Ascend Services has spoken out against Medicaid cuts in the federal budget reconciliation bill.
In a statement released this week, the local provider stated that these $715 billion in proposed cuts to the Medicaid program over the next decade threaten vital home and community-based services (HCBS) that Ascend offers.
Currently, over 80,000 Wisconsinites rely on HCBS programs which are considered optional Medicaid services.
Medicaid offers both optional services and mandatory services which include institutional care and nursing homes, however, 86% of optional services are geared toward older individuals and those with disabilities.
If these cuts go through, individuals may lose access to these vital services altogether.
Deanna Genske, Executive Director of Ascend Services, said, “Any cuts to Medicaid would have a devastating effect on the people who rely on our services, jeopardizing their well-being and quality of life…For the populations we serve, this could mean uncertainty, waitlists, and loss of access to essential care.”
