State Medicaid Program Projected to End Current Budget Cycle with $414.5 Million Surplus

In their required report to the Legislature on the overall condition of the Medicaid program budget, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) said the Wisconsin Medicaid program is expected to end the 2021-23 budget cycle with a surplus of $414.5 million in state finding. 

The department cited the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) as a contributing factor to the surplus. The federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act passed in 2022 added 6.2 percentage points to the federal Medicaid match as long as the PHE remains in place.

Earlier this month, the Biden Administration and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced it has extended the COVID-19 PHE through October 13, 2022. The PHE provides special access to health insurance and offers key flexibilities on telehealth and reporting deadlines. The Biden Administration has long agreed to give 60 days’ notice warning if the PHE will not be extended again.

CLICK HERE to read the entire DHS report.