The Wisconsin State Assembly convened in special session last week to debate and vote on nine special session bills as part of the Heroin, Opiate, Prevention and Education (HOPE) Agenda. Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette) introduced a total of 11 special session bills in late February, and committee hearings took place in March before the bills […]
Special Session Bills Move Through Committees
Date Fri, Mar. 31, 2017 - 10:21am By Hamilton
The Joint Finance Committee acted this week on several special session bills as part of Wisconsin’s Heroin, Opiate, Prevention and Education (HOPE) Agenda. Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette) introduced 11 special session bills in late February, and committee hearings took place in March. We anticipate the legislature will be on the floor the first week of […]
Special Session Bills Update
Date Fri, Mar. 10, 2017 - 9:26am By Hamilton
Rep. John Nygren (R – Marinette), co-chair of the Governor’s Task Force on Opioid Abuse, and a leader on Heroin, Opiate, Prevention, and Education (HOPE) Agenda, introduced 11 special session bills on opioid abuse in late February. Companion bills were also introduced in the Senate. Assembly and Senate Committees have begun to hold hearings and […]
Opioid Special Session Bills Introduced
Date Fri, Feb. 24, 2017 - 11:59am By Hamilton
Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette), co-chair of the Governor’s Task Force on Opioid Abuse, and a leader on opioid abuse legislation, introduced 11 special session bills on opioid abuse in the Assembly. The bills were also introduced in the Senate by the Committee on Senate Organization. The bills are being scheduled for hearings in the upcoming […]
Bills of Note: Right to Try
Date Fri, Feb. 24, 2017 - 11:15am By Hamilton
On Wednesday, Feb. 22, Wisconsin lawmakers comprising the Assembly Committee on Health met for a public hearing to consider 2017 Assembly Bill 69. Introduced by Rep. Patrick Snyder (R-Schofield) and Rep. Joel Kleefisch (R-Oconomowoc), the “Right to Try” legislation offers citizens with a terminal illness the opportunity to access investigational drugs, devices, and biological products […]
Special Session Bill Package Circulates
Date Fri, Feb. 3, 2017 - 10:58am By Hamilton
In early January, Governor Walker issued Executive Order 230, calling the Wisconsin State Legislature into special session to combat opioid abuse. In addition to calling for a special session, the governor directed his state agencies to take various administrative actions. The announcement came after the release of a report from the Governor’s Task Force on Opioid Abuse. […]
Bills of Note: SB 10 – CBD Oil
Date Fri, Feb. 3, 2017 - 10:29am By Hamilton
Reprising a bill from last session, Sen. Van Wanggaard (R-Racine) and Rep. Scott Krug (R-Nekoosa) introduced a bill that would allow parents easier access to use non-psychoactive cannabidiol (CBD oil) as a treatment for a medical condition. The bill, SB 10, allows for possession of CBD oil with written certification from a Wisconsin-licensed doctor. The […]
Medicaid Projected to End Year with Surplus
Date Fri, Jan. 13, 2017 - 9:19am By Hamilton
On Dec. 30, 2016, the Department of Health Services released an update on the Medicaid budget for the current 2017 fiscal year. DHS reported to the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) that they project a $312.5 million balance in general purpose revenue (GPR) Medicaid dollars. The all-fund balance, including GPR, federal, program and segregated revenues, is […]
Governor Calls for Special Session to Combat Opioid Abuse
Date Thu, Jan. 12, 2017 - 4:45pm By Hamilton
On Thursday, Jan. 5, Governor Walker issued Executive Order 230, calling the Wisconsin State Legislature into special session to combat opioid abuse. In addition to calling for a special session, the governor directed his state agencies to take various administrative actions. The announcement came after the release of a report from the Governor’s Task Force […]
GIB Reviews Self-Insurance Responses, Delays Action
Date Tue, Dec. 20, 2016 - 8:47am By Hamilton
On December 13, the Group Insurance Board (GIB) convened to discuss options as it considers the nine responses received under the state’s Request for Proposals to move employees to a self-insurance model. Under a self-insurance model, the state would assume the risk for claims and directly pay benefits. Currently, the state contracts with and pays […]