WEEKLY LONG-TERM CARE UPDATE Update October 15, 2004

Only 18 Days Until the General Election
The general elections are only 18 days away.  Wisconsin has become the focus for both Presidential campaigns, both are visiting Wisconsin cities on a weekly basis.  Also a focus, are the state senate and assembly races, although control of both houses of the state legislature are expected to remain a Republican majority.  The real issue in the state races are legislative proposals such as concealed carry, local property tax freeze and the TABOR Constitutional Amendment.  The concealed carry and the property tax freeze proposals were vetoed and the legislature was unable to garner enough votes to override the Governor’s veto (2/3 majority).  Since the votes were close, the November 2nd election could decide if these proposals will pass the legislature next year.

Wisconsin State Budget Update
As required by law, each state agency has presented the Governor on September 15th their budget requests for the 2005-07 budget.  On November 15th, each agency will present their second draft of their respective agency requests, including how each agency will cut 10% from their operating finances.   Governor Doyle is in the process of creating his budget plan, which will be introduced to the legislature in late January or early February.  CAPOW will continue to meet with the Governor’s office, the Department of Administration and the Department of Health and Family Services to lobby for rate increases for Long-Term Care funding programs.


IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

CAPOW
October 27, 2004 12:00 pm Board Meeting (Wintergreen Resort in Wisconsin Dells)
November 24, 2004 12:00 pm Board Meeting (Wintergreen Resort in Wisconsin Dells)
December 15, 2004 12:00 pm Board Meeting (Wintergreen Resort in Wisconsin Dells)

Wisconsin Council on Long-Term Care
October 8, 2004
November 12, 2004
December 10, 2004

Wisconsin Council on Long-Term Care
Residential Options Task Force
October 15, 2004
November 19, 2004
December TBA, 2004

Medicaid\Healthcare Candidate Forums
Candidates will discuss their positions on Wisconsin’s most pressing health-related issues: Tobacco Control; Funding Medicaid; and, Healthcare for our seniors and citizens with disabilities.
   
October 27: Eau Claire
Chippewa Valley Technical College Gateway Campus, 620 W. Clairemont Ave., 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

2004 Wisconsin Elections
November 2, 2004: Presidential and General Elections (federal and state-wide elections)


LONG-TERM CARE IN THE NEWS

Appleton Post Crescent (October 15, 2004)
Health systems pool vaccine stock
Flu medicine available for those in high-risk groups
Representatives of local health care systems said Thursday they will pool resources to make sure residents most vulnerable to the flu will receive vaccinations. Appleton Health Officer Kurt Eggebrecht said Affinity, Aurora and ThedaCare health systems, along with local public health departments, are meeting regularly to share information on area vaccine stocks and estimates of demand from residents who need them.
<http://www.wisinfo.com/postcrescent/news/archive/local_18228024.shtml>

The Wheeler Report (October 15, 2004)
Attorney General Announces Conviction in Watertown Sexual Assault of Elderly Care Resident
Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager announced today that a Jefferson County man has been convicted of second degree sexual assault.  Robert Van Loo, 51, of, Watertown, was found guilty by Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge William Hue after pleading no contest to one count of felony second degree sexual assault. According to the Department of Justice's criminal complaint: Robert Van Loo was employed by and living at Cherished Memories Adult Family Home, 1101 Crestview Drive, Watertown, a facility owned by his wife, Rhonda Van Loo.
<http://www.thewheelerreport.com/releases/Oct04/Oct15/1015dojwatertown.PDF>

The Phillips Wisconsin Bee (October 14, 2004)
Flu vaccine shortage forces triage
A worldwide shortage of influenza vaccines will lead to triage in Price County this year.
Price County Health Department Director Tracy Ellis said the shortage is "an extreme problem" here. She said the vaccine will be reserved for individuals who are determined to have a higher risk for health complications.
<http://www.phillipswi.com/placed/index.php?sect_rank=1&story_id=184901>

Duluth-Superior Telegram (October 14, 2004)
Former nursing home employee pleads guilty in death of resident
A former nursing home worker has pleaded guilty to neglecting an elderly resident's bedsore until it became infected and killed her.  Stephanie Lambert, 39, of Roscoe, Ill., changed her plea Tuesday in Rock County Circuit Court, also pleading guilty to two counts of misdemeanor fraudulent insurance claims, according to the state attorney general.
<http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/local/9915278.htm>

Pioneer Press (October 7, 2004)
Seniors' drug program could be in peril
Doyle says federal funding for state plan likely to end in 2007
Wisconsin's popular prescription drug program for senior citizens could be in jeopardy if the federal government doesn't commit to its share of funding, Gov. Jim Doyle said Wednesday.  The governor insisted during a presentation at a senior citizen housing complex that he has gotten no response to his requests for confirmation the federal government will continue to pay its share of the state's SeniorCare program in the face of new drug discounts through the Medicare program.  That could mean drastic cutbacks in SeniorCare, Doyle said, adding that a new Department of Health and Family Services' report shows 94 percent of seniors in Wisconsin would be better off in SeniorCare than with the Medicare benefits.
<http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/news/local/9854114.htm>