Gov. Evers Issues Safer At Home Order
Date Tue, Mar. 24, 2020 - 12:04pm By Hamilton
This morning, Gov. Tony Evers issued Emergency Order #12, the “Safer at Home” order, directing all individuals in Wisconsin to stay at home, limiting non-essential travel, and ceasing all non-essential business operations. The order is effective 8:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 24 through Friday, April 24. The order directs all individuals in Wisconsin to stay at […]
Gov. Evers Emergency Orders on COVID-19
Date Fri, Mar. 20, 2020 - 12:06pm By Hamilton
After declaring a public health emergency on March 12 in Executive Order #72, Gov. Evers and state agencies have issued additional emergency orders: Emergency Order #5 – Prohibiting mass gatherings of 10 people or more. (Supersedes previous emergency order banning gatherings of 50 people or more) Exemptions include: airports, government, health care facilities, office spaces, retail […]
Assembly Passes CARES Act to Eliminate Workforce Barriers for PAs, Expand Access to Care
Date Thu, Feb. 20, 2020 - 4:13pm By Hamilton
This week, the Wisconsin Assembly voted to pass the Collaboration and Rural Expansion of Services (CARES) Act (AB 575), which would update Wisconsin statutes related to physician assistants (PAs). The bill seeks to reduce workforce barriers for PAs, thus maintaining and increasing access to high quality medical care, particularly in underserved rural areas of the […]
Signed by Governor: Protecting Health Care Professionals, Banning PFAS-Containing Firefighting Foam
Date Thu, Feb. 20, 2020 - 4:07pm By Hamilton
After several floor sessions this month and in January, there are many bills awaiting the governor’s review. Gov. Tony Evers recently signed into law several notable bills: SB 310 (2019 Act 101) prohibits the use of firefighting foams that contain intentionally added PFAS in training, unless the testing facility has appropriate containment and treatment measures. […]
HOPE Agenda Bills Advance in Legislature
Date Mon, Jan. 27, 2020 - 11:21am By Hamilton
Several bills from Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette) and various co-authors to address substance use disorder are making their way through the Legislature, with six bills passing on the Assembly floor and several moving in the Senate health committee. In addition to the legislation, Rep. Nygren joined several health plans for a press conference on Jan. […]
Senate Committee Holds Hearing on CARES Act to Eliminate Workforce Barriers for PAs
Date Thu, Jan. 23, 2020 - 2:20pm By Hamilton
On Jan. 15, the Senate Committee on Elections, Ethics & Rural Issues held a public hearing on the Collaboration and Rural Expansion of Services (CARES) Act (SB 515/AB 575), which would update Wisconsin statutes related to physician assistants (PAs). The bill seeks to reduce workforce barriers for PAs, thus maintaining and increasing access to high […]
DHS Projects $39.8 Million Medicaid Shortfall
Date Thu, Jan. 23, 2020 - 2:02pm By Hamilton
In a report sent to the Joint Finance Committee at the end of December, the Department of Health Services (DHS) projected a $39.8 million Medicaid shortfall over the next two years. DHS noted this shortfall is less than one percent of the $6.7 billion Medicaid general purpose revenue (GPR) budget for 2019-21. The letter from […]
Assembly Committee Hearing on Dental Therapy Legislation
Date Fri, Dec. 20, 2019 - 9:34am By Hamilton
The Assembly Committee on Medicaid Reform & Oversight held a public hearing on Dec. 18 on a bill that would newly allow dental therapists, an intermediate level of dentistry practice between hygienists and dentists, to practice in Wisconsin. The bipartisan bill has received wide support from a coalition of over 60 stakeholder groups but is […]
Federal Appeals Court Rules on ACA Individual Mandate
Date Fri, Dec. 20, 2019 - 9:30am By Hamilton
The federal Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Dec. 18, 2019, that the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) individual mandate is unconstitutional. However, the court remanded the case back to the federal district court in Texas to decide how much of the rest of the ACA is unconstitutional. In December 2018, the district court ruled […]
New Opioid Legislation Circulating
Date Tue, Nov. 12, 2019 - 3:14pm By Hamilton
Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette) and various co-authors have circulated a new package of bills to address substance use disorder. Nygren has led the legislative effort to combat Wisconsin’s opioid epidemic with his Heroin, Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) agenda starting in the 2013-14 session and continuing through 2018. Read more about Wisconsin’s work in fighting […]