Evers ordered raises for direct care staff, duration unknown

(The Center Square) – Most of Wisconsin’s direct care workers are going to see their paychecks jump come October, but there are questions as to how long those bigger paychecks will last.

On Aug. 1, Gov. Tony Evers ordered the state’s Department of Health Services to use $285 million in leftover COVID-relief money to increase the minimum fee schedule for the people who take care of seniors and those with disabilities in the state.

Wisconsin Medicaid director Bill Hanna said the order is literally a lifesaver for many of Wisconsin’s long term care facilities.

“I think the importance of doing it now, is the impact is right now,” Hanna explained. “In fact, very shortly after the announcement I had a couple providers call me and say ‘We were within days of telling our board we were going to close and planning to tell our staff next week that we're going to start closing procedures. And because of this, we're going to be able to stay open.’”

Wisconsin, like almost every other state, has struggled with filling direct care jobs. Long-term care providers have also struggled with rising costs and the stagnant rate they get from the state for taking care of elderly and disabled clients.

There has been pushback from Republican lawmakers at the Wisconsin Capitol.

The worry is the $285 million in Evers’ order are one-time dollars, and care facilities need continued support.

Hanna said he doesn’t know how things will end.

“I think it really depends on the outcome of the budget process, and what specifically is passed in the budget,” Hanna added. “Is it intentional to say ‘No we don't support this, and want this funding lowered?’ Or does this just really become a part of the broader Medicaid budget? I think we won't know until we get further in that discussion about what Joint Finance is thinking about the full Medicaid budget.”

Hanna said he is a bit confident going forward because he said they are talking about $100 million going forward in a total Medicaid budget in Wisconsin that is $15 billion.