Grassroots forum in Waukesha calls attention to impacts potential Medicaid cuts could have on services for people with disabilities

WAUKESHA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Dozens of people came together Wednesday, April 23, to learn about how potential cuts to Medicaid could impact services for people with disabilities.

Last month, a leaked memo showed Congress is exploring cutting $8.8 trillion from Medicaid over the next 10 years.

The forum was hosted by a grassroots group of parents who call themselves Hands Off Medicaid. Many of them care for children who need specialized services every day.

But if the proposed cuts dismantle programs, they aren't sure where else those services would come from.

Sandra Lomeli, one of the parent leaders of Hands Off Medicaid, told the audience, "Since that resolution passed, it has caused a lot of panic among Medicaid recipients, caregivers, providers, and schools."

Jenny Neugart is a member of the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities. She told people, "Legislators need to know this is the ripple effect. You eliminate some of these programs and you're almost eliminating the disability field."

Millions of people across the country access services through Medicaid. When asked if they or someone they knew used Medicaid for services, every person attending the forum raised a hand.

The cuts are not certain yet, but there is fear and uncertainty over how people who need critical services will access them if they're cut.

Among the proposed cuts:

• A program that provides legal representation to protect civil and human rights of people with disabilities.
• State councils that promote advocacy and leadership for people with disabilities.
• University centers that conduct national disability research and education.

At the forum, parents like Donna Schlesak of Burlington talked about their concerns if the cuts go through. "Our kids and adults are going to end up homeless or without any medical care," Schlesak told us, "That they're going to end up on the streets with nowhere to go. That's my biggest [fear]."

And providers talked about how their services would be affected.

Mary Haase is the executive director of The Haase House, a Mukwonago provider that teaches life skills for people with disabilities.

Haase told us if Medicaid programs are dismantled, it could impact her staff of 14, which in turn could impact the people they serve. Haase said, "They would all reduce the time they're spending with us. So instead of making it instructional, and working toward a future goal, future progress."

All federal and state elected officials who represent the 5th Congressional district were invited to attend and hear the impacts.

Some had prior commitments, others did not respond at all.

But that didn't slow the advocates' resolve.

Hands Off Medicaid's Julie Burish said, "We have slowed this process [of cuts] down because we've been calling."

Though no state or federal lawmakers attended, the group did collect written and video testimonies to deliver to lawmakers.