Public Health Capitol Report - September 2011

9/29/2011

The September 2011 version of the Public Health Report from Hoven Consulting is published for WPHA members. Articles cover a variety of topics, including: election re-cap, political news and public health news and notes.

Public health News & Notes from around Wisconsin

· Last month, the Public Health Capitol Report reported Sen. Terry Moulton (R-Chippewa Fall) and Rep. John Murtha (R-Baldwin) had introduced the Healthy Jobs Act, legislation (SB 164 and AB 220) that would create a workplace wellness taxcredit for employers who offer wellness programs for their employees. Since that time, the proposal received a public hearing by committees in the Assembly and Senate. The legislation was well received by legislators on both sides of the political aisle, who believe it would encourage Wisconsin businesses to implement wellness programs to prevent chronic disease and help control health care costs. The Healthy Jobs Act is currently the top legislative priority for WPHA and WALHDAB.

· According to a recent report published by the Wisconsin Office of Free Market Health Care, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) will have a significant impact on Wisconsin residents, employers and private insurance markets. The report found that under PPACA, roughly 340,000 additional Wisconsin residents will gain health insurance coverage. The report also found that younger, healthier residents will pay higher premiums and that an estimated 100,000 individuals will be dropped from their employer-sponsored health insurance. To read the entire report, please visit the Office of Free Market Health Care website.

· Earlier this month, the Assembly Insurance Committee held a hearing on Assembly Bill 210, legislation that would align Wisconsin law with key provisions of PPACA. The bill is being authored by Rep. Kevin Petersen (R-Waupaca) and has the support of many of the state’s insurance providers. Numerous patient protection provisions from the federal health care reform law are included in AB 210, such as the prohibition of annual or lifetime limits; coverage of emergency services without prior authorization; and prohibiting coverage denial for preexisting conditions for minors under the age of 19. The bill also includes a severability clause that would invalidate the provisions of the legislation – and free insurance companies from its requirements – if the federal health reform law is found unconstitutional.

Due to the severability language, Democratic legislators generally oppose AB 210. As a result, Rep. Jon Richards (D-Milwaukee) has proposed competing legislation that would make many of the same changes to state law. However, the Richards bill would make the changes permanent – regardless of whether the provisions of PPACA are found unconstitutional.

· The Assembly Health Committee recently approved legislation (AB 147) to strengthen the doctor-patient relationship. Under the legislation, known as the I’m Sorry bill, statements of apology or condolence by made by a health care provider would be inadmissible in civil legal proceedings. The bill passed out of committee on a 7-3 party line vote, with all Republicans voting in favor of the proposal. A Senate version of the bill (SB 103) was approved on the committee level in July. The full Legislature is expected to act on the legislation by the end of the current legislative session.

· Four University of Wisconsin campuses across the state are now offering an online health and wellness degree. The new program will begin accepting students next spring and comes at a time when Bureau of Labor Statistics expects a 20% growth in wellness-related jobs. The new Bachelor of Science degree will be offered at UW-La Crosse, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Superior and UW-River Falls. The program will be geared toward students interested in managing corporate wellness programs, which are becoming increasingly popular as a way for businesses to control rising health care costs and increase worker productivity and morale.

· Health care advocacy groups across the state are pressing the WI Department of Health Services to unveil their plans to cut nearly $500 million from the state’s Medicaid program. The cuts were required by the state budget bill introduced by Gov. Walker and passed by the GOP-controlled Legislature in June. Through his spokesperson, DHS Secretary Dennis Smith said he plans to roll-out his Medicaid efficiency plan sometime this fall.

· According to a recently released U.S. Census Bureau report, Wisconsin's uninsured rate was the third lowest in the nation last year at 9.4%. Texas had the highest percentage of uninsured at 24.6%. The report also found that almost 50 million (16.3%) Americans do not have health insurance.

Political News & Notes from around Wisconsin

· Wisconsin Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D) has officially announced she will run for U.S Senate next year to replace retiring Sen. Herb Kohl (D). The Madison-based Baldwin appears to be the favorite to win the Democratic nomination.

Conversely, Congressman Ron Kind (D), who represents the western part of the state, announced he won't run for the U.S. Senate. Kind said he is committed to solving problems facing the state and the nation, but that it’s “not my time to run for the U.S. Senate.” Meanwhile, former WI Congressman Steve Kagen (D-WI 8th CD) has not ruled out a Senate run. If he jumps in the race, he will face Baldwin in a Democratic primary.

On the Republican side, Eric Hovde, a Wisconsin native and current hedge fund manager in Washington D.C., is also considering a Senate run. Hovde who owns commercial real estate in Madison said he plans to move back to Wisconsin.

If Hovde enters the race, he would join former Wisconsin GOP Congressman Mark Neumann in the Republican primary. Although Nuemann is currently the only official candidate on the GOP side, the field is expected to grow and include current Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald (R-Horicon), former Gov. Tommy Thompson and state Sen. Frank Lasee (R-De Pere). Former-state Senator Ted Kanavas has also been mentioned as a possible contender.

· Two Democratic state lawmakers are competing to fill the congressional seat that will be vacated by Baldwin, who, as mentioned-above, is running for U.S. Senate. State Reps. Mark Pocan (D-Madison) and Kelda Roys (D-Madison) have officially announced they would enter the race to represent Wisconsin’s 2nd Congressional District. Dane County Treasurer Dave Worzala has also joined the race. State Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D) has also been mentioned as a possible contender.

· State Sen. Pam Galloway (R- Wausau) has been chosen by her GOP colleagues to serve as chairwoman of the Senate Republican Caucus. Galloway replaces former-Sen. Dan Kapanke (R-La Crosse), who was recalled in August.

· Rep. Cory Mason (D-Racine) has been appointed to the Legislature’s powerful budget-writing committee – the Joint Finance Committee – by Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca (D-Kenosha). Mason was appointed to replace former-Rep. Jennifer Shilling, who was elected to the state Senate last month.

· According to the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, lobbying organizations spent $23.9 million to influence the Legislature and other state officials over the first half of 2011. The figure represents a 15% increase over the same period during the 2009-10 legislative session. Among health care-related groups, the Wisconsin Medical Society spent the most on lobbying during the six month period, with expenses of nearly $254,000.

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