On April 14, the Wisconsin Assembly met in its first ever virtual session to pass legislation addressing COVID-19. The Senate is expected to pass the bill, also in virtual session, on Wednesday. With the Assembly passing the bill on a bipartisan basis, it is expected that Gov. Tony Evers will sign the bill into law. […]
Insurers Respond to COVID-19
April 14, 2020
Wisconsin health insurers are committed to helping prevent the spread of COVID-19. Various companies providing health insurance to Wisconsinites have already taken actions like waiving coronavirus testing costs and related treatment. Anthem, Molina Healthcare, and United HealthCare, the nation’s largest insurer, have waived all patient out-of-pocket costs related to COVID-19, in addition to their initial waivers of […]
Gov. Evers Issues Safer At Home Order
March 24, 2020
This morning, Gov. Tony Evers issued Emergency Order #12, the “Safer at Home” order, directing all individuals in Wisconsin to stay at home, limiting non-essential travel, and ceasing all non-essential business operations. The order is effective 8:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 24 through Friday, April 24. The order directs all individuals in Wisconsin to stay at home. […]
COVID-19 Update
March 20, 2020
Executive & Emergency Orders Executive Order #72 – Declaring a public health emergency.The order directs the state Department of Health Services to lead the response, including by suspending provisions of administrative rules that would hinder response actions or increase the health threat. The order directs all state agencies to assist as appropriate. Additionally, the order declares […]
HOPE Agenda Bills Advance in Legislature
January 27, 2020
Several bills from Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette) and various co-authors to address substance use disorder are making their way through the Legislature, with six bills passing on the Assembly floor and several moving in the Senate health committee. In addition to the legislation, Rep. Nygren joined several health plans for a press conference on Jan. […]
DHS Projects $39.8 Million Medicaid Shortfall
January 27, 2020
In a report sent to the Joint Finance Committee at the end of December, the Department of Health Services (DHS) projected a $39.8 million Medicaid shortfall over the next two years. DHS noted this shortfall is less than one percent of the $6.7 billion Medicaid general purpose revenue (GPR) budget for 2019-21. The letter from DHS attributed […]
Federal Appeals Court Rules on ACA Individual Mandate
December 20, 2019
The federal Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Dec. 18, 2019, that the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) individual mandate is unconstitutional. However, the court remanded the case back to the federal district court in Texas to decide how much of the rest of the ACA is unconstitutional. In December 2018, the district court ruled the entirety of the […]
Assembly Committee Hearing on Dental Therapy Legislation
December 20, 2019
The Assembly Committee on Medicaid Reform & Oversight held a public hearing on Dec. 18 on a bill that would newly allow dental therapists, an intermediate level of dentistry practice between hygienists and dentists, to practice in Wisconsin. The bipartisan bill has received wide support from a coalition of over 60 stakeholder groups but is […]
New Opioid Legislation Circulating
November 13, 2019
Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette) and various co-authors have circulated a new package of bills to address substance use disorder. Nygren has led the legislative effort to combat Wisconsin’s opioid epidemic with his Heroin, Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) agenda starting in the 2013-14 session and continuing through 2018. Read more about Wisconsin’s work in fighting the […]
Wisconsin Democrats Release Legislative Priorities
October 8, 2019
Ahead of October floor sessions this week, Wisconsin Democrats released a list of legislative priorities called “Forward Together.” Legislators released the initiative at press conferences around the state on Oct. 7. The package is “focused on values that put families, workers, and communities first.” Under Affordable Health Care, Democrats hope to address rising out-of-pocket health […]