July 3, 2025

Contact: Survival Coalition of Wisconsin Disability Organizations, Co-Chairs

Beth Swedeen, beth.swedeen@wisconsin.gov; (608) 220-2924

Patti Becker, beckerp@clanet.org; (608) 240-8503

Jason Glozier, jglozier@wcilc.org (608) 422-0525

Survival Coalition Response to Passage of Federal Budget Bill

Today, the U.S. House approved the Senate’s deeper cuts to Medicaid and SNAP by a vote of 218 to 214.

The bill rushed through the U.S. Senate without any public hearings in less than three days with parts being written and rewritten until the final hour before the floor vote. The impact of many added or changed provisions had no formal analysis before the U.S. House passed the bill less than 48 hours after receiving it from the Senate.

According to an initial estimate from the Congressional Budget Office last Saturday—which does not reflect the final language of the bill—the bill would cut Federal spending on Medicaid, Medicare, and ACA Marketplace by more than $1.1 Trillion.  More than $1 Trillion of those cuts come from Medicaid alone. At least 11.8 M people would lose health care. These numbers will increase when more detailed analysis of the final bill is done.

The bill also cuts $ 300 Billion in food assistance, taking away food from an estimated 5 Million people. 45% of Wisconsin SNAP participants are people with disabilities. Two-thirds of the people who use SNAP/Foodshare in Wisconsin are also Medicaid participants.

“These cuts will be detrimental to the ability of states to meet their obligations under the Olmstead Act, and will cause an increase in unnecessary and costly institutionalizations.” Says Jason Glozier. 

 States are unlikely to be able to pay a lot more to keep their Medicaid programs the same. States can change who can or can’t get into Medicaid (and also make eligible people wait to get in), choose to pay small businesses who provide health or long term care less, or reduce their spending on optional services.

Home and Community Based Services (HCBS)–Family Care, IRIS, CLTS–are optional services states do not have to do and they represent 50% of the optional Medicaid service spending. 86% of Medicaid optional service spending is for people with disabilities and older adults. Cuts that impact optional services will impact people with disabilities.

States are unlikely to be able to pay a lot more to keep their Medicaid programs the same. States can change who can or can’t get into Medicaid (and also make eligible people wait to get in), choose to pay small businesses who provide health or long term care less, or reduce their spending on optional services.

Home and Community Based Services (HCBS)–Family Care, IRIS, CLTS–are optional services states do not have to do and they represent 50% of the optional Medicaid service spending. 86% of Medicaid optional service spending is for people with disabilities and older adults. Cuts that impact optional services will impact people with disabilities. (PDF)

July 1, 2025 
Contacts:  Beth Swedeen, beth.swedeen@wisconsin.gov; (608) 220-2924;  Patti Becker, beckerp@clanet.org (608) 240-8503 
Jason Glozier, jglozier@wcilc.org; (608) 422-0525 

Survival Coalition Statement on Senate Passage of Reconciliation Bill Survival Coalition of more than 20 statewide disability organizations issued this statement today in response to the Senate’s passage of a budget reconciliation bill that cuts over $1 trillion in Medicaid and $300 billion in SNAP food assistance in the next decade.  “People with disabilities, their families who provide care, and countless locall businesses that support people with disabilities in their homes and communities have been clear for months that the proposed budget bill will create direct harm. They have been tireless in efforts to educate policymakers on the value and benefit of Medicaid as a cost effective, efficient way to keep people healthy, safe, and connected to their communities and out of costly hospitals and institutions.  Today’s passage of a Senate bill that includes even deeper cuts than the House version feels like an attack on the lives and well-being of Wisconsin’s disability and aging communities. Survival Coalition continues to welcome opportunities to sit down with policymakers on ideas to improve public programs to ensure both quality and cost effectiveness. Today’s vote for steep cuts was not the way. People with disabilities, older adults, their caregivers, families and communities will pay the price.”  

To recap the Senate bill, it would cut more than $1.1 trillion from Medicaid, Medicare and the ACA: all programs that people with disabilities and who are aging need each day.  The bill also cuts 30% or $300 billion from food assistance. More than 45% of Wisconsin’s SNAP participants are people with disabilities.  PDF document

The federal Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a “direct final rule” that will eliminate a long-standing requirement of Section 504 requiring new buildings constructed with federal funds to be accessible to people with disabilities. The Department now calls this rule “unnecessary” and burdensome.” Removing this rule would: 
• Eliminate enforceable accessibility standards for new federally funded buildings.

• Allow renovations that leave out ramps, elevators, accessible restrooms, and more.

• Undermine the civil rights protections of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

According to www.Regulations.gov, the final rule will be effective on July 15 of this year unless significant comments opposing the change are received by this coming Sunday, June 15.

Click both links below and leave a public comment on each (your comments can be the same).

Docket #1 – Go to DOE-HQ-2025-0015 and click “Comment”: https://bit.ly/4kuX2R2

Docket #2 – Go to DOE-HQ-2025-0024 and click “Comment” : https://bit.ly/4mGKgjY

Your comments do not need to be long: You can simply say you oppose the elimination or weakening of the long-standing requirement of Section 504 which requires new buildings constructed with federal funds to be accessible to people with disabilities. You can also share why you oppose the proposal.

Please share widely in your networks.