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: […]
Supreme Court Upholds $750,000 Limit on Noneconomic Damages in Med Malpractice Cases
Date Thu, Jul. 12, 2018 - 12:25pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Supreme Court in a 5-2 decision (Mayo v. Wisconsin Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund) has upheld Wisconsin’s $750,000 limit on noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases. The Court determined that the cap is constitutional because the legislature had a rational basis in enacting the cap statute to ensure affordable and accessible health care […]
DHS Projects $102 Million Medicaid Surplus for 2017-19 Biennium
Date Thu, Jul. 12, 2018 - 9:41am By Hamilton
On June 29, the Department of Health Services (DHS) submitted its quarterly report to the Joint Finance Committee co-chairs, detailing the latest Medicaid projection for the 2017-19 biennium. DHS estimates a $102.4 million surplus in General Purpose Revenue (GPR) by the end of the biennium (June 30, 2019). The latest projection is $43.7 million more […]
U.S. DOJ Will Not Defend Affordable Care Act
Date Thu, Jun. 14, 2018 - 8:34pm By Hamilton
The U.S. Department of Justice (U.S. DOJ) announced this week it will not defend the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in Texas v. United States. In a letter to Speaker Paul Ryan, U.S. DOJ said it will side with plaintiffs Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, along with […]
OCI 1332 Waiver Notice of Completion
Date Tue, May. 22, 2018 - 2:07pm By Hamilton
On May 9, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) sent Wisconsin a letter noting that CMS has determined the Officer of Commissioner of Insurance’s 1332 Waiver application to be complete. The 1332 Waiver is the state plan for creating a reinsurance program for health carriers. The notice of completion triggers the beginning […]
Wisconsin, 19 Other States File for Preliminary Injunction in ACA Lawsuit
Date Tue, May. 1, 2018 - 12:34pm By Hamilton
On April 26, Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, along with 18 other states, filed a preliminary injunction in federal district court against the federal government’s enforcement of the individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Congress repealed the tax penalty, yet left in place the ACA’s individual mandate, […]
Governor’s Opioid Task Force Meets on Alternative Treatments
Date Tue, May. 1, 2018 - 11:45am By Hamilton
The Governor’s Task Force on Opioid Abuse met on April 13 in Milwaukee to discuss alternatives to opioids for treating pain. The Task Force heard from several groups advocating for alternative treatments including: Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers (behavioral health services), Wisconsin Physical Therapy Association, Wisconsin Association of Nurse Anesthetists, Wisconsin Chiropractors Association, Chiropractic Society […]