Opportunity to Provide Input on the Wisconsin Medicaid Program to DHS!

The Department of Health Services has recently concluded a series of Town Hall meetings across Wisconsin, with stops in Eau Claire, Fennimore, and Milwaukee. While an announcement has not been made of any future hearings, the Department of Health Services (DHS) is still accepting public comment! A "Virtual Town Hall Meeting" has been posted on the DHS website. Take advantage of this opportunity to weigh in on the impact of BadgerCare and Medicaid programs on the people of Wisconsin. Survey questions specifically ask for input on what DHS can improve, and "cost saving suggestions." In total, several hundred individuals and families attended the DHS sessions. DHS Secretary Dennis Smith and Deputy Secretary Kitty Rhoades listened to testimonies that ranged from speakers illuminating the inefficiencies of the application process to heart-wrenching stories, as people shared the importance of state health programs in their lives and the dire straits they would be facing without them.

In addition, the Council for Children with Long Term Support Needs has put out an online survey to learn from families who use Medicaid to support their children with disabilities and special health care needs. 

Joint Finance Committee Hearings Conclude

Over the last week, the Joint Finance Committee hosted four public hearings on Governor Walker's Biennial Budget Bill. The hearings were necessitated after the Committee closed its regularly scheduled briefings, not allowing any public comment. The public hearings, scheduled from April 7-13 began in Stevens Point, where approximately 1,600 people attended. Over the course of the day, about 150 people made their way to the microphone, adhering to the strict 2-minute timeline allowed for testimony. Logistical challenges prevented some from testifying in West Allis, causing confusion and frustration. This hearing in particular received media attention as the hearing was called to a close promptly at 6:00pm with several individuals still wishing to speak. The final hearing venue was moved from Arcadia to Neenah, where local school district officials accommodated the Committee and guests. The Wisconsin Eye Network was on hand to record each of the public hearings. Testimony can be watched in its entirety online.

DHS Secretary Smith Briefs Joint Finance Committee

Secretary Dennis Smith appeared at the Joint Finance Committee meeting on April 6 to provide a briefing on the status of health coverage programs, namely BadgerCare and Medicaid programs, in the context of the Governor's Budget. The Secretary stated, "The Medicaid and BadgerCare Plus programs, including the Family Care long-term care benefit, have reached a crisis point." The Secretary proposes "common sense changes to eligibility," which was detailed as his waiver of certain eligibility requirements request to the Obama administration. This session was one of the meetings closed to public input. The Secretary's comments have been posted online.

For more information on the budget bill, visit the HealthWatch website or visit the Wisconsin Council for Children and Families site to view their Budget matrix.

Vol. 7, No. 6
April 15, 2011

In this issue:
Emergency Rules Roll Back Consumer Protections

HealthWatch News
Grapevine
HWW Member Profile
CKSN Corner
Ops Memos
State & National News

On our website:
HealthWatch Membership
Upcoming Coalition Meetings

Emergency Rule Rolls Back Consumer Initiatives in Private Insurance

On February 9, Wisconsin's Commissioner of Insurance implemented an emergency rule repealing the requirements that improve access to and readability of insurance policies. The repeal eliminates the "policy simplification provisions" implemented in the Wisconsin Administrative Code (Section 6.07) in 2010 that requires insurers make available an insured's complete insurance policy electronically and sets a timeline for that production. In addition, the rule returns the "readability score" of policies to their prior levels--a level determined too difficult for consumers to understand (based on an evaluated Flesch score). There are additional measures being rolled back as well, including the requirement that all policy "exclusion and limitation" language appear in the same section of the policy, not scattered throughout.

Public Hearing on Emergency Rule

The Commissioner of Insurance will hold a public hearing to consider the permanent adoption of the emergency rules. Let your voice be heard! Valuable consumer protections are needed in insurance policies. You can share your thoughts on private health insurance accessibility:

HealthWatch News

Complete HealthWatch Public Hearing Footage Now Online!

HealthWatch Wisconsin has posted the complete video footage of public testimony on the impact of proposed BadgerCare and Medicaid cuts that will affect 1.2 million Wisconsinites covered by these programs. In March, HealthWatch Wisconsin sponsored two days of public hearings during the HealthWatch Wisconsin Annual Conference, drawing hundreds of people to listen, learn, and for some, to share their stories and the stories of loved ones. HealthWatch Wisconsin staff was on hand to record participants' testimony.

View the public testimony footage here.

HealthWatch Publications Available for Purchase!

HealthWatch Wisconsin is now offering its publications in printed form as well as PDF versions. If you would like a printed copy of any publication, please contact Adam VanSpankeren. Prices for our most popular publications are listed below.

*Plus shipping. For a complete list of pricings, click here.

Reminder: All HWW Publications are included as PDFs on the HWW Member CD!  A HWW membership ($30/individual, $120/organization) gives you all HWW Publications - more than a $200 value - for free! Click here to join HealthWatch!

Grapevine

Medical Transportation in Wisconsin: LogistiCare

A lot of people have been asking about what's going to happen with medical transportation in Wisconsin under the new transportation broker, LogistiCare. We've heard a few things through the grapevine and are still hoping for more information on this rapidly developing topic. 

So far, HealthWatch Wisconsin has heard that HMOs in Southeastern Wisconsin are no longer exempt from LogistiCare's brokerage and that MA-covered non-emergency medical transportation will be included, as authorized by LogistiCare. Likewise, ambulance services are no longer excluded, including non-emergency ambulance coverage, though such rides will need to be pre-authorized with LogistiCare. LogistiCare is also planning to work directly with tribes to coordinate MA transportation services for tribal members.

DHS and LogistiCare are also planning to have meetings with transportation providers in Ashland, Madison, Green Bay, Milwaukee, and Eau Claire. Specific locations for these meetings have not been set yet.

Have you heard anything else about the MA Transportation in Wisconsin or LogistiCare?  If so, please email Adam VanSpankeren to share!

HW Organizational Member Profile

Family Voices of Wisconsin
by Katie Foran-McHale

Family Voices of Wisconsin is an organization that provides information, training and leadership opportunities for families who have children and youth with special health care needs and/or disabilities. Family Voices has had an organizational membership with HealthWatch Wisconsin since HealthWatch started offering them in 2009, but members of Family Voices have been individual members of HealthWatch for longer than that.

“[Family Voices] helps families navigate through Medicaid or their waiver services, what to do when they’re waiting for services, or how to find resources in their community,” said Co-Director Barbara Katz.

Barbara said that Family Voices wants to make sure that every family in the state who is eligible for or uses long-term support services is knowledgeable about those services. In particular, Family Voices wants to make sure that families that access private insurance or Medicaid to support their child with disabilities or special health care needs are aware of what their benefits offer and how to maximize them.

“Another issue that we’re really passionate about is our interest in ending waiting lists for children who are waiting for long-term support services, and trying to work to make sure the eligibility process is streamlined for families,” Barbara said.

Family Voices is also currently collaborating with ABC for Health on a Family Health Leadership Initiative, issued by the Department of Health Services. Through the grant, Family Voices will develop and maintain a parent/family health policy network, implement a health teaching program, survey unmet needs and coordinate services with other CYSHCN (children and youth with special health care needs) programs and grantees.

Some of their initiatives that families benefit from include their website, fact sheets, newsletter and “Did You Know? Now You Know!” trainings.

Considering recent controversies in Wisconsin politics, Barbara said that now is a crucial time for families to be informed of what’s going on in state and national government. “In our political climate now, there’s a lot more attention that’s needed towards public policy issues,” she said.

“We need to make sure families are informed about what the issues are and what things are being proposed in various budget proposals. And we need to try and get families out to participate in public policy opportunities, whether it’s attending press conferences, speaking with their legislators directly or writing letters or emails.”

Coalition Roundup

Click here for a list of upcoming coalition meetings.

Dane County HealthWatch hosted Margaret LaBorde and Theresa Fosbinder of Planned Parenthood and Kari Sievert of the Wisconsin Well Woman Program on April 4. Both parties gave very informative presentations on  current projects and status of their respective organizations. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 2 and will not be at the usual location. So far, it looks like it will either be at the Hawthorne Branch of the Madison Public Library on East Washington Avenue or at ERI on Lien Road. The speaker has yet to be determined, but the Dane County Steering Committee call is next week, and it will be discussed then. For more information about the Dane County HealthWatch Coalition, please contact Adam VanSpankeren.

The Dunn County HealthWatch Coalition’s last luncheon meeting on Thursday, April 7 was a success. Chris Kruse, an EMT and Chief Medical Examiner for Dunn County, came to speak to the group about causes of death in Dunn County.  The group's next meeting has not been formally announced yet - Dunn County coalition members, stay tuned for the invitation to be sent around via email.  For more information about the Dunn County HealthWatch Coalition, please contact Wendy MacDougall or Sandy Nevin.

The Eau Claire County HealthWatch Coalition has their next meeting scheduled for Thursday, May 5 at the Luther Hospital Cafeteria from 12:00-1:30pm.  Speakers include Paula Gibson, Community Relations Director for Harbor House Memory Care speaking about Harbor’s services and new websites and Pat Perkins of the Eau Claire City-County Health Department, giving an update from the annual statewide HealthWatch Wisconsin conference.  For more information please contact Lou Kelsey or Pat Perkins.

The Milwaukee HealthWatch Coalition met Wednesday, April 13, to welcome Virginia Zerpa-Uriona, who gave an overview of the Milwaukee Latino Health Coalition (MLHC). She gave a brief history of the MLHC and discussed the work of their Mental Health Action Team. Virginia also addressed the Coalition’s involvement in the Cleaner Valley Coalition/Campaign, which works together to improve air quality for all Milwaukee residents by cleaning up We Energies’ coal plant in the Menomonee Valley. Finally, she discussed the work that the MLHC is doing with Milwaukee Inner City Congregations Allied for Hope to form a partnership between the African American and Latino communities to challenge the Budget Repair Bill. For more information about the Milwaukee HealthWatch Coalition, please contact Nora Foshager.

The Pierce County HealthWatch Coalition steering committee has been busy! The steering committee just had another planning meeting on April 14, and the Pierce County HealthWatch Coalition’s kickoff meeting has been scheduled for May 12 at Crossroad Community Church in Ellsworth, Wisconsin. Mike Rust, of ABC for Rural Health and the Polk and Barron County HealthWatch Coalitions, will be the group’s first speaker and will be discussing changes to the BadgerCare programs. For more information about the Pierce County HealthWatch Coalition, please contact Lisa Raethke.

The Tri-County HealthWatch Coalition had a successful strategic planning meeting on Tuesday, March 29. They mapped out their mission and vision, while outlining their potential priorities and activities for 2011-12. Look for more content from that session to appear online in the near future! The next Tri-County HealthWatch meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 26, from 9:00-11:00 a.m. in the Obeya Room at the Goodwill Community Center in Menasha. For more information about the Tri-County HealthWatch Coalition, contact Susan Garcia Franz or Connie Raether.

CKSN Corner

Covering Kids with Special Needs

The National Youth Leadership Network announces their new curriculum: Reap What You Sow: Harvesting Support Systems Curriculum Training Packages. Reap What You Sow brings youth and adults together to build support systems. For more information, click here.

April 28-29. Circles of Life 2011. Hyatt Regency, Milwaukee. State's largest conference for families of children with disabilities and special health care needs. For more information, click here.

May 7. Regional Special Education Conference: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Issues. Register free at 877-374-0511 or by emailing smcfarland@wifacets.org. For more information, click here.

May 14.  Workshop on employment for youth with special health care needs, 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin Corporate Center, Suite 220. Sponsored by the Southeast Regional Center for Children & Youth with Special Health Care Needs and Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin Social Work Program. Call 414-266-3188 to RSVP and for more information. Space is limited.

Ops Memos

On April 4, the DHS released a new BadgerCare Plus Handbook. The new handbook is available here.  For a PDF version with highlighted changes, click here.

Ops Memo 11-14: Prisoner Data Match Report
Released April 4
New Policy: DHS is changing the process for ensuring that ineligible incarcerated individuals are not receiving Medicaid, BadgerCare Plus or FoodShare benefits. The process will now include a Prisoners Data Match Report, containing matches from CARES, prisons, and jails, resulting in termination of benefits for incarcerated individuals.

Ops Memo 11-15: Revised Medicaid/BadgerCare Plus Eligibility Certification Form
Released April 7
New Policy: A revised form will now be used to manually send eligibility and updated cost share information for Medicaid and BadgerCare Plus to the ForwardHealth interChange system (iC). The new form will align with how member data is stored in iC and include a means to request that a member’s cost share, spenddown and/or patient liability be manually added or updated.

Ops Memo 11-16: Clarification on 30 Day FoodShare Application Processing
Released April 7
New Policy: FoodShare applicants that do not provide required verification by the due date (the 10th day after requesting verification or the 30th day of the application processing period, whichever is later) must be notified of their denial on the verification due date. If verification is submitted on the due date but after the denial has been processed, the codes should be updated and eligibility should be rerun.

State & National News

Analysis and Comment

The Controversy over Federal Cuts to Planned Parenthood

Federal funding of Planned Parenthood has been the most recent hostage of federal budget negotiations. As of last Friday, key Democrats and Republicans made concessions to avoid a government shutdown. They agreed to keep the funding for Planned Parenthood intact. Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call covered the last minute tradeoffs on April 11, reporting, “Boehner in the end signaled he could give up the language barring federal funding of Planned Parenthood in return for a separate vote on the Senate floor, and Democrats agreed to an extra $500 million in spending cuts from an unspent transportation account as well as several other spending changes.” Yet, the controversy is continuing on a micro level. In Washington, D.C., a ban was reinstated restricting the government from using local funds for abortion services. In a blog post for Politico, President of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America Cecile Richards is quoted, “It’s clear that the fight for women’s health will continue, and we will continue to work on behalf of the millions of American women who count on this critical care."

Headlines

WisPolitics DC Wrap: Ryan budget plan passes House
WisPolitics.com, 15 Apr. 2011
"The House today passed the budget proposed by U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Janesville, on a 235-193 vote."

Obama to Republicans: 'You Think We're Stupid?'
Steve Holland, Reuters, 15 Apr. 2011
"President Barack Obama said he challenged Republicans to try to repeal his landmark healthcare reform in private budget talks last week, taunting his opponents with a question: 'You think we're stupid?'"

Doyle to start promoting health care overhaul
Associated Press, 15 Apr. 2011
"Former Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle is getting involved in a national organization that will lobby for President Barack Obama's health care overhaul."

Dem lawmakers want to hear more about suspected FoodShare fraud
Jason Stein, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 14 Apr. 2011
"Democratic Reps. Andy Jorgensen of Fort Atkinson and Jon Richards of Milwaukee said Thursday that they were surprised that a Walker appointee at the Department of Health Services didn't tell lawmakers on the audit committee about the ongoing investigation into the Milwaukee County fraud."

House GOP budget retains Democratic Medicare cuts
Associated Press, 13 Apr. 2011
"Ryan's proposed budget has drawn crisp Democratic criticism for recommending a complete overhaul of the existing Medicare program for anyone currently under the age of 55, and in a speech on Wednesday, Obama criticized it. 'Put simply, it ends Medicare as we know it,' he said."

Plan would help SeniorCare enrollees
David Wahlberg, The Wisconsin State Journal, 13 Apr. 2011
"Under the proposal, the state would split medication costs with enrollees up front instead of making them pay pay their full deductible first, followed by small co-pays for each prescription."

Medicaid to offer rewards for healthy behavior
Aimee Miles, Kaiser Health News, 11 Apr. 2011
"Medicaid enrollees who demonstrate a commitment to improving their health will be eligible to receive financial rewards such as coupons or gift certificates. For those who are overweight or trying to quit smoking, that commitment might take the form of weight management classes or tobacco cessation counseling. States are encouraged to provide rewards 'on a tiered basis' for attempts at participation, 'actual behavior change,' and 'achievement of health goals.'"

Wis. Rep.'s Medicare plan worries local voters
Dinesh Ramde, Associated Press, 9 Apr. 2011
"Under Ryan’s plan, the government would no longer cover seniors’ health expenses as Medicare has since the 1960s. Instead, it would provide a certain amount of money to health insurers, with the exact coverage not locked in."

Abortion opponents use health law to put restrictions in private insurance
Sabrina Tavernise, The New York Times, 8 Apr. 2011
"[Abortion] coverage is getting increased scrutiny as states start to build their own systems under the new law, and a growing number of states are passing bans."

Proposed cuts to family planning could endanger $11M federal grant
David Wahlberg, The Wisconsin State Journal, 6 Apr. 2011
"A major focus of the $11 million federal maternal and child block grant, also called Title V, is reducing infant deaths and disabling conditions among children."

April 16 Healthcare Decisions Day brings home advanced health planning
WisBar.org, 6 Apr. 2011
"April 16 is National Healthcare Decisions Day. In recognition of the event, the State Bar is offering free electronic copies of its consumer guide, A Gift to Your Family: Planning Ahead for Future Health Needs, from April 8 - 25.