Wisconsin Democrats won full control of state government on Election Day, with David Crowley defeating Tom Tiffany for governor and the party flipping both the state Senate and Assembly for the first time since 2010. The trifecta gives Democrats an opening to advance a backlog of priorities including expanding Medicaid eligibility under BadgerCare, which Wisconsin has not adopted despite federal incentives available under the ACA.
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who will become Wisconsin's governor in January after defeating Republican Tom Tiffany, held his first press event as governor-elect and pledged to lower costs and expand access to affordable health care and child care.
Democrat Mitchell Berman defeated Republican U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil in Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District, ending more than three decades of Republican control.
Wisconsin voters chose Tuesday between Democrat David Crowley, Milwaukee County's top elected official, and Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany to replace retiring Gov. Tony Evers. Crowley campaigned on expanding Medicaid coverage and fully funding public schools and child care, while Tiffany focused on returning the state's roughly $3 billion surplus to taxpayers through tax cuts and property tax freezes. A Crowley win would make him Wisconsin's first Black governor and extend Democratic control of the office past eight years; a Tiffany win would flip the governor's office to Republicans for the first time since 2010. The outcome matters for Medicaid stakeholders because Wisconsin is one of the remaining non-expansion states, and the governor's office shapes whether that debate advances.
Why it mattersA Crowley victory would put Wisconsin's governor's office behind Medicaid expansion for the first time since the ACA, directly affecting coverage prospects for low-income adults in one of the last holdout states.
Democratic challenger Rebecca Cooke, running against Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden in Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District, is campaigning on healthcare affordability ahead of the November 3 election. Cooke criticized Van Orden's vote for the federal reconciliation law, which she says included roughly $1 trillion in healthcare cuts and made it harder for rural hospitals, citing the closures of Sacred Heart Hospital and St. Joseph's Hospital. Van Orden defended his record by pointing to a new rural health funding program bringing $203 million annually to Wisconsin over five years. Cooke says if Democrats win the House, her priorities would include extending ACA premium tax credits, creating a public option, and expanding Medicare to cover vision, dental, and hearing.
Why it mattersThe race highlights how federal Medicaid funding reductions and rural hospital closures are becoming central midterm campaign issues shaping future congressional action on Medicaid financing.
The Wisconsin Association for Home Health Care (WiAHC) named state Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara and state Representative Clint Moses as "Champions of Home Health Care" for the 2025-2026 legislative session, citing their formal request that the Joint Finance Committee raise the home health skilled nursing Medicaid reimbursement rate from $96.96 to approximately $117.86 per visit, equal to 70 percent of the Medicare home health rate. That increase was included in the final FY2025-2027 state budget signed into law. WiAHC also designated Governor Tony Evers and state Senator Patrick Testin as "Friends of Home Health Care" for their roles in securing the rate increase, with Testin supporting it on the Joint Finance Committee and Evers signing the budget. WiAHC presented award plaques to Cabral-Guevara and Moses.
Why it mattersWisconsin home health providers could see higher per-visit Medicaid reimbursement under the newly enacted state budget rate increase.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services announced in mid-October that it is seeking applicants for four state Medicaid-related boards, committees, and councils. Openings include Medicaid members or caregivers, a long-term care direct care worker, a community outreach expert, three to four IRIS (Include, Respect, I Self-Direct) Program participants or their decision makers, three long-term care self-advocates, a long-term care expert, and two long-term care providers. Applications are available on the DHS Medicaid Boards, Committees, and Councils page, with a deadline of November 6.
Why it mattersWisconsin Medicaid members, caregivers, long-term care providers, and IRIS program participants interested in shaping state policy may want to apply before the November 6 deadline.
An episode titled "Profits over patients" explores how hospitals generate revenue and who decides which communities receive care, framed against the backdrop of federal Medicaid funding cuts. The program argues that healthcare has become a top issue for voters as a result of these cuts and examines the financial incentives shaping hospital decisions. No specific policy, rule, or legal action is detailed; the episode is a general explainer on hospital economics and community access to care. It does not specify an air date beyond its episode number or outline concrete regulatory changes.
Why it mattersHospital and health system finance leaders should track how public narratives about Medicaid cuts and hospital profit motives could shape political pressure on state funding and reimbursement decisions.
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