Medicaid Expenses for Wisconsin Likely to be Higher Than Originally Budgeted For

Thursday, January 8th, 2026 -- 10:01 AM

(Wisconsin Radio Network) Medicaid expenses for Wisconsin are likely to be higher than originally budgeted for.

According to the Wisconsin Radio Network, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services projects Medicaid general program revenue to be $213 million higher than projected when the new two-year state budget was signed last summer.

DHS Secretary Kirsten Johnson cited several reasons for the projected shortfall in a letter to co-chairs of the legislature’s Joint Finance Committee. Those include unexpected higher costs for prescription drugs, Medicare buy-in programs, and fee-for-service mental health and substance use disorder services.

DHS was projecting a $144 million shortfall in the Medicare program three months ago.

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