ABC and Health News from 2025
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Published: Dec. 10
Hospitals Should Help: Medical Debt Worsens in Tri-County
Medical debt is crushing patients in Winnebago, Calumet, and Outagamie Counties (the Tri-County region of Wisconsin), and is getting worse. That’s according to a new report issued by public interest law firm ABC for Health, Inc. that draws on hospital uncompensated care data that evaluates bad debt and charity care (also called financial assistance or community care), medical debt collections and legal actions, and the agency’s own experience working with thousands of low-income patients over the past several decades.
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Published: Nov. 6
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Published: Oct. 31
Medical Debt is Crushing Wisconsin Patients
Uncompensated care in Wisconsin hospitals skyrocketed to $1.8 billion in 2024, a 28.6% increase over 2023 and the largest increase in decades. The Wisconsin Hospital Association released the latest “Uncompensated Health Care Report, Wisconsin Hospitals Fiscal Year 2024.” The report identifies a dramatic increase in overall hospital uncompensated care, a measure that combines both charity care and bad debt totals. In 2023, uncompensated care totaled $1.4 billion. Bad debt for Wisconsin hospitals jumped by over 32% compared to 2023. Charity care services provided increased more than 28% over 2023.
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Published: Oct. 29
With premiums expected to rise, here’s how to prepare for ACA open enrollment
Open enrollment runs from from Saturday, Nov. 1 to Dec. 15. A Wisconsin insurance expert says it may be wise to wait until the end of that window before picking a plan.
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Published: Aug. 28
After years of growth, advocates fear Affordable Care Act is going backward
The Affordable Care Act has expanded the number of people with access to health insurance and health care, but advocates say changes being made since President Donald Trump took office could lead people to lose access.
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Published: Jun. 25
WisTAF Annual Report
This page is no longer available
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Published: Jun. 11
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Published: Jun. 2
How to avoid sketchy health care plans, according to a Wisconsin public interest attorney
People in Wisconsin and across the country are facing a new challenge when searching for health care coverage: a bombardment of telemarketers trying to sell them unregulated coverage, according to Bloomberg.
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Published: May. 29
Amid potential cuts, push for Medicaid expansion in Wisconsin continues - Wisconsin Health News
Democrats and health access advocates have long pushed for Medicaid expansion, a move that would bring in billions in additional federal dollars for Wisconsin and allow BadgerCare Plus to cover tens of thousands more. Republicans oppose it.
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Published: May. 28
U.S. House tax cut bill would check Medicaid qualifications every 6 months
Among changes to Medicaid tucked in the federal reconciliation bill that passed the U.S. House last week is one that requires participants in the state-federal health plan for the poor to prove they’re eligible every six months.
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Published: May. 23
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Published: May. 15
Wisconsin advocates worry federal plan to increase Medicaid paperwork will lead to lost coverage
Wisconsin health advocates say proposed administrative changes to Medicaid will likely lead to fewer people maintaining health coverage and higher costs for the state.
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Published: May. 14
Medicaid Symposium in Appleton Addresses Access to Coverage
ABC for Health will review potential threats to Medicaid & BadgerCare Plus, health coverage programs relied on by almost 1 in every 5 people in Wisconsin. Recent executive orders, budget frameworks, and proposed rules could reduce access to care, increased medical debt, uncompensated care, and worsened health.
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Published: May. 7
Final Order 24-05: Public Interest Legal Services Fund Annual Assessment
The Petitioners request an increase to a $75 annual assessment, beginning on July 1, 2025, and then to $100, beginning July 1, 2027.
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Published: Apr. 11
Bobby Peterson on Medicaid funding and budgeting blueprints
ABC for Health Executive Director Bobby Peterson discusses fears about Congress making cuts to Medicaid and potential effects on recipients as the 2025-27 state budget process proceeds in Wisconsin.
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Published: Apr. 3
Evers budget proposal would end clawback of Medicaid birth costs statewide
Birth cost recovery does more harm than good, according to UW researchers
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Published: Mar. 28
UW Health accused of not meeting federal standards in report
ABC for Health, the public interest law firm, has filed a complaint with the IRS, charging a team of hospitals led by UW Health of falling short of federal standards when they filed a Community Health Needs Assessment required of health nonprofits under federal law.
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Published: Mar. 27
Madison hospitals are ignoring medical debt problem, advocate says
Dane County hospitals didn’t address needs of low-income patients at risk for medical debt in a community needs assessment, as required by law, ABC for Health alleges in a complaint.
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Published: Mar. 27
Community Symposium Addresses State and Local Access to Coverage Needs for Patients
A Medical Debt Symposium will convene in Madison on Thursday March 27, 2025, running from 8:30am-noon at the Madison Public Library (Central Branch). The Symposium will spotlight access to health coverage and care research, policy, and direct client work of nonprofit, public interest law firm ABC for Health, and its education, policy, and outreach subsidiary HealthWatch Wisconsin.
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Published: Mar. 25
Medicaid Threats & Medical Debt Symposium
Medical debt is a public health crisis in Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin, and across the country. Bobby Peterson, Public Interest Attorney and Executive Director of ABC for Health, Inc. says the Symposium will start with a presentation on emerging threats to Medicaid & BadgerCare Plus, health coverage programs relied on by almost 1 in every 5 people in Wisconsin. Recent executive orders, budget proposals, and proposed rules could reduce access to care, increase medical debt and uncompensated care, and worsen health.
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Published: Mar. 5
Can’t afford your prescription? You have options.
Two health care coverage experts share what people can do when they’re surprised by high prices at the pharmacy.
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Published: Jan. 14
Last day of health insurance enrollment during record-breaking year
Residents can still participate in open enrollment before midnight on Jan. 15 for coverage that will start on Feb. 1.
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Published: Jan. 10
Bobby Peterson on removing medical debt from credit reports
ABC for Health Executive Director Bobby Peterson discusses the scale of medical bills in Wisconsin and a rule by the outgoing Biden administration to block such debt from appearing on ...
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Published: Jan. 10
Medical debt proposal, Brown County jail expansion, Ice skating path
We talk with an advocate of affordable healthcare about federal proposal would prohibit medical debt from affecting credit scores. We also Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2026, Board of Regents […]