Wisconsin has received a federal grant of nearly $10 million per year that will be used to cover more adults without dependent children in the BadgerCare Plus Core Plan. The grant, which apparently will last for 5 years, buys the state a little bit of time before DHS needs to institute a waiting list for the Core Plan coverage.

From Gov. Doyle’s Sept. 4 press release on the announcement:
“Each day in Wisconsin, one of our friends, loved ones or neighbors is gambling with their health,” Governor Doyle said. “They may be sick or injured, but don’t go to a doctor because they do not have insurance. We’ve taken this issue head-on in Wisconsin to help make us a national leader on health care reform. This grant will help us continue our efforts and do what’s right for the people in our state.”

Although enrollment of childless adults started less than 2 months ago, the state has already gotten applications from more people than the funding in the budget bill will pay for. DHS Secretary Timberlake recently acknowledged that DHS will soon need to cut off enrollment in the Core Plan, but the federal grant should push that off long enough to sign up a few thousand additional people.

The Wisconsin grant is the largest of 13 announced on Sep. 3 by the U.S Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) under the State Health Access Program (SHAP). Funding for 5 years of SHAP grants was appropriated in the Omnibus Appropriations Act signed by the President in March.