Private Consultant Concludes State Could Save Up to $50 Million, Annually, if State Self-Insures Monday, November 16, the Assembly concurred in legislation passed by the Senate to give the legislature more control and authority over state employee health insurance programs. Joint Committee on Finance Co-Chairpersons Representative John Nygren (R-Marinette) and Senator Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) […]
Legislature Seeks More Control Over State Employee Health Insurance Programs
Date Fri, Nov. 20, 2015 - 11:50am By Hamilton
Legislature Attempting to Exert Additional Control Over State Employee Health Insurance Plan
Date Fri, Nov. 13, 2015 - 10:46am By Hamilton
Joint Finance Committee Co-Chairpersons Representative John Nygren (R-Marinette) and Senator Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) introduced and championed Assembly Bill 394 to empower JFC to review and approve changes proposed by the Group Insurance Board to the health plan for state employees. The assembly passed AB 394 by a vote of 90-2 on October 27. Friday, […]
State Budget: Health
Date Wed, Jul. 8, 2015 - 9:31pm By Hamilton
As a major aspect of state budget, the state’s health services always take up a significant amount of airtime during state budget deliberations. This biennium was certainly no exception for the Joint Finance Committee (JFC), as they made changes to the governor’s proposed changes to state’s long-term care and medical assistance program. Medical Assistance Governor […]
Bills of Note: 30 Bills Signed Into Law
Date Wed, Jul. 8, 2015 - 7:12pm By Hamilton
Governor Scott Walker signed 30 bills into law at the Capitol on July 1. This included bills relating to motorcycle lighting, air pollution, controlled substances for optometrists, microbeads, GPS tracking, camping units and election law changes. Motorcycle Lighting Introduced in March by Representative Jagler (R–Watertown) as Assembly Bill 100, this bill permits a motorcycle to […]
UW Nurse Midwives Program Marks 25 Years
Date Thu, Oct. 2, 2014 - 3:28pm By Hamilton
The UW Health Nurse Midwifery Service will celebrate twenty five years this October, and they’ve helped deliver 8,760 newborn babies over that time. The service began in 1989 with one nurse midwife and has grown to include eight nurse midwives. Today, the UW Health Nurse Midwives catch about 15 percent of the babies born […]
Wisconsin Supreme Court to Determine Manure as a Pollutant for Insurance Policies
Date Thu, Sep. 18, 2014 - 2:08pm By Hamilton
On Friday, September 12, the Wisconsin Supreme Court heard a number of cases dealing with the issue of whether septage is a “pollutant” that triggers the pollution exclusions in the insurers’ policies. Below is a discussion of the cases heard by the Supreme Court. Background In the first case (Preisler v. Kuettel’s Septic Service, […]
Courts Split on ACA Tax Subsidies
Date Wed, Jul. 30, 2014 - 1:49pm By Hamilton
On July 22, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit struck a blow to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) when it held that the ACA did not authorize the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to provide tax credits for health insurance purchased on federal health exchanges. That same day, the U.S. Court […]
Delta Dental Participates in Mission of Mercy
Date Wed, Jul. 16, 2014 - 2:15pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Dental Association held their sixth annual Mission of Mercy, with Delta Dental’s support and staff volunteering their time. The Mission of Mercy program provides free dental care in one community for two days to those who are unable to obtain oral care. According to Dr. Fred Eichmiller, Delta Dental of Wisconsin Vice President […]
Childless Adults Coverage Driving Medicaid Budget Shortfall
Date Tue, Jul. 15, 2014 - 4:02pm By Hamilton
On June 27, the Department of Health Services submitted a quarterly report to the Joint Finance Committee on the overall condition of the Medicaid benefits budget. The report shows an estimated $93 million GPR shortfall ($232.5 million All Funds) by the end of the biennium, a nearly $73 million increase to the projected shortfall from […]
UW Police Hold Operation Wisconsin Dawn
Date Tue, Jul. 15, 2014 - 3:44pm By Hamilton
The University of Wisconsin-Madison Police Department and a number of university, city, county, state, and federal agencies will be holding a full-scale exercise on Thursday July 17, from 5 AM to 5 PM. The exercise, taking place at Camp Randall Stadium, will be the largest emergency response exercise in the state’s history. Agencies involved in […]