WMC on Health Care: The Endless Profits of the Health Insurance and Pharmaceutical Companies Are More Important Than the Health Needs of Wisconsinites

WMC Claim: "Health care costs are a significant factor in the competitiveness of Wisconsin business."

WMC Watch Reality Check: Drug and insurance companies reap record profits, and WMC opposes efforts to stop gouging by the health care industry and to provide health care for all of Wisconsin.

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WMC’s Harmful Agenda on the Health Care

Legislation Supported WMC supports putting $4.5 million towards a tax break for private health savings accounts, which do nothing reduce health care costs and overwhelmingly benefits the wealthy who can afford to set additional money aside to put into private HSAs. 2005 AB 4 WMC supports allowing mandatory overtime for health care workers. 2007 SB 512

Legislation Opposed WMC opposes universal health care for Wisconsinites. 2007 AB 94 WMC opposes a number of insurance company coverage requirements, including hearing aids and cochlear implants for children with hearing problems, 2009 AB 16, wigs for cancer patients, 2007 AB 179, and treatments for children diagnosed with Autism, 2009 AB 15. WMC opposed reducing health care costs and provides Wisconsinites will the same health care enjoyed by state legislators. 2007 SB 562 WMC opposes mental health insurance parity. 2007 SB 375

For more information about WMC's lobbying effort, click here to visit the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board's website about WMC.

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WMC's Health Care Agenda in the Media

Assembly not likely to pass autism bill
Wausau Daily Herald and Associated Press, February 27, 2008

The state Senate has passed a bill that would require health insurance companies to cover treatments for autism, but the bill appears unlikely to go any further… Opponents are calling for the state to more adequately fund its program to provide treatment instead. The Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce trade group supports an $8 million proposal to extend services to children on the waiting list, said R.J. Pirlot, its legislative relations director. WMC opposes the bill to mandate insurance companies cover autism spectrum disorders because of the costs involved. (NOTE: This legislation passed in the 2009-10 session)

Impasse likely on health-care plans
Isthmus, January 25, 2008
By Roger Bybee

The Dems say their Healthy Wisconsin plan would deliver universal-health-care coverage to Wisconsin residents while cutting costs. It's been called "the boldest and most comprehensive health reform from any state" by the Progressive States Network policy group... Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce dubs it "the largest tax increase in state history," amounting to $15 billion. Backers of Healthy Wisconsin say WMC neglects to note that this tax hike would be offset by a larger drop in insurance premiums - except for employers like Wal-Mart that currently provide insurance to only a small portion of their workforces.

Lumps of coal all around for workplace grinches
Capital Times, December 24, 2007
By Mary Conroy

Do-si-do Award : Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce and the Wisconsin Legislature. This badge recognizes the lobbying group for its amazing ability to twist the truth, and the Legislature for dancing along with them. Consider the fate of Healthy Wisconsin, which would have provided health insurance to all Wisconsin residents. WMC labeled it "the largest tax increase in Wisconsin history." WMC didn't mention that the taxes would replace employers' current group health premiums.

Big biz elite sees health care need
Capital Times, October 24, 2007

The group's subcommittee on health policy concluded that our current health care system is so broken it needs to be replaced by a universal plan. Interestingly, that plan is similar to the "Healthy Wisconsin" plan included in the Wisconsin Senate's version of the state budget several weeks ago. The GOP-controlled Assembly, cheered on by Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, succeeded in eliminating the plan, which would have covered every man, woman and child in the state. The country's corporate elite obviously recognizes the problems that our Wisconsin Republicans and the big business lobby, WMC, can't.