Madison Reporter

Following Governor Evers' recent budget address, concerns have been raised about the potential impact on health care costs in Wisconsin. Rachel Ver Velde, Associate Vice President of Government Relations and Senior Political Advisor at Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC), expressed apprehension regarding the proposed changes.

Ver Velde stated, "As Wisconsin faces the fourth highest hospital costs in the country, making us an outlier in the Midwest, employers and consumers are increasingly concerned about affordability." She emphasized that the proposed budget might exacerbate these issues by removing tools that help employers manage expenses. The plan is said to introduce costly government mandates for coverage, restrict payers from preventing unnecessary or harmful care, and weaken consumer choice in health care.

According to Ver Velde, these changes could further increase costs, rendering Wisconsin's health care system even less affordable. She highlighted that "Wisconsin employers support meaningful reforms that promote pricing transparency and empower patients to make informed choices – without government mandates that increase costs."

WMC is urging lawmakers to dismiss these proposals and work alongside employers to find effective solutions for controlling health care expenses and enhancing affordability for both businesses and employees.