Wisconsin & Minnesota | Spring | 2010 | Health Plan Analysis

Thousands of state residents currently receiving care in Wisconsin through the state-subsidized BadgerCare Plus program could be moved into state exchanges as a part of national healthcare reform. However, Wisconsin is well equipped to handle the influx of new members due to Medicaid expansions. Minnesota and Wisconsin have taken different approaches in response to the federal requirement for establishment of new high risk pools in the state, to stand alongside existing pools. Wisconsin has informed the federal government it will operate such a pool, while Minnesota has deferred to the feds. Minnesota's high risk pool is the largest in the nation. As part of its statewide healthcare homes push, Minnesota has announced it plans to pay healthcare providers fees ranging from $10 to $60 a month for chronic-needs patients enrolled in state public programs.