Legeslative Agenda | Legislative Archive
WEEKLY LONG-TERM CARE UPDATE November 15, 2004
Wisconsin Senate and Assembly Elect Leadership
Last Tuesday, the Republican and Democrat caucuses met to elect their leaders for the upcoming 2005-07 legislative session. The surprise was that the Republicans elected Senator Dale Schultz (R-Richland Center) to be the new Senate Majority Leader, ousting their recently elected leader of two months, Senator Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau). The Senate Democrats elected Senator Judy Robson (D-Beloit) as their new Minority Leader.
Legislators that serve as leadership or as members of the Joint Finance Committee are especially important and should be a priority for those of you that live in their district. If these legislators your home address or work address – be sure to contact their offices and invite them to tour your facility or agency. We need to build strong relationships with these legislators and educate them about our profession. Beginning in January 2005, these individuals will shape the 2005-07 State Budget, which will determine reimbursement rates for all government programs that will directly impact the long-term care profession.
Who are my Legislators? http://165.189.139.210/waml//
Assembly:
Speaker: John Gard (R-Peshtigo)
Speaker-Pro Temp: Stephen Freese (R-Dodgeville)
Majority Leader: Michael Huebsch (R-Onalaska)
Asst. Majority Leader: Jeff Fitzgerald (R-Beaver Dam)
Majority Caucus Chair: Daniel Vrakas (R-Hartland)
Minority Leader: Jim Kreuser (D-Kenosha)
Asst. Minority Leader: Jon Richards (D-Milwaukee)
Minority Caucus Chair: Robert Turner (D-Racine)
Senate:
Majority Leader: Dale Schultz (R-Richland Center)
President: Alan Lasee (R-DePere)
Asst. Majority Leader: Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin)
Majority Caucus Chair: Ron Brown (R-Eau Claire)
Minority Leader: Judy Robson (D-Beloit)
Asst. Minoirity Leader: Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay)
Minority Caucus Chair: Jeff Plale (D-South Milwaukee)
Most Joint Finance Committee Appointed, Senate Democrats Still Need to Appoint Two Members
The Joint Finance Committee is the most powerful legislative committee in Wisconsin. This committee is responsible for re-shaping the Governor’s 2005-07 Biennial Budget recommendations and will either accept, reject or modify each provision. The members of the Joint Finance Committee will literally determine what the long-term care profession will look like for the next two years by setting reimbursement rates and could implement long-term care reform policies. All the members of the Joint Finance Committee have been established, except for the two members appointed by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Judy Robson (D-Beloit). These last two appointments are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Members of the Joint Finance Committee: AS OF NOVEMBER 15, 2004
Rep. Dean Kaufert, (R-Neenah), Co-Chair
Rep. Dan Meyer (R-Eagle River)
Rep. David Ward, (R-Jefferson)
Rep. Kitty Rhoades (R-Hudson)
Rep. Jeff Stone (R-Greendale)
Scott Jensen (R-Waukesha)
Mark Pocan (D-Madison)
Pedro Colon (D-Milwaukee)
Sen. Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau), Chair
Sen. Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin)
Senate Democrat Vacancy #1
Senate Democrat Vacancy #2
Wisconsin Counties’ Association Announces 2005-07 Legislative Agenda
The Wisconsin Counties Association released its 16-page agenda for the 2005-07 legislative session. The document covers the various funding needs of county government including health and human services, transportation, tax policy, collections, courts, etc. The issue areas impacting health and human services include:
· Oppose TABOR: "artificial expenditure/revenue caps, which are applied inconsistently or are not compatible".
· Support a streamlined sales tax.
· Overhaul funding for county-administered human service programs and move to a caseload based system of funds allocation. The state and county will pay an agreed upon percentage of the per person costs. State will set eligibility criteria. If caseload exceeds available funds, eligibility criteria are modified.
Specifically, the WCA is proposing:
· Liability Shield Language. Allowing for placements in an ICF-MR if providing community-based care would not be feasible within the limits of available state and federal funding and required county matching funds.
· Treatment Instead of Prison. Creation of a grant program to promote alternatives to incarceration for individuals suffering from alcohol and drug addictions, as well as individuals with mental illness.
· Indigent Defense. Updating of indigency standards on an annul basis to reflect current federal poverty guidelines and cost to obtain counsel and changes in state laws to provide for State Public Defender representation of parents in CHIPS cases.
· Intergovernmental Transfer Program. Support for legislation that directs all IGT amounts received above amounts budgeted to be paid out as supplemental Medical Assistance payments to county, city, town or village nursing homes.
· Mental Health Institution Funding. Enactment of legislation requiring the state to fund placements in the state mental health institutions.
· Elderly and Disabled Transportation Assistance. Support changes to Wis. Stat. 85.21 to allow counties flexibility in regard to meeting trip purpose priorities and flexibility in regard to usage of elderly and disabled transportation grants.
· Exemption from Public Notices in Newspapers. Legislation giving authorizing counties and other governmental bodies to utilize other forums, such as the Internet, public radio and cable television, rather than strictly newspapers, to provide notice and advertisements to residents of a political subdivision.
DHFS Announces “Urgent Recall of Emergency Defibrillators”
The Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS) announced earlier this week an “urgent recall of automated external defibrillator (AED) devices manufactured by Access CardioSystems, Inc.” The DHFS website states that while the company has officially recalled only products with certain affected serial numbers, Access CardioSystems says the investigation is on-going and thus it is instructing customers to discontinue use of all of its automated external defibrillators.
To view a list of the products that have been recalled to date:
DHFS: http://dhfs.wisconsin.gov/news/PressReleases/2004/110904defibrecall.htm
Access CardioSystems: http://www.accesscardio.com/recall.pdf
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
Save Medicaid Coalition
November 16, 2004 3:00PM – 5:00PM DHFS\Legislative & Strategy Briefing Session
Madison Club, Madison, Wisconsin
Wisconsin Council on Long-Term Care
November & December Meetings are Cancelled
January 14, 2005
April 8, 2005
July 8, 2005
October 14, 2005
Wisconsin Council on Long-Term Care
Residential Options Task Force
November 19, 2004
December 2004
Wisconsin Council on Long-Term Care
Committee on Direct Care Workforce Issues
December 14, 2004
January 25, 2004
Wisconsin Council on Long-Term Care
Comprehensive System Change Committee
December 10, 2004
January 7, 2005
February 4, 2005
March 4, 2005
April 1, 2005
May 6, 2005
Wisconsin Council on Long-Term Care
Resource Center Expansion Committee
November 29, 2004
December 13, 2004
BQA Quarterly Information Update
November 2004: http://dhfs.wisconsin.gov/rl_DSL/Publications/BQAupdate1104.pdf
LONG-TERM CARE IN THE NEWS
Manitowoc Herald Times (November 11, 2004)
Facility eyes client changes
29 to be evaluated before being placed outside center
MANITOWOC — Some developmentally disabled individuals have called the Manitowoc County Health Care Center home for several decades. But the state of Wisconsin wants them to leave so-called “institutional” settings and be integrated into the community —walking to the grocery store, going to church, visiting friends.
http://www.wisinfo.com/heraldtimes/news/archive/local_18575411.shtml
Appleton Post Crescent (November 10, 2004)
Renewing Medicaid contract will mean savings - $93 Million
The state plans to renew its contract with the company that administers its medical assistance programs under new terms that will mean millions of dollars in savings, Gov. Jim Doyle said Tuesday. EDS Information Services currently administers Medicaid; SeniorCare, the state’s prescription drug discount program for seniors; and BadgerCare, the state’s health insurance program for the working poor.
http://www.wisinfo.com/postcrescent/news/archive/local_18565658.shtml
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (November 10, 2004)
Racine County Board adopts budget
Proposal to spend $184,090 to shorten wait for human services is rejected
Racine - Emotional pleas from parents of children with developmental disabilities who are on a waiting list for work-related services were answered with a long debate by the Racine County Board Tuesday about providing help, but no money.
http://www.jsonline.com/news/racine/nov04/273781.asp
Milwaukee Freeman (November 10, 2004)
Kathy Hospice will open next year
The Kathy Hospice will be behind a hill near the new St. Joseph’s.
Town of Polk: The first inpatient hospice care facility in Washington County will open next fall. About 30 people gathered Tuesday morning for the site dedication of The Kathy Hospice, the $1.5 million facility that will tend to the needs of terminally ill patients.
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2004/November_04/11102004_08.asp
Wausau Daily Herald (November 10, 2004)
Judge ends dismissal suit
A judge has dismissed a federal lawsuit that was filed by a former Edgewater Haven Nursing Home employee against the Wood County facility's director. U.S. District Court Judge John C. Shabaz dismissed the suit filed against James Mueller and Wood County's insurance company, Wisconsin County Mutual Insurance Company. Shabaz ruled there was not enough evidence to support Laura Goetz's claim that she was improperly fired. Goetz, who was fired more than a year ago, was ordered to pay court costs.
http://www.wisinfo.com/dailytribune/wrdtlocal/286008793368507.shtml
Wisconsin Technology Report (November 10, 2004)
Could Tommy Thompson’s next stop be Transportation, Homeland Security, or the private sector?
Trying to guess Tommy Thompson’s next career move is like attempting to count the number of beans in a jar. You can see through the glass and make an educated guess – but you rarely come close enough to win the prize.
http://www.wistechnology.com/article.php?id=1334
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (November 5, 2004)
Firm to buy into assisted living: Extendicare OKs $280 million deal
Milwaukee-based Extendicare Health Services Inc. has acquired Assisted Living Concepts Inc., Dallas, in a $280 million deal, the company announced Friday. Assisted Living Concepts runs 177 assisted living homes for the elderly. The assisted living firm being acquired, which has 4,000 employees and 6,838 living units, does not have any facilities in Wisconsin, Barnes said. Of Extendicare's 266 long-term care facilities across North America, 80 are in Canada. The company employs 35,000 people and has 27,000 nursing home beds.
http://www.jsonline.com/bym/news/nov04/272825.asp
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (November 4, 2004)
Ozaukee board OKs 2005 budget
Plan boosts levy, spending; tax rate falls about 10 cents
The Ozaukee County Board approved a budget for 2005 that increases the tax levy 2.73% and increases spending by about 5.4%. In approving the budget Wednesday, supervisors made more money available to care for the developmentally disabled by transferring $60,000 from the Technology Resources Department to the Community Programs Department.
http://www.jsonline.com/news/ozwash/nov04/272149.asp |
©
2004 Residential Services Association of Wisconsin