In an unplanned vote along party lines just after 1:00 a.m. on June 22, the Assembly passed legislation to prohibit plans, when setting rates, premiums, deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance, from considering whether an individual (including a dependent) who has continuous coverage has a pre-existing condition. “Continuous coverage” would mean coverage in the 12-month period before […]
Assembly Passes Legislation Prohibiting Pre-Existing Condition Exclusions
Date Fri, Jun. 23, 2017 - 10:24am By Hamilton
JFC Rejects Self-Insurance Proposal
Date Fri, Jun. 23, 2017 - 10:17am By Hamilton
As expected, on June 15, the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) unanimously rejected the governor’s self-insurance proposal. After rejecting the contracts, JFC co-chairs Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette) and Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) put forth their own budget motion, which passed unanimously and still achieved the savings target ($63.9 million general purpose revenue (GPR)) over the […]
Timeline: Special Session on Opioid Abuse
Date Fri, Jun. 23, 2017 - 10:08am By Hamilton
Updated 7-17-17 As Gov. Scott Walker signs the 2017 Special Session on Opioid Abuse bills today, take a look back at the recent history of opioid abuse prevention and education legislation in Wisconsin. Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette) has chaired the effort to combat Wisconsin’s opioid epidemic with his Heroin, Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) agenda […]
DHS Submits Medicaid Waiver
Date Fri, Jun. 9, 2017 - 11:43am By Hamilton
The Department of Health Services (DHS) submitted the “BadgerCare Reform Demonstration Waiver” to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Wednesday for review. The waiver essentially amends the Section 1115 Demonstration Waiver and would primarily make changes to the BadgerCare childless adult (CLA) population in the state’s Medicaid program. The changes include substance […]
JFC to Vote on Self-Insurance Contracts Next Week
Date Fri, Jun. 9, 2017 - 9:20am By Hamilton
As expected, the Joint Finance Committee objected to the Department of Employee Trust Funds’ signed contracts to self-insure the state employee’s health plan. JFC’s passive review of the contracts required an objection, otherwise the state would be able to move forward. The three-year contracts include contracts with a statewide/nationwide vendor and four regional vendors. The […]
JFC Plans to Reject the Governor’s Self-Insurance Proposal
Date Thu, May. 11, 2017 - 4:47pm By Hamilton
On Monday May 8, the Department of Employee Trust Funds submitted signed contracts to self-insure the state’s health program to the Joint Committee on Finance. This submission begins the 21-day passive review period for JFC to decide if they will act. The three-year contracts include contracts with a statewide/nationwide vendor and four regional vendors. The […]
Bills of Note: Clinician Training Grants
Date Thu, May. 11, 2017 - 4:31pm By Hamilton
Rep. Romaine Quinn (R-Rice Lake) and Sen. Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point) recently introduced AB 227/SB 161, relating to clinician training grants. The bill would provide training grants to advanced practice clinicians (APCs) such as physician assistants and advanced practice nurses, especially in rural areas. The bill provides $750,000 per year for the next two years […]
DHS Releases Proposed Medicaid Waiver
Date Fri, Apr. 28, 2017 - 10:45am By Hamilton
The Department of Health Services (DHS) recently released a waiver for public comment that would make changes to the state Medicaid program. DHS intends to submit the Section 1115 Demonstration Waiver or “BadgerCare Reform Demonstration Waiver” to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for review on May 26. The proposed changes will […]
PLAs and CBD Oil Bills Signed
Date Fri, Apr. 28, 2017 - 9:33am By Hamilton
On Monday, April 17, Gov. Scott Walker signed into law 2017 Wisconsin Act 3, requiring government to be neutral regarding the use of Project Labor Agreements (PLAs). On that same day, he also signed 2017 Wisconsin Act 4, which allows for possession of CBD oil with written documentation from a Wisconsin-licensed doctor. Act 3 requires […]
Committees Vote on Remaining Special Session Bills
Date Fri, Apr. 28, 2017 - 9:26am By Hamilton
The last of Rep. John Nygren’s (R-Marinette) 11 special session bills to combat the state’s opioid addiction crisis continue to move through Assembly and Senate committees. The Assembly passed nine of these special session bills as part of the Heroin, Opiate, Prevention and Education (HOPE) Agenda in its Tuesday, April 4 floor session, and the […]