Wis. won't get $45 million from feds for Medicaid

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Scott Walker's administration has learned the state won't be getting $45 million from the federal government that it was counting on to fund heath care for the poor.

State officials expected the federal government to reimburse past medical costs that Wisconsin and other states say they improperly had to pay because of federal mistakes in disability programs. But, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius recently informed states that she doesn't have the statutory authority to make the reimbursements.

The Journal Sentinel says the Walker administration had been counting on the money to help cover about $220 million in savings it needs to find in programs that provide medical care for children and families, nursing home care for the elderly and disabled and prescription drugs for seniors.