County of Kenosha

COUNTY OF KENOSHA Department of Human Services LaVerne Jaros, Director John Jansen, Director Division of Aging and Disability Services Aging & Disability Resource Center Job Center/Human Services Building 8600 Sheridan Rd Suite 500 Kenosha, WI 53143-6514 Phone: (262) 605-6646 Fax (262) 605-6649 March 24, 2015 [email protected]

Dear Mental Health Advocates and Friends,

The Governor’s proposed budget imposes premiums in Badger Care for adults without children and limits enrollment to 48 months. This could end Medicaid coverage for hundreds of persons with mental illness in Kenosha County alone (as well as other low income adults), including payment for medical and dental care, psychiatry, prescriptions, counseling and comprehensive community services (CCS). His proposal would also require, subject to federal approval, screening for drugs and other risky behaviors and if positive, further premium increases.

If you are as concerned as we are, following are opportunities to make your voices heard and ask state legislators to remove the language from the budget bill that would impose a premium on Badger Care and end enrollment after 48 months. Unless legislators hear from enough people these provisions will likely pass. Attached are some discussion points about this issue but please use your own words and encourage others to tell their stories. Time is of the essence so please act quickly.

Speak at Sen Wanggaard and Rep Kerkman Listening Sessions: Thursday, March 26 Somers Town Hall (1-2pm) Kenosha County Center, Bristol (3-4pm) Pleasant Prairie Village Hall (6-7pm ) 7511 12th Street, Somers 19600 75th Street, Bristol 9915 39th Avenue, Pleasant Prairie

Speak at Rep Barca, Sen Wirch, Rep Ohnstead, Rep Mason Listening Session: Mon, March 30, 6-8 pm GTC - Racine Campus Conference Center, 1001 S. Main Street in the Great Lakes Room R116

Write/call your legislators and members of Joint Finance Committee: Contact information attached.

Write a letter to the editor: Voice of the People, Kenosha News, 5800 Seventh Avenue, Kenosha, WI 5314, or e-mail [email protected]

Sincerely,

LaVerne Jaros, Director Kenosha County Division of Aging and Disability Services