Committee to Protect Health Care: On Halloween, Wisconsin doctors share why Republican lawmakers’ reproductive health care policies scare them

MADISON — Today, Halloween, physicians from across Wisconsin gathered virtually to share why the reproductive health care policies of the Wisconsin Legislature, led by Republicans in both chambers, are frightening to them. They discussed Republican leaders’ failure to repeal the 1849 abortion ban still on the books, refusal to pass postpartum Medicaid expansion, blocking of legislation to protect contraception access, and more.

“Republicans’ refusal to protect our patients’ freedom to make private medical decisions, such as whether to have an abortion, should send a chill down the spine of every Wisconsinite,” said Dr. Melissa Hidde, a Green Bay family physician. “While Republicans left important bills for dead, such as bills to expand BadgerCare and offer paid family and medical leave, the one proposal they had no trouble reanimating like Frankenstein’s monster was one that could potentially endanger lives: they nearly passed a ballot referendum that would ban abortions after 14 weeks. By refusing not just to protect access to abortion, but trying to restrict it even further, Wisconsin’s Republican politicians are putting lives at risk – and that’s genuinely frightening to those of us working in health care.”

“Republican leaders continued to refuse to repeal the 1849 abortion ban that is still on Wisconsin’s books, even though they had two years to do so,” said Dr. Jennifer Mackinnon, a Milwaukee internal medicine physician. “At the same time, they refused to take action to protect the health of moms and families after babies are born. When given the choice to act on expanding BadgerCare so more working Wisconsinites can have health care, the Republican majority did nothing. Given the chance to support a bipartisan proposal to expand Medicaid coverage to low-income moms for up to a year postpartum, Republicans in the General Assembly acted like they saw a ghost and hid, burying the proposal so deep they couldn’t even hold a vote.”

“Again and again, Republican legislators continue to push anti-patient measures, making health care less accessible and more costly for hardworking low-income families,” said Dr. Brady McIntosh, a Milwaukee emergency physician. “Republicans’ anti-patient, anti-health care agenda is terrifying for many of our neighbors who have to choose between paying for their prescription medication and food for their families. As physicians, we will stand up for our patients in the exam room and at the ballot box and hold Republican politicians accountable for putting people’s health and safety at risk. This Halloween, we recommend every Wisconsinite be vigilant about what their legislators do on health care – and go easy on the Twix.”

About the Committee to Protect Health Care

The Committee to Protect Health Care is a national mobilization of doctors, health care professionals, and advocates who are building a pro-patient health care majority in Congress and in states so that we can live in an America where everyone has the health care they need to thrive. To learn more: www.committeetoprotect.org