The BadgerCare+ Express travels to northeast Wisconsin mid-week with a stop in Appleton for advocates and the media with the help of the Tri-County HealthWatch Coalition, then on to Green Bay for two separate stops with the help of the Brown County Health Department and Head Start. Join us: Appleton: Wednesday, August 17
For Advocates & Media: 1:00pm-2:00pm
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Vol. 7, No. 15
The BadgerCare+ Express Visits Ashland, Northeastern Wisconsin
Green Bay Packer Ticket Drawing Appeals Court Finds Mandate Unconstitutional Case Tip: Transitioning from COBRA to HIRSP
HWW Public Hearings
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FREE Downloads of the "3 Steps Kit" and "AdvoKit" for a Limited TimeClick Here to request your FREE electronic copy! Take advantage of a unique opportunity through September 15! While the BadgerCare+ Express tour 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 FREE by electronic download. ATTENTION HealthWatch Members: Another Chance to WIN!!
The second Green Bay Packer Ticket Prize Drawing is in one week! Join HealthWatch as an individual member BY FRIDAY, AUGUST 19th at 11:59pm to be eligible to win! On Monday, August 22, HealthWatch Wisconsin will be drawing the name of one lucky winner for TWO INDOOR DELUXE CLUB SEAT TICKETS to a pre-season game at beautiful Lambeau Field, featuring:
Green Bay Packers vs. Kansas City Chiefs CLICK HERE TO JOIN OR RENEW and be eligible for a Green Bay Packer Ticket Prize Drawing in the 2011-2012 membership year. Members of HealthWatch Wisconsin are eligible for our frequent ticket prize drawings. Have questions or want more information? Call HealthWatch Wisconsin--you can even register or renew over the phone: (608) 261-6939 ext. 204. Make sure you read our rules! CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR FIRST WINNER OF THE YEAR!!
Congratulations, CAROLA of MADISON! You are going to see the Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers as they take on the Arizona Cardinals on August 19, 2011 at 7pm! Enjoy the game, courtesy of HealthWatch Wisconsin! It's Not Too Late To Join HealthWatch WisconsinHealthWatch 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 ONLINE. Questions? Call HealthWatch Wisconsin staff for more information at 1-800-585-4222 ext. 204. Immigrant Health Options Training On Demand!HealthWatch Members and Subscribers are able to access a comprehensive web cast on the issues of public benefits relevant for Wisconsin's immigrant populations. At the end of July, ABC for Health Staff presented its popular "Immigrant Health Coverage Issues" training as a live web cast. Members and Subscribers can still login to the HealthWatch Training Portal to view this training. Having trouble logging in? Give us a call! 1-800-585-4222 ext. 204. Appeals Court Finds Health Reform "Mandate" Unconstitutional A divided panel of three judges in the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, Georgia found the "individual mandate" in health reform, the section that requires all individuals to own health insurance, to be "unconstitutional." The opinion ran over 300 pages as it described that "what Congress cannot do under the Commerce Clause is mandate that individuals enter into contracts with private insurance companies for the purchase of an expensive product from the time they are born until the time they die." The lone dissenter, Judge Marcus wrote the following, "The individual mandate was designed and intended to regulate quintessentially economic conduct in order to ameliorate two large national problems: first, the substantial cost shifting that occurs when uninsured individuals consume health care services—as virtually all of them will, and many do each year—for which they cannot pay; and, second, the unavailability of health insurance for those who need it most—those with pre-existing conditions and lengthy medical histories.” (Emphasis added). The judges agreed that the rest of the health reform law remained constitutional. There is now disagreement among the Circuits. Recall, in June, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati, Ohio upheld the individual mandate and health reform law. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia has yet to make its ruling. Transitioning from COBRA to HIRSP:
Some individuals are left with no options for health insurance coverage once their COBRA continuation coverage ends. Transitioning from COBRA coverage-after the 18 months of continuing coverage ends-to the Health Insurance Risk Sharing Plan (HIRSP) may be a good option for an individual with pre-existing conditions. There is one common barrier to quickly and efficiently enrolling in HIRSP, however: obtaining a letter of creditable coverage (proof they were in a group health insurance plan) in a reasonable amount of time. HIRSP asks applicants to verify that they lost their employer-offered group health insurance. HIRSP requires the applicant to provide a certificate of creditable coverage from past insurers or employers as proof. In some cases, HIRSP will accept other forms of proof of coverage, but this may take longer as individuals at HIRSP will have to verify all the information. Before we get too detailed, recall the following background information on COBRA: The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) gives workers and their families who lose their health benefits the right to choose to continue group health benefits provided by their group health plan for limited periods of time under certain circumstances such as voluntary or involuntary job loss, reduction in the hours worked, transition between jobs, death, divorce, and other life events. Qualified individuals may be required to pay the entire premium for coverage up to 102 percent of the cost to the plan. Now, reconcile this coverage option of limited term with the option of applying for HIRSP. If you are applying for HIRSP because you lost your employer-offered group health insurance, you are required to meet all of the following requirements:
Consider again the transition from COBRA to HIRSP. The HIRSP Authority needs a creditable coverage letter in order to finalize an application and provide an effective date. Often, an insurance carrier or former employer will need to be reminded to provide the letter as soon as possible. A letter is sometimes easier to remember if you are transitioning to HIRSP immediately after losing your employment and employer-sponsored insurance. It's harder to remember after taking advantage of 18 additional months of COBRA coverage. HIRSP will give applicants a 10-day buffer after their requested effective date to supply their letter. If needed, HIRSP will go so far as to call the former employer to verify dates of coverage. |
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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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HealthWatch Member Profile As Family Services Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Milwaukee, Hannah Knouse manages the Family Resource Center, helping families access state health benefits like BadgerCare, Wisconsin Shares child care & FoodShare. The 40 clubs throughout the Milwaukee area provide after-school programming to more than 4,000 kids daily. “We work to help our families get the public benefits they’re entitled to,” she said. Hannah and the Boys and Girls Club Family Resource Center staff work around parents’ schedules, meeting with them when it’s most convenient for the parents, which often falls after the hours of a typical work day. At the six main branches of the Boys and Girls Clubs, there is an ACCESS kiosk provided, complete with a computer, printer, fax or scanner, for families to meet with staff to be able to get or manage their benefits online. “They can go on and use that during a time when they’re picking up their kids when it’s convenient for them, as opposed to having to go down to a welfare building or having to call in during business hours when they’re working,” she said. In addition to helping families with child care and accessing health programs, Hannah tracks parents based on upcoming reviews, screens families during their annual application for the Clubs to see if they’re eligible for programs, and connects with families over the course of the year for any assistance needed. “A lot of times we end up advocating for a lot of families who have issues with their cases, and try to get those resolved as much as possible,” she said. Hannah has also been a HealthWatch Wisconsin Member for the past three years, citing that her membership offers valuable information for both herself and her clients, and networking opportunities to meet advocates in the community. “And it’s a great resource too because some of our families know people or are in situations where they’re not eligible for BadgerCare, so I’m always trying to look for other options,” she said. Integral to the event’s success, Hannah also helped coordinate and host HealthWatch Wisconsin’s recent BadgerCare Express stop in Milwaukee. The stop informed both advocates and community members about how to get and maintain BadgerCare. “I think it’s always great to get to have people becoming more aware and knowledgeable about BadgerCare. I don’t think you could ever get too much information about it,” she said. “And the more the information is out in the community, the better off the community in general will be with accessing those benefits.” For more information about the Boys and Girls Club of Milwaukee, visit www.boysgirlsclubs.org.
Coalition Roundup The Dane County HealthWatch Coalition met Monday, August 1, at the Waisman Community Outreach Center in Madison. The coalition hosted 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. The September 12 meeting will be a BadgerCare+ Express stop, a joint effort with the statewide HealthWatch Wisconsin organization. For more information about the Dane County HealthWatch Coalition, please contact Adam VanSpankeren. The Milwaukee HealthWatch Coalition met Wednesday, August 10, to discuss various care and coverage topics, including LogistiCare, ACCESS.wi.gov applications, and support groups for individuals with depression and bi-polar disorder and their families. In addition, the group discussed several upcoming events: the Child Health Fairs on August 12 and 19, free children’s vision screenings on August 12 and 18, the Milwaukee Health Services Back-to-School Fair on August 12, the September ECOM utilities workshop, an SSDI/MAPP/SSI training October 5, and Project Homeless Connect on October 20. The Milwaukee HealthWatch Coalition was instrumental to the success of the August 2 stop of the BadgerCare+ Express in Milwaukee, gathering advocates and the media for a workshop on the "3 Steps to Family Health Coverage" and "AdvoKit." NOTE: The September 14 coalition meeting has been cancelled to enable coalition members to attend the Enrollment Taskforce Meeting from 10am-12pm that day. 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. The coalition’s next meetings are on August 23rd when the subcommittees will meet – one at the Fox Cities Community Clinic and the other at the usual Goodwill Community Center. The Tri-County Coalition will assist in the Appleton stop of the BadgerCare+ Express on August 17, hosting a meeting for advocates and the media at 1:00pm at 508 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Appleton. The next full coalition meeting is on September 27th. 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. Finding Your Way: A Navigation Guide for Wisconsin Families Who Have Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs and Disabilities has been published. Download a pdf version of the booklet here. 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. |
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September 13-14. WECCP Intersecting Interests and Training/Technical Assistance Network Event Growing Collaborative Systems to Support Children with Disabilities and their Families. Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center, Stevens Point, WI. For free registration, 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, Waukesha, WI. Parents and guardians must attend all ifve sessions. For more information, contact Jenny Neugart at 608-266-8778 or jennifer.neugart@yahoo.com. November 8-9. Fourth Annual Self-Determination Conference. Kalahari Resort, Wisconsin Dells.There will be lots of hands-on sessions on navigating adult systems, getting more involved in the community, supported employent and more. The $75 registration fee includes meals and materials. For more info, click here. Effective July 27, Release 11-02 of the Medicaid Eligibility Handbook was made.Analysis and Comment Assembly Bill 210: Power to the Commissioner and the Rolling Back of Insurance Protections
HealthWatch Wisconsin has been following Assembly Bill 210 (AB 210), introduced by Rep. Petersen (R-Waupaca). AB 210, relates to the "implementation of health insurance reform, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, and granting rule-making authority." Rule Making Authority: This bill gives Wisconsin's Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) rule-making authority (equivalent to the delegation of legislative authority the state budget granted Department of Health Services Secretary Dennis Smith). The draft provides the Commissioner with the authority to promulgate rules as emergency rules that may remain in effect for one year, and may be extended. Further, these emergency rules may be promulgated without the usual finding of emergency required under current law. Re-defining "Small" Business: The bill repeals the existing definition of "small business," instead saying that small means "one to one hundred employees." The difference? This would result in a larger number of plans being subject to the lower medical loss ratio percentage of 80% (as opposed to the stricter 85%) in health reform. Internal and External Appeals: In the bill, OCI is able to roll back the improvements made to Wisconsin's existing internal claims and appeals processes and external review, for starters, claiming to be more "consistent" with health reform. In reality, the bill strips Wisconsin law back to the bare minimum federal requirements. Independent Review Organizations (IROs): Current Wisconsin state law contains extensive requirements for IROs under Wisconsin law. AB 210 repeals current law provisions and sets out parallel requirements for IRO certification which are not as detailed as those in current law. Finally, the bill provides "for a repeal of all health reform insurance law changes should the law be held unconstitutional." Bill Provisions Not Required by Health Reform: While the bill is being described as the "implementation of health reform bill," there are numerous provisions in the bill not at all required by the Affordable Care Act. A few are called out here.
Headlines
Ten Considerations for States in Linking Medicaid and the Health Benefit Exchanges
'Ankle Phone Call' Could Save Time and Money in the ER
State will switch to public workers for FoodShare program
Health care mandate ruled unconstitutional
BadgerCare not done, advocates say
Will Wisconsin's Scott Walker Implement Health-Care Reform?
BadgerCare Plus tour stops in Eau Claire
State agency defends passing up $9 million in grants
Medicare prescription drug costs unlikely to rise in 2012
DHS declines to seek $9 million of potential health care grants
Officials fear health care cuts
State declines to request or back $9 million in health grants
For health insurance exchanges, devil's in the details |
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HealthWatch Wisconsin is a project of ABC for Health, Inc. |