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Wausau alder urges Marathon County committee to press legislators to protect Medicaid funding
Summary
Sarah Watson, a Wausau city alder and NAMI Northwoods board president, told the county Health & Human Services Committee that nearly 23% of Marathon County residents rely on Medicaid and urged the committee to draft a resolution asking state and federal legislators to reject Medicaid funding cuts.
Sarah Watson, a Wausau city alder and president of NAMI Northwoods, used the public‑comment period at the Marathon County Health & Human Services Committee to urge committee members to draft a resolution asking state and federal legislators to protect Medicaid from funding cuts.
“Medicaid is not just a budget item. It's really critical resource for our community,” Watson said, adding that “nearly 23% of Marathon County residents depend on Medicaid for essential health care. That includes mental health services, long term care, and support for individuals with disabilities, older adults, and low income families.”
Watson warned that cuts to Medicaid would threaten access to care and place additional strain on local providers and emergency services, which she said are “already stretched really thin.” She also noted the economic ripple effects: Medicaid supports jobs across hospitals, mental health clinics, schools and small businesses, and reductions could lead to job losses and higher local taxpayer costs. Watson said she planned to pursue a similar resolution at the City of Wausau level and encouraged county action to complement city efforts.
Her remarks came during the meeting’s public comment segment and did not correspond to a committee vote or formal agenda item.
