Public Policy Forum receives grant to study Milwaukee County’s General Assistance Medical Program (GAMP)

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Public Policy Forum receives grant= to study Milwaukee County’s General Assistance Medical Program (GAMP)

Foundation provides study funding as program faces scrutiny

MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin – June 15, 2005 – The Public Policy Forum has been awarded a grant it so= ught from The Faye McBeath Foundation to do an impartial examination of Milwaukee County’s General Assistance Medical Program (GAMP), which is facing scrutiny because of budget considerations.

“Milwaukee County’s policymakers need accurate and timely information about the program as they approach critical budgetary decisions,” says Jeffrey C. Browne, Forum president. “We want to = answer the question: What has to happen for Milwaukee County to adequatel= y meet the needs of GAMP’s eligible population?”

Milwaukee County residents = are eligible for GAMP if they have lived in the county for the past 60 days, are not entitled to any third party public or private insurance, possess a verifiable Social Security number, and fall within established income guidelines. Once approved, GA= MP enrollees are covered for six months, after which their continuing eligibil= ity is reevaluated.

Since the closing of the Doyne Hospital in 1995, GAMP has shifted to a community care approach, involving 15 clinics located primarily within the city of Milwaukee. GAMP clients are assigned to a cli= nic, with the intent of GAMP participants seeking preventive care and routine medical needs at the clinic rather than over-utilizing hospital emergency r= ooms for non-life-threatening accidents or illnesses.

“About two-thirds of = GAMP recipients are employed in low-wage positions, with racial/ethnic minority groups disproportionately represented,” says Kate Ksobiech, Ph.D., the study’s lead researcher, an expert on urban health issues. “We want to make sure, on be= half of GAMP participants and county residents, that a thorough and nonpartisan assessment of the program is made.”

The study will be completed= by September 1, 2005 to allow time for Milwaukee County’s budg= et office, along with County Executive Scott Walker and the county board, to review the results and make the appropriate policy decisions.

Milwaukee County’s Health Policy Task Force also is doing an evaluation of the program.

Milwaukee-based Public Poli= cy Forum – which was established in 1913 as a local government watchdog –= ; is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the effectiven= ess of government and the development of southeastern Wisconsin through objective research of regional public policy issues.

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