– Letter to the Editor –

I am a nurse and have seen healthcare needs across the lifespan, from babies to seniors, children, folks with disabilities and veterans. It is critically important ALL of us have healthcare.

Wisconsin is one of several states, who still has not accepted federal funding for nearly 90,000 of our families. Those in need include family members, people living in our communities, who may have a disability, a medically fragile health condition, have fallen on hard times or have positions that do not pay living wages, nor offer affordable health insurance benefits.

The Kaiser Family Foundation (with over 600 studies) researched Badger Care expansion outcomes and found: • Expansion has improved overall mortality (death) rates, with different types of cancer, heart and liver disease, decreased maternal death rates, and improved access for mental healthcare and substance use disorders.

• The American Cancer Society’s poll indicated seven in 10 Wisconsinites, want to see Badger Care expanded.

• Badger Care is critical in the fight against cancer for prevention, early detection, treatment and survivorship care services. Over 37,300 people will be diagnosed with cancer this year, in Wisconsin.

How can healthcare providers at all levels (EMTs, nurse practitioners, physicians, physician assistants, nurses, nursing assistants, etc.) provide needed healthcare services, including prevention, emergency, acute, trauma, women’s health, newborn, hospice, geriatric, prenatal, teen/children and infant health, chronic disease, mental health and more, if all families in Wisconsin, do not have a fair opportunity to access healthcare?

Don’t let rhetoric or politics divide us from caring about one another. Check in with your policy makers at https://legis.wisconsin.gov/ or call 800-362-9472. Call 608-266-1212, and tell them to hold firm on keeping Badger Care expansion funding in the budget!

Pamela Guthman, Holcombe