CMS Approves BadgerCare Reform Demonstration Waiver
Date Thu, Nov. 1, 2018 - 2:55pm By Hamilton
The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved Wisconsin’s Section 1115 BadgerCare Reform demonstration waiver. The waiver primarily makes changes to the BadgerCare childless adult (CLA) population in the state’s Medicaid program. The changes include: Work requirements. CLAs are required to participate in 80 hours per month of community engagement, including employment, […]
Unpacking DHS’s Budget Request
Date Thu, Oct. 4, 2018 - 4:15pm By Hamilton
On Sept. 17, state agencies submitted their 2019-21 biennial budget requests that, in total, included roughly $2.5 billion dollars in additional funding (according to Wispolitics). Accounting for the bulk of the increase in state general purpose revenue (GPR) are the usual cost drivers – education, health care and corrections. Coming in a distant second to […]
Gov. Scott Walker Declares PA Week Oct. 6-12
Date Thu, Oct. 4, 2018 - 3:43pm By Hamilton
Gov. Scott Walker has declared Oct. 6-12, 2018, as Physician Assistant (PA) Week in Wisconsin. The governor’s proclamation recognizes PAs as valuable assets to medicine, especially in underserved rural areas of the state. PA Week also recognizes PAs for contributing “to the well-being and quality of life for all patients of Wisconsin.” Over 2,700 PAs […]
Direct Primary Care Committee Will Not Recommend Legislation, Kapenga/Sanfelippo To Reintroduce Bill
Date Mon, Oct. 1, 2018 - 2:29pm By Hamilton
The Study Committee on Direct Primary Care (DPC) met for the final time on Sept. 18 to make their final recommendations from their work this summer. The committee concluded without recommending any legislation but agreed that DPC is a positive part of the health care system and that the Group Insurance Board (GIB) should explore […]
Study Committee Update: Direct Primary Care Committee Discusses Employer Models, Physician Burnout, Legislation
Date Thu, Sep. 13, 2018 - 10:23am By Hamilton
The Study Committee on Direct Primary Care (DPC) met for the second time on Aug. 29. The committee heard from several presenters and engaged in discussion on what the future work from the committee might look like. First, Rep. Joe Sanfelippo (R-New Berlin) and Sen. Chris Kapenga (R-Delafield) gave the committee an overview of the […]
Wisconsin Continues to Lead ACA Litigation
Date Wed, Sep. 12, 2018 - 12:19pm By Hamilton
Earlier this year, Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, along with 18 other states, filed a brief in support of preliminary injunction in federal district court against the federal government’s enforcement of the individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). A judge from the Northern District of Texas court heard […]
1332 Waiver Approved
Date Mon, Jul. 30, 2018 - 1:30pm By Hamilton
Gov. Scott Walker announced this week that the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) and Department of the Treasury have approved Wisconsin’s 1332 Waiver, the state plan for creating a reinsurance program for health carriers. HHS has waived the requirement for a single risk pool in the individual market under the Affordable Care […]
WCMEW Report Projects Primary Care Physician Shortfall
Date Mon, Jul. 30, 2018 - 1:26pm By Hamilton
A recent Wisconsin Council on Medical Education & Workforce (WCMEW) report has projected a statewide primary care physician (PCP) shortfall of 745 doctors by 2035. The report says new training and education programs have increased PCP expansion and retention in Wisconsin, but demand is still outpacing the provider supply, especially in rural areas. 40 percent […]
Study Committee on Direct Primary Care Meets
Date Thu, Jul. 26, 2018 - 4:04pm By Hamilton
The Study Committee on Direct Primary Care met for the first time on July 24, 2018. The committee, chaired by Joint Finance Committee co-chairs Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) and Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette), is tasked with examining how direct primary care (DPC) affects Wisconsin’s private and Medical Assistance (MA) health care systems and potentially […]
Opioid Task Force Discusses Pew Recommendations, Insurance
Date Thu, Jul. 19, 2018 - 12:56pm By Hamilton
The Governor’s Task Force on Opioid Abuse met at the state Capitol on July 13 to discuss the final recommendations from Pew Charitable Trusts and to hear from insurers about how they are addressing the opioid epidemic. Pew presented several recommendations in three subject areas: treatment system transformation, workforce, and underserved populations. The recommendations included: […]