Gov. Scott Walker delivered his 2018 State of the State address in the Assembly chambers on Jan. 24. Walker’s eighth State of the State focused on “getting positive things done for the people of Wisconsin” and an “Ambitious Agenda” for 2018. Walker began his speech by highlighting successes of 2017, including Wisconsin’s record-low unemployment, increased […]
Gov. Walker Issues Executive Orders on Opioid Crisis
Date Fri, Jan. 19, 2018 - 3:53pm By Hamilton
Gov. Scott Walker issued two executive orders on Jan. 19 based on a new report from the Task Force on Opioid Abuse. Executive Order 273 implements several agency actions based on recommendations from the Task Force’s co-chairs Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch and Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette). The order directs the Department of Health Services (DHS) […]
Governor’s Task Force on Opioid Abuse Meets, Reviews Pew Recommendations
Date Fri, Jan. 19, 2018 - 10:21am By Hamilton
Gov. Scott Walker’s Task Force on Opioid Abuse met at North Central Technical College in Wausau on Jan. 5. The meeting began with a recognition of the Department of Health Services’ (DHS) recent announcement of nearly $500,000 in grants to 63 community groups for opioid abuse prevention. The committee then heard from Drug Free Communities […]
CMS to Allow States to Implement Medicaid Work Requirements
Date Fri, Jan. 19, 2018 - 10:09am By Hamilton
On Jan. 11, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released new guidance to allow states to incorporate work requirements in their Medicaid programs. States pursue changes to Medicaid eligibility through Section 1115 Demonstration Waivers. As outlined in the guidance, CMS requires state proposals to describe strategies to assist individuals in meeting work […]
DHS Improves Medicaid Projection in Second Quarter Report
Date Fri, Jan. 5, 2018 - 8:26am By Hamilton
In a recent report, the Department of Health Services (DHS) provided a much more positive projection of the state’s Medicaid program for the current biennium (2017-19). DHS projects the Medicaid program will end the biennium with a balance of $9.6 million general purpose revenue (GPR) and $23.4 million all funds. In September, DHS estimated the […]
Gov. Walker Writes Letters to Congress on CHIP, HIT
Date Fri, Dec. 15, 2017 - 9:38am By Hamilton
Last week, Gov. Scott Walker sent letters to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) and House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Janesville) regarding the Health Insurance Tax (HIT) and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The first letter, dated Dec. 1, asked the leaders to “support legislation that would suspend the Affordable Care Act’s Health Insurance […]
State Medicaid Director Resigns
Date Wed, Dec. 13, 2017 - 11:25am By Hamilton
State Medicaid Director Michael Heifetz resigned on Wednesday after just over a year in the role. Gov. Scott Walker has moved Heather Smith, his former deputy chief of staff for budget, legislative, and intergovernmental affairs, to the position, effective Jan. 8. Before his position as Medicaid director, Heifetz served as state budget director and was […]
Gov. Walker Signs Bills Addressing Homelessness in Wisconsin
Date Fri, Dec. 1, 2017 - 9:28am By Hamilton
For the past year, Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke (R-Kaukauna), Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch and Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) have spearheaded an effort to help address the issue of homelessness in Wisconsin. On Monday, the governor signed two bills that arose from those efforts. AB 234 creates an Interagency Council on Homelessness. This council […]
Speaker’s Task Force on Foster Care Releases “Foster Forward” Package
Date Fri, Dec. 1, 2017 - 8:59am By Hamilton
This week, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos’s (R-Rochester) Task Force on Foster Care released a package of 13 bills to improve Wisconsin’s foster care system. The “Foster Forward” package is the result of six public hearings across the state and addresses four policy goals: Prevention Efforts, Improving the Child Welfare System, Support for Foster Care Providers, […]
Prescription Drug Take Back Day Numbers Released
Date Fri, Dec. 1, 2017 - 8:48am By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) announced last week the official collection numbers for the biannual Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Wisconsinites returned a record-setting 63,941 lbs. of unused medications on the fall date, Oct. 28. The drugs were safely transported to a facility in Indiana and destroyed shortly after the event. Wisconsin had more […]