Governor Evers signs executive orders aimed at increasing health care access, affordability

MADISON — Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers has issued a pair of executive orders designed to fulfill his campaign pledge of increasing access and affordability to health care and insurance.

But the executive orders released Tuesday stop far short of Evers' promises to expand Medicaid coverage and drop Wisconsin's involvement in a multi-state lawsuit seeking repeal of the Affordable Care Act.

Doing either of those things requires approval of the Republican-controlled Legislature.

One of Evers' orders calls for the Department of Health Services to develop a plan to ensure that more people have access to affordable, quality health care by expanding Medicaid.

He's also directing a number of state agencies to implement plans or make recommendations to protect people with pre-existing conditions and protect against attempts to repeal the federal law.