Wisconsin Congressman Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) falsely claims credit for securing $1 billion in federal Medicaid funding for Wisconsin hospitals. Despite voting for the Trump tax bill that cut Medicaid, Van Orden's social media posts boast of his role in securing the funding, which resulted from Wisconsin raising its Medicaid provider tax rate to maximize federal matching funds. This $1 billion offsets the bill's impact, which is projected to remove over 258,000 Wisconsinites from health insurance and threaten rural hospitals. Van Orden's claim is particularly noteworthy given his 2026 reelection bid in a competitive district
Rep. Derrick Van Orden's False Claim: Taking Credit for $1 Billion in Medicaid Funding Despite Voting for Trump's Tax Bill. Van Orden falsely claims credit for securing $1 billion in federal Medicaid funding for Wisconsin hospitals, despite voting for the Trump tax bill that necessitated the state's rapid budget increase. His social media posts contradict the reality that the increased state Medicaid provider tax rate was a direct response to the bill he supported, a bill projected to remove health insurance from over 258,000 Wisconsinites and threaten rural hospitals. This misleading claim comes as Van Orden faces a competitive 2026 reelection campaign
Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) falsely claims credit for a $1 billion increase in Wisconsin's Medicaid funding. His social media posts boast of his role in securing the funds, achieved by raising the state's Medicaid provider tax rate. This increase, a response to the Trump tax bill's Medicaid cuts (which Van Orden supported), allows Wisconsin to receive maximum federal matching funds. The increased tax on healthcare providers, such as hospitals, helps offset the impact of the Trump administration's cuts, preventing the loss of vital healthcare funding and protecting Wisconsin hospitals from closure. This deceptive claim comes as Van Orden faces reelection in 2026
Wisconsin secured an extra $1 billion annually in federal Medicaid funding by strategically raising its provider tax rate. This preemptive move, enacted before the Trump tax bill froze rates, ensured Wisconsin received maximum federal matching funds, preventing significant Medicaid cuts and safeguarding hospitals from the bill's negative impacts
Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) claims credit for securing $1 billion in federal Medicaid funding for Wisconsin, despite voting for the Trump tax bill that necessitated this action. This $1 billion offsets Medicaid cuts impacting over 258,000 Wisconsinites and potentially closing three rural hospitals. With his 2026 reelection considered a toss-up, Van Orden's self-congratulatory social media campaign is facing scrutiny. The Wisconsin budget increase, securing the funding, was a direct response to the Trump bill's negative impact on the state's healthcare system
Rep. Van Orden (R-Wis.) claims credit for securing $1 billion in federal funding for Wisconsin hospitals, despite voting for the Trump tax bill that necessitated the state's rapid budget passage. He criticizes a PBS report for omitting his alleged collaboration with the Wisconsin Governor to achieve this outcome
Rep. Van Orden's False Claim: Did he secure $1 billion for Wisconsin BadgerCare? He claims credit for securing $1 billion in annual funding for Wisconsin's BadgerCare Medicaid program, despite voting for the Trump tax bill that initially threatened those funds. This assertion directly contradicts Governor Evers, whom Van Orden accuses of lying about Republicans prioritizing tax cuts for the wealthy over families. The Congressman's claim is under scrutiny as his role in securing the increased funding remains unclear
Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) falsely claims credit for securing $1 billion in federal funding for Wisconsin hospitals, despite voting for the Trump tax bill that necessitated the state's budget fix. His repeated assertions, including a recent social media spat with Rep. Mark Pocan and a response to Gov. Evers, ignore his role in enacting the very legislation causing the funding shortfall. This misleading claim comes as Van Orden faces a competitive 2026 re-election campaign. The $1 billion secured offsets Medicaid cuts impacting Wisconsin healthcare, preventing potential hospital closures and preserving access to healthcare for thousands of residents
Rep. Van Orden falsely claims credit for securing $1 billion in federal Medicaid funding for Wisconsin hospitals, despite voting for the Trump tax bill that necessitated the state's action. He insists he collaborated with Governor Evers, tweeting accusations of the governor's dishonesty and omitting his own vote in support of the bill that jeopardized Wisconsin healthcare. This claim comes as Van Orden faces a competitive 2026 reelection campaign
Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) claims credit for securing $1 billion in federal Medicaid funding for Wisconsin hospitals, despite voting for the Trump tax bill that necessitated this action. He repeatedly shares a letter to Governor Evers, urging swift budget passage to prevent Medicaid cuts. Van Orden asserts this letter proves his instrumental role in the state legislature's expedited budget approval, a claim disputed by reports highlighting the bill's negative impact on Wisconsin healthcare. This self-promotion comes as his 2026 reelection campaign faces uncertainty
Rep. Derrick Van Orden's claim of securing $1 billion in Medicaid funding for Wisconsin hospitals is false. A spokesperson for Governor Evers confirmed Van Orden played no part in the budget negotiations or the efforts to offset Medicaid cuts resulting from the Trump tax bill, which Van Orden himself voted for. His repeated social media claims are contradicted by the facts
Rep. Van Orden's claim of securing $1 billion in Wisconsin hospital funding is refuted. Governor Evers' spokesperson confirms Van Orden played no role in budget negotiations or the decision to include the hospital assessment provision, which secured the crucial $1 billion in federal Medicaid funding. His involvement only surfaced after the budget's passage, contradicting his public statements
Congressman Van Orden claims credit for securing $1 billion in Medicaid funding for Wisconsin hospitals, despite voting for the Trump tax bill that slashed Medicaid and risked healthcare access for 250,000 Wisconsinites. His claim contradicts his vote to gut Medicaid, raising questions about his commitment to protecting Wisconsin healthcare
Wisconsin Rep. Van Orden's claim of securing $1 billion in Medicaid funding is misleading. While Governor Evers collaborated with Wisconsin's Democratic congressional delegation for months to mitigate the impact of Trump's tax bill on hospital payments, Van Orden only contacted Evers' office after a bipartisan state budget agreement was reached, securing the crucial increase in the Medicaid provider tax rate and resulting $1 billion in federal funds
Congressman Van Orden's claim of securing $1 billion in federal Medicaid funding for Wisconsin hospitals is misleading. While the state budget's increase in the Medicaid provider tax rate did secure the additional funding to offset Trump's tax bill cuts, Van Orden's involvement was merely informing state officials of a pre-existing plan. This contradicts his public statements taking credit for the crucial budget passage, which secured $1 billion annually for Wisconsin hospitals and prevented potential closures
Cudaback took a shot at the GOP lawmaker for, she said, pretending to care about protecting people’s health care after voting to kick so many people off of it.
“Put simply, if Congressman Van Orden wanted to take credit for supporting Medicaid and protecting Wisconsinites’ access to healthcare, perhaps he shouldn’t have voted to gut Medicaid and kick 250,000 Wisconsinites off their healthcare,” she said.
Cudaback later called Van Orden out directly on social media, too. “Not true,” she wrote in response to a post by Van Orden claiming Evers had secured the $1 billion “because I told him if he did not get it done, we would miss the once in a generation opportunity.”
In a brief statement, Van Orden told HuffPost that it’s clear he was key to the Wisconsin governor and state legislature moving quickly to pass their budget because of the time Evers signed it into law.
“The only reason Tony signed the bill at 1:30 in the morning was to make the deadline I spoke and wrote to him about,” he said Tuesday. “Period. Do that math.”
Pocan was still mocking Van Orden on Monday for trying to take credit for passing a state budget bill.
“I didn’t realize he was serving in the State Legislature and Congress simultaneously,” the Wisconsin Democrat said in a statement. “The State Legislature voted to expand Medicaid’s reimbursements to the states before Derrick, Congressional Republicans, and Trump could force through their devastating reconciliation bill that will cut $1 trillion from healthcare nationwide and could shutter rural hospitals across the state.”
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“You can’t create a problem and then claim credit for someone else’s help in making it slightly less horrific,” Pocan added. “He and his Republican colleagues are the reason this legislative fix was so necessary in the first place.”
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