Legislators Reintroducing Physician Assistant Modernization Bill
Date Fri, Feb. 26, 2021 - 9:22am By Hamilton
A bipartisan group of legislators are reintroducing legislation to update how Wisconsin regulates physician assistants (PAs). This group includes Senators Kathy Bernier (R-Chippewa Falls), Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield), and Brad Pfaff (D-Onalaska) and Representatives Nancy VanderMeer (R-Nekoosa), James Edming (R-Glen Flora), and Dave Considine (D-Baraboo). Similar legislation passed the Assembly on a voice vote in February […]
Vaccine Update: 360,000 Fully Vaccinated; State Announces New Vaccine Sites and Online Registry
Date Fri, Feb. 26, 2021 - 9:19am By Hamilton
As of Tuesday, February 23, Wisconsin had been allocated about 1.6 million COVID vaccine doses from the federal government. About 1.2 million vaccine doses have been administered, and about 360,000 Wisconsin residents have completed the two-dose series. Almost half of Wisconsinites aged 65 and older have received at least one dose. Currently, the state is […]
Drug Costs, Child and Long-Term Care, and Marijuana Legalization Will be Focuses of Gov. Evers’ Budget Proposal Next Week
Date Fri, Feb. 12, 2021 - 9:30am By Hamilton
Governor Tony Evers will unveil his proposed 2021-23 state budget following his budget address on Tuesday, February 16. In various statements and press releases since the beginning of the year, the governor has previewed some of the policies and funding priorities that he will propose. Prescription Drug Prices On February 3, Gov. Evers announced that […]
Governor Vetoes AB 1 and Orders a New Health Emergency and Mask Mandate
Date Fri, Feb. 12, 2021 - 9:24am By Hamilton
After a contentious first month of the new legislative session, Governor Tony Evers vetoed Assembly Bill 1 (AB 1), the first bill to reach his desk this year. AB 1, a comprehensive proposal to address COVID-19 in Wisconsin, included broad protections from COVID-19 liability claims for businesses, non-profits, and other entities, Unemployment Insurance reforms sought […]
Wisconsin Has Administered 800,000 Vaccine Doses; State Announces First Community Vaccine Clinic
Date Fri, Feb. 12, 2021 - 9:21am By Hamilton
As of Tuesday, February 9, Wisconsin had been allocated about 1,150,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses from the federal government. Vaccinating providers in the state had ordered about 900,000 doses, while the remaining doses were set aside specifically for the residents and staff of skilled nursing and assisted living facilities. Nearly 800,000 vaccine doses have been administered, […]
Assembly, Senate Health Committees Approve PBM Bill; Senate Committee Approves Five Others
Date Fri, Feb. 12, 2021 - 9:14am By Hamilton
On Thursday, February 11, the Senate and Assembly health committees passed AB 7/SB 3, companion versions of a bill authorizing the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) to license and regulate pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). The Assembly committee passed the bill unanimously, while Senator Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield) was the only one to vote no […]
Assembly Adds Contested Provisions Back to AB 1; Senate Makes a Minor Addition and Passes the Assembly’s Updated Version
Date Fri, Jan. 29, 2021 - 9:15am By Hamilton
Earlier this week, the Assembly and Senate again considered Assembly Bill 1 (AB 1), a comprehensive COVID-19 response package that was introduced at the start of the session by Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) and quickly passed by the Assembly along partisan lines. AB 1 was then amended by the Senate via Senate Substitute Amendment 1 […]
DHS Announces Next Priority Groups for COVID-19 Vaccination
Date Fri, Jan. 29, 2021 - 9:05am By Hamilton
On Tuesday, January 26, the Department of Health Services (DHS) announced which groups of Wisconsinites will be eligible for the next phase of COVID-19 vaccinations. As we reported a few weeks ago, the vaccine subcommittee of the State Disaster Medical Advisory Committee (SDMAC) was soliciting public comments and formulating recommendations to the administration on who […]
Assembly and Senate Pass Differing COVID-19 Plans; Gov. Evers Endorses Senate Version
Date Thu, Jan. 14, 2021 - 5:08pm By Hamilton
The 2021-22 legislative session is officially underway here in Wisconsin. Right out of the gate, both the Legislature and Governor Evers have focused on passing another COVID-19 response package. Back in April, the Legislature passed and the governor signed Wisconsin Act 185. Many of the provisions included in Act 185 have since expired. Late last […]
SDMAC Vaccine Subcommittee Considers Next Vaccination Phase Framework
Date Thu, Jan. 14, 2021 - 5:06pm By Hamilton
This week, the State Disaster Medical Advisory Committee (SDMAC) vaccine subcommittee met twice to discuss the groups covered in the next phase of the COVID-19 vaccination (Phase 1B). Similar to the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), Wisconsin’s SDMAC provides recommendations to the Department of Health Services (DHS) for vaccine prioritization and distribution. Currently, […]