FREE Downloads of the "3 Steps Kit" and "AdvoKit" in August!Take advantage of a unique opportunity in the month of August! While the BadgerCare+ Express is circling the state, HealthWatch Wisconsin will be making the popular "3 Steps to Family Health Coverage Kits" and "AdvoKit for BadgerCare Plus Programs" available for FREE by electronic download. Click Here to request your electronic copy TODAY!!
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Vol. 7, No. 14
The BadgerCare+ Express Visits Milwaukee Tomorrow!
HWW Public Hearings
Handbook Updates
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The BadgerCare+ Express ScheduleHealthWatch will make six BadgerCare+ Express stops across Wisconsin, meeting with families and professionals, providing consumer assistance and educational workshops. Many stops have been confirmed - please see the dates below for the stop closest to you!
Stay tuned as the dates and locations of the final stops are confirmed! For information on any of the stops, or if you are interested in attending a training, please contact HealthWatch staff. Not able to make any of the stops? Check out this page on the HWW website to download your FREE copy of the 3 Steps Kit and AdvoKit - until September 15! The First Green Bay Packer Ticket Prize Drawing is Next Week!
A new membership year in HealthWatch Wisconsin means Green Bay Packer Ticket Prize Drawings! Members of HealthWatch Wisconsin are eligible for our frequent ticket prize drawings. If you or someone you know love the GREEN and GOLD, and have not yet joined HealthWatch, JOIN BY FRIDAY, AUGUST 5th at 11:59pm! CLICK HERE TO JOIN OR RENEW and be eligible for the very first Green Bay Packer Ticket Prize Drawing of the 2011-2012 membership year. On Monday, August 8, HealthWatch Wisconsin will be drawing the name of one lucky winner of TWO INDOOR DELUXE CLUB SEAT TICKETS to first home pre-season game at beautiful Lambeau Field, featuring:
Green Bay Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals Have questions or want more information? Call HealthWatch Wisconsin--you can even register or renew over the phone: (608) 261-6939 ext. 204. Thanks to everyone who registered before July 1 - you've doubled your chances to win! Make sure you read our rules! It's Not Too Late To Join HealthWatch Wisconsin Today!HealthWatch Wisconsin is your source of accurate and timely information to help Wisconsin families and patients seeking care and coverage. You and your organization need to BE INFORMED to help families and patients. JOIN TODAY! You can join or renew using the method that works best for you:
Questions? Call HealthWatch Wisconsin staff for more information at 1-800-585-4222 ext. 204. Immigrant Health Options Training A Success!
This month, HealthWatch Members and Subscribers are able to access a comprehensive web cast on the issues of public benefits relevant for Wisconsin's immigrant populations. Just last week, ABC for Health Staff presented its popular "Immigrant Health Coverage Issues" training as a live web cast. We promised that if you missed that live broadcast, could have exclusive access to this workshop on-demand. Members and Subscribers can now login to the HealthWatch Training Portal to view this training. Having trouble logging in? Give us a call! 1-800-585-4222. Hear what one web cast attendee said after participating in this training: “I wanted to thank you for a great web training…after your webinar I am more comfortable helping patients and staff sort things out. You and your colleague made the complexities very clear.” A New Option for Backdated Eligibility under Elderly, Blind, Disabled Medicaid: Individuals applying for Elderly, Blind, Disabled (EBD) Medicaid could always request a deductible if they were over the income limits for the program. They were restricted from using a deductible to become eligible for backdated eligibility, however. Now these individuals have a new opportunity to gain retroactive coverage! After a formal disability determination has been made on an EBD case by the Disability Determination Bureau (DDB), the applicant could meet a three month deductible even if she is over income for the three month backdate period. (This is an exception to the normal six month Medicaid deductible rule.) The deductible amount is calculated, then, for any excess income for the three month backdate period, times three months. Medicaid coverage would begin the first day the individual meets the deductible during that three month period. Need help calculating? Give us a call, and we'll try to help! (800) 585-4222 ext. 229.
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HealthWatch Public Hearings: The Human Impact of Medicaid/BadgerCare Cuts in Wisconsin 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.
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Independence First Independence First is a non-profit agency directed by and for people with disabilities in the Milwaukee metropolitan area. They provide a vast variety of services, helping consumers with resources and support to achieve independence, ranging from time management, money management, organizational skills, housing, employment and more. They work with individual and systemic advocacy, independent living skills training, information and referrals and peer support. Additionally, they provide assistive technology, benefits counseling and employment services, computer recycling, ADA education, housing services and house a resource center. “Anything and everything that we do is based on a desired income for our consumers,” Independent Living Skills Coordinator Phil Corona said. “Our mission is to strive for quality and integration of individuals with disabilities amongst the general community.” A lot of work that Independence First provides is establishing one-on-one connections with consumers. “We help them with navigating family care/dealing with family care issues to hopefully get the services they’re looking to receive,” Corona said. Part of this work lies within an attendant referral program, which aims to provide care workers and consumers to negotiate prices that consumers can afford. Independence First has also been a collaborator with HealthWatch Wisconsin for the past several years. “The general collaboration is essential – we can bring in speakers to talk about what’s going on to make sure that our consumers have the heads up, and we can do advocacy from our end where it is really important,” Corona said. Corona shares information provided by HealthWatch with other local agencies with similar missions. “It’s important information for our consumers to be aware as to what is going on, and how we all together are fighting for the same thing, or need to,” he said. With a strong staff and volunteer base, Independence First also collaborates with other agencies, such as the Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force and the Milwaukee Energy Network. “We collaborate with other agencies to ensure that essential programs aren’t cut,” Corona said. “There’s a lot of different things that we are part of, and it just seems to get more and more based on the importance behind protecting these vital programs.” For more information, visit independencefirst.org.
Coalition Roundup The Dane County HealthWatch Coalition met today, Monday, August 1, at the Waisman Community Outreach Center in Madison. The coalition took July off as is custom, but came back strong and were happy to host guest speaker Amy Mendel-Clemens, the Economic Support Division Administrator for Dane County. Amy told Dane County HealthWatch about the planning of the county consortia which will be taking the caseload of the Enrollment Services Center after January 1, 2012. Dane County HealthWatch also discussed the current problems around LogistiCare in Madison and Dane County and are hoping to host a representative from LogistiCare at a future meeting. For more information about the Dane County HealthWatch Coalition, please contact Adam VanSpankeren. The Milwaukee HealthWatch Coalition met Wednesday, July 13, to welcome Josh Weisbrod of the Health Insurance Risk-Sharing Plan (HIRSP) Authority. Mr. Weisbrod went into detail on the differences between the state and federal HIRSP options and fielded questions from the group. HIRSP offers health insurance to Wisconsin residents who either are unable to find adequate health insurance coverage in the private market due to their medical conditions or who have lost their employer-sponsored group health insurance. The Milwaukee HealthWatch Coalition meets on the second Wednesday of each month from 9:30-11:30am at Aurora Family Service (3200 W. Highland Blvd.; Milwaukee, WI 53208). For more information about the Milwaukee HealthWatch Coalition, please contact Nora Foshager. The Pierce County HealthWatch Coalition will meet on the 3rd Thursday of September, January, and May, with September's speaker already confirmed: Jena Most from the Reproductive Health Division of the Pierce County Health Department to discuss Family Planning Other Services and the Wisconsin Well Woman Program For more information about the Pierce County HealthWatch Coalition, please contact Lisa Raethke. Both the Polk and Barron County HealthWatch Coalitions are taking a break for the summer, but coalition coordinator Mike Rust of ABC for Rural Health is very active in planning the BadgerCare+ Express stop to the northwest region of the state and has been speaking at other coalitions, as well, updating them on the budget and the ever-changing public health landscape. To learn more about either of these two coalitions, please contact Mike Rust. The Tri-County HealthWatch Coalition met on Tuesday, July 26 at the Goodwill Community Center in Menasha. The coalition discussed immigrant health options – the subject of the most recent HealthWatch Wisconsin training – as well as ways to market and advertise the coalition and the development of various subcommittees. The group also discussed troubleshooting BadgerCare, enhancing its online presence, and sustainability. Stay tuned for more details on the Tri County HealthWatch Coalition! For more information about the Tri-County HealthWatch Coalition, contact Susan Garcia Franz or Connie Raether.
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Covering Kids with Special Needs Wisconsin's CYSHCN Program is made up of a significant network of collaborators who work together to ensure access to care and coverage for children and youth with special health care 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. September 16. Second Annual Wisconsin FoodShare Outreach Network Conference. Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Center, Stevens Point, WI. Topics will include advocacy, mental health, transition and a health benefits update. For more information, visit maxishare.com. September 21. Making Connections: Care in the Community Conference. 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel, Wauwatosa, WI. For more information or to register, . September 22. Did you know? Now you know! Aging and Disability Resource Center of Manitowoc County, Manitowoc, WI. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Topic: Parents and partners on a journey; public support systems available to assist you and your child; private insurance and your provider. To register, call 877-568-5205 or email KVanVooren@chw.org. October 1. Did you know? Now you know! Aging and Disability Resource Center of Manitowoc County, Manitowoc, WI. 9 a.m.-noon. Topic: More about Medicaid; advocating for systems change. To register, call 877-568-5205 or email KVanVooren@chw.org. October 7-8, November 4-5, January 13-14, February 24-25, April 20-21. Youth in Partnership with Parents for Empowerment. 5 p.m. Fridays ending by 3 p.m. on Saturdays at the Tundra Lodge Resort & Conference Center, Green Bay, WI. Youth, parents and guardians must attend all five sessions. For more information, contact Martha DeYoung at 800-862-3725 or deyoungm@cesa5.k12.wi.us. October 14-15, December 2-3, January 20-21, February 17-18, March 30-31. Parents in Partnership: A Leadership Development Opportunitiy for Parents of Children with Disabilities. 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday at Paradise Shores Conference Center, 26364 County Hwy. M, Holcombe, WI. Parents and guardians must attend all five sessions. For more information, contact Ruth Adix at 715-864-3014 or raadix2@yahoo.com. October 21-22, December 2-3, January 13-14, February 10-11, March 23-24. Parents in Partnership: A Leadership Development Opportunitiy for Parents of Children with Disabilities. 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Center, 1001 Amber Ave., Stevens Point, WI. Parents and guardians must attend all five sessions. For more information, contact Martha DeYoung at 800-862-3725 or deyoungm@cesa5.k12.wi.us. October 21-22, December 2-3, January 20-21, February 24-25, March 23-24. Parents in Partnership: A Leadership Development Opportunitiy for Parents of Children with Disabilities Going Through the Transition Process. 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Country Springs Hotel & Conference Center, 2810 Golf Road, Waukehsa, WI. Parents and guardians must attend all ifve sessions. For more information, contact Jenny Neugart at 608-266-8778 or jennifer.neugart@yahoo.com.
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Effective July 27, Release 11-02 of the Medicaid Eligibility Handbook was made. |
Analysis and Comment The Debt Ceiling and Medicaid FloorThese last few weeks, the political theatre in Washington, D.C. occupied significant airtime. The potential for a federal default had many states, counties, agencies and others who depend on federal funding to run essential programs and services a little nervous. The anxiety was moreso for frozen budget line items, than for a concern about the nation's credit rating. A deal that has yet to be voted on, cuts over $2 trillion dollars from federal spending over the next 10 years. President Obama stated that such an agreement would mean, "the lowest level of domestic spending since Dwight Eisenhower was President." Cuts at this time remain "unspecified," but discretionary spending cuts or caps have been discussed among legislators. This means potentially millions of dollars in cuts in federal aid to states. This may include: Head Start programs, food programs, and health care. The headlines this morning read "Medicaid Untouched, Medicare Spared-For Now..." Medicare could be on the table later, but by not more than 2% of what the spending would be in that particular fiscal year. Legislators posit that this cut essentially asks providers to "step up" and make this sacrifice. Providers are saying that this cut directly translates to a decrease in access to care. There is better news for Medicaid. The conventional wisdom in Washington is that Medicare can't be touched because it has such a powerful constituency. Yet, Medicaid is spared in this first round of cuts. First, several governors have expressed their distain for potential Medicaid cuts. Second, Health Reform calls for a dramatic expansion in Medicaid in 2014-adding over 16 million people to the Medicaid roster. It would logically follow that it doesn't make good policy sense to cut Medicaid on the eve of expansion, in 2013. In fact, Mary Agnes Carey of Kaiser Health News, provides extra assurance, "It is explicitly stated that Medicaid is off limits."
As the details emerge in the coming days, we will watch to see what situation our state is in, what a realignment in federal funding means for social programs, and how we can continue to improve our services for our most vulnerable Wisconsinites. Headlines
Affordable Care Act Ensures Women Receive Preventive Services at No Additional Cost
Hospitals, Nurses Group Lash Out At Debt Deal
Medicare Scales Back Rule on Hospitals With Pricey Patients
Recent changes weigh heavily on local hospitals' charity care numbers
Rep. Reid Ribble seeks to ease burden of health care costs on families, businesses
HHS releases funding announcement for co-op plans
Editorial: Good news for women's health and pocketbooks
Press Release: Social Security announces new compassionate allowances conditions
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