Evers' Budget Pegs $150M For Mental Health, Expanding BadgerCare

MADISON, WI — Gov. Tony Evers is pledging more than $150 million in his 2021-23 budget will go toward increasing access to health care, providing more support to students dealing with mental health issues, addressing substance abuse disorders and the opioid crisis and making sure that more Wisconsin residents have access to affordable health care.

The governor’s office announced Wednesday that he will expand BadgerCare, which is aimed at providing affordable health insurance. The initiative would provide coverage to tens of thousands of residents who are currently uninsured, Evers' office announced in a news releaseon Wednesday. The proposal would also improve access to mental and behavioral health services which would also recapture billions of dollars in federal taxes paid by Wisconsin residents and would, the governor said, biennially produce an estimated $634 million in state tax dollar savings.

“Mental and behavioral healthcare is healthcare. Period. From our kids to our farmers, to veterans and those working to overcome substance use disorders, mental health support must be a priority for the health, safety, and well-being of our state,” Evers said in the release. “The COVID-19 pandemic has only further exacerbated the need for and underscored the urgency of making sure we have affordable, accessible services available to folks when they need it most, and that’s why it’s a top priority in our budget.”

In addition to the provisions to provide more health care to residents, the governor pledged to provide better access to those who live in areas where there are shortages of doctors and other medical professionals, the release said. It will also lift existing telehealth services. Evers’ Telehealth initiative keeps medical providers from denying telehealth coverage if it is covered by an individuals insurance. It also keeps telehealth providers from charging more than what the insurer would charge for what amounts to an in-person consultation.

The budget outlines more than $46 million being devoted to increasing access to healthcare through BadgerCare, more than $55 million for increasing support for students dealing with mental health issues, more than $25 million for addressing the opioid crisis and substance abuse disorders and more than $25 million for crisis intervention reform and emergency detention, the news release outlined.