A decision by the State of Wisconsin to end contracts with existing BadgerCare suppliers in southeast Wisconsin was met with a great deal of resistance when the plan was announced late last year. Concerns ranged from job losses to an interruption of coverage for those currently enrolled in BadgerCare – and those concerns still have merit.
But news that the State of Wisconsin has selected the four companies responsible for managing the nearly quarter-million southeast Milwaukee residents enrolled in BadgerCare has been met with newfound concern over which company was notably left off the list.
Managed Health Services (MHS), which has provided services for the BadgerCare program for several years, was the only company not selected as a contractor during the reselection process, and that has widespread implications for the City of Milwaukee and its residents – particularly in minority areas.
MHS has been actively involved the community, providing health care services to underserved areas and promoting healthy lifestyles in the African American and Hispanic communities.
The company spearheaded a collaboration amongst HMOs in Milwaukee to purchase lead poisoning testing equipment, and has helped test hundreds of children this year alone. They were a major sponsor of Child Health Week and the Back to School Health and Resource fairs, providing staff volunteers to answer health-related questions and $25,000 in funding for school supplies and backpacks for attendees.
They’ve partnered with Parklawn Community of God and United Community Center to provide a combined $40,000 to support the groups’ respective fi tness center to combat the obesity epidemic among minorities, and have sponsored little leagues and after school programs to promote an active lifestyle in children.
And MHS has helped schedule hundreds of health and dental checkups through their community outreach staff, and has participated in over 25 health fairs in 2009 alone.
These are vital public services for Milwaukee. To lose MHS as a BadgerCare provider would mean the loss of a great deal of essential community programs and sponsorships that have done a lot of good in the city.
To make matters worse, one of the companies selected for BadgerCare, Abri Health Plan, won’t be a Wisconsin company for much longer. They’re being purchased by Molina Healthcare, which is based in California.
There’s no reason why MHS shouldn’t be allowed to continue to operate as a BadgerCare provider, and their services are desperately needed in Milwaukee. Governor Doyle and Department of Health Services Secretary Karen Timberlake should reexamine the contracts that were awarded, and do what’s in the best interest of Milwaukee residents.
