U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden claims credit amid medicaid cuts in Wisconsin

Key Points

• U.S.
  Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) is under fire for claiming credit for $1
  billion in Medicaid funding for Wisconsin after voting for federal
  legislation that slashed Medicaid and put rural hospitals at risk.
• Van
  Orden’s public statements and social media posts have been widely
  criticized by political opponents, media outlets, and advocacy groups for
  being misleading and inaccurate.
• Wisconsin
  Governor Tony Evers and state legislators acted swiftly to adjust the
  state’s Medicaid provider tax, securing additional federal funds to offset
  cuts—an effort Van Orden claims to have influenced, despite evidence to
  the contrary.
• The
  Trump administration’s tax and spending bill, supported by Van Orden, is
  projected to cause tens of thousands of Wisconsinites to lose Medicaid
  coverage and threatens the viability of rural hospitals.
• Van
  Orden has opposed Medicaid expansion and advocated for repealing the
  Affordable Care Act, positions that have drawn criticism as hospital
  closures and health care access issues worsen in western Wisconsin.
• The
  Congressman introduced the Rural Healthcare Revitalization Act of 2024 and
  has called for state and federal resources to address recent hospital
  closures, while critics argue these efforts do not compensate for the
  damage caused by his votes.
• Van
  Orden’s statements have been challenged by Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), the
  Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), and multiple media
  outlets, with accusations of dishonesty and political opportunism.
• The
  controversy has become a focal point in Wisconsin’s political landscape,
  with implications for the 2026 congressional elections.

In a controversy that has rocked Wisconsin’s political
landscape, U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden finds himself at the center of a
firestorm after claiming credit for securing $1 billion in Medicaid funding for
the state—a move critics say is misleading, given his voting record on health
care. The dispute has sparked heated exchanges between Van Orden, state
officials, and advocacy groups, raising questions about the future of health
care access for tens of thousands of Wisconsinites.

What Did Derrick Van Orden Claim About Medicaid Funding in
Wisconsin?

As reported by Lawrence Andrea of the Milwaukee
Journal Sentinel, Rep. Derrick Van Orden took a “victory lap” on social
media, posting repeatedly that he “helped secure” $1 billion a year in Medicaid
funding for Wisconsin. Van Orden suggested that Democratic Governor Tony Evers
signed the state budget in a late-night session “because I asked him
personally”.

Van Orden’s claims were echoed in more than a dozen social
media posts, where he asserted his role in protecting Wisconsin’s hospitals
from the fallout of federal Medicaid cuts. In one post, Van Orden accused
Governor Evers of telling “a flat out lie” about Republicans in Congress
selling out families to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy, insisting, “We just
got $1,000,000,000 annually for BadgerCare,” referring to the state’s Medicaid
program.

How Did State Officials and Media Respond to Van Orden’s
Statements?

According to Lawrence Andrea of the Milwaukee
Journal Sentinel, Van Orden’s statements were met with immediate pushback.
Governor Evers and state legislators had, in fact, acted independently to
increase the state’s Medicaid provider tax rate—a move necessary to secure
additional federal funding before the Donald Trump administration’s tax law froze
provider tax rates at their existing levels.

As reported by HuffPost’s Arthur Delaney, Van
Orden’s efforts to take credit for the $1 billion were described as “bizarre,”
with the article emphasizing that the Congressman had voted for the very bill
that made the emergency state action necessary. Delaney noted that in Wisconsin
alone, the Trump-backed law is estimated to kick more than 258,000 people off
their health insurance and put at least three rural hospitals at risk of
closing.

What Are the Details of the Federal Legislation Supported by
Van Orden?

As covered by Wisconsin Public Radio and
summarized by the DCCC, Van Orden voted for the so-called “One Big Beautiful
Bill Act,” President Donald Trump’s signature tax and spending bill. Both the US House and Senate versions of this bill include steep cuts to Medicaid, which
could result in tens of thousands of Wisconsinites losing health coverage and
further threaten the survival of rural hospitals.

The American Hospital Association estimates that more than
30,000 people in rural Wisconsin could lose Medicaid coverage by 2034, with
significant funding losses for the state’s rural hospitals.

How Did Advocacy Groups and Political Opponents React?

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and
its spokesperson, Katie Smith, have been especially vocal in their criticism.
As reported by the DCCC and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Smith
stated:

“Derrick Van Orden is lying because he cannot defend his
vote to cut Medicaid, rip away funding for Wisconsin’s hospitals, kick
Wisconsinites off their health care, and raise their costs. Wisconsinites see
through the bullshit and will reject Van Orden next November”.

Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) also challenged Van Orden’s
narrative, highlighting that the Congressman’s claims of securing funds were
“nonsense” and that the real credit belonged to Governor Evers and the state
legislature for acting quickly to protect Wisconsin’s hospitals.

What Has Van Orden Said in His Defense?

In his own press releases and public statements, Rep. Van
Orden has maintained that he is working to address the health care crisis in
rural Wisconsin. Following the closure of several hospitals and clinics in
western Wisconsin, Van Orden sent a letter to Governor Evers urging him to
utilize all available state and federal resources to provide medical care
alternatives.

Van Orden stated in his letter, as published on his official
House website:

“Rural communities, like those in the Third Congressional
District, are continuously left on the sidelines when it comes to accessible
healthcare, and these hospital closures will only make it more difficult for
Wisconsinites to get the medical care they need… I will do everything in my
capacity as the Congressional Representative of my constituents to ensure rural
Wisconsin is not forgotten and people have access to care. I hope you will join
me and work in close coordination in doing so”.

He also introduced the Rural Healthcare Revitalization Act
of 2024, which would allow states to request waivers to establish new medical
facilities in regions affected by hospital closures. Van Orden emphasized his
commitment to ensuring rural residents have access to quality medical care.

What Are the Criticisms of Van Orden’s Broader Health Care
Record?

As reported by the Wisconsin Democratic Party and
detailed in a DCCC research book, Van Orden has a long record of opposing
Medicaid expansion and advocating for the full repeal of the Affordable Care
Act (ACA). Critics argue that these positions threaten affordable health
insurance coverage for hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites, particularly as
hospital closures and health care access issues mount in rural areas.

Van Orden’s opposition to Medicaid expansion is especially
controversial, as data shows that Medicaid expansion states are less likely to
experience rural hospital closures. Despite this, Van Orden has said, “throwing
more money on a sinking ship is not the right answer,” regarding Medicaid
expansion.

How Have Local Residents and Medicaid Recipients Reacted?

Local media, including WQOW and HuffPost, have
reported on the concerns of Medicaid recipients in Wisconsin’s Third District.
Residents have raised fears about the potential loss of coverage for vulnerable
populations, including people with disabilities who rely on Medicaid for
essential care. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the bill Van
Orden supported could eliminate coverage for about 13.7 million people
nationwide.

What Is the Broader Political Impact of the Controversy?

The controversy surrounding Van Orden’s statements and
voting record has become a major issue in Wisconsin politics. With the 2026
congressional elections approaching, political analysts and advocacy groups are
watching closely to see how the issue will influence voter sentiment in the
state’s competitive Third District.

What Has the National Media Reported About Van Orden’s
Conduct?

National outlets such as Rolling Stone and HuffPost have
covered Van Orden’s celebration of the Medicaid cuts, with Rolling
Stone highlighting a now-deleted post in which Van Orden shared that
“17 million people just lost health care. 18 million kids just lost food
assistance”. HuffPost’s Arthur Delaney described Van Orden’s claims
as “weirdly” false, noting the disconnect between his public statements and
legislative actions.

What Is the Status of Health Care Access in Wisconsin’s
Third District?

The closure of hospitals and clinics in western Wisconsin
has intensified the debate over health care access. As reported by Van Orden’s
office and covered by WisPolitics, the Congressman has hosted
roundtables and introduced legislation aimed at addressing the crisis. However,
critics argue that these efforts are insufficient to offset the harm caused by
Medicaid cuts and opposition to ACA protections.

What Are the Next Steps for Wisconsin Health Care Policy?

With the state’s Medicaid funding now secured for the short
term, attention has shifted to the long-term sustainability of rural health
care in Wisconsin. Governor Evers and state legislators continue to seek
solutions to ensure access for vulnerable populations, while the debate over
federal health care policy remains a central issue in the state’s political
discourse.