Wisconsinites in every corner of our state--urban and rural,

Republican and Democrat, young and old. Local hospitals could close. Seniors could be

evicted from nursing homes. Children with disabilities could be put on wait lists for lifesaving

services.

Please reach out to your representatives and urge them to protect Medicaid funding.

Dr. Heather Nennig