On Tuesday, September 10, WiAHC Board Chair Jayne Thill and her Compassus colleagues and fellow WiAHC members met with state Rep. Pat Snyder (R-Schofield). During the meeting, the group discussed the value of home health care, and the regulatory and policy challenges faced by the industry. The conversation also touched on the workforce shortage crisis and how it impacts skilled home health care.

Rep. Synder not only listened intently to the group’s overview of the challenges they face in the field, but he also expressed an interest in WiAHC/home health care legislative issues. The WiAHC Government Affairs Team looks forward to continuing to work with Rep. Synder on key legislative priorities.

For dates of service on or after October 1, 2024, DHS will implement the “hard launch” of electronic visit verification (EVV) requirements for the following service codes:

• Home Health Care Service Codes:  92507, 97139, 97799, 99504, 99600, S9123, S9124, T1001, T1021, T1502
• Personal Care Nurse Supervisory Visit Code:  99509

Claims submitted to DHS, HMOs and managed care organizations starting on this date of service that do not include the required EVV information will be denied. 

DHS is imposing these penalties to ensure that the state receives its full allocation of federal Medicaid funding. 

If you have any questions about the EVV hard launch, please feel free to contact DHS EVV Customer Care at 1-833-931-2035 between 7:00AM – 6:00PM (Central Time), Monday through Friday or via email at vdxc.contactevv@wisconsin.gov.

On September 11, 2024, Marquette Law School released a new statewide election poll, which was conducted between August 28 – September 5.  The following poll findings may be of interest.

Presidential Race

The following are the results for polling of likely Wisconsin voters: 

• Kamala Harris (D):  52%
• Donald Trump (R):  48%

U.S. Senate Race

The following are the results for likely Wisconsin voters: 

• Tammy Baldwin (D):  52%
• Eric Hovde (R):  47%

Governor Tony Evers’ Job Performance

This poll asked registered voters if they approve or disapprove of the way that Democrat Tony Evers is handling his job as Governor.  This poll found the following:

• Approve:  51%
• Disapprove:  44%
• Don’t know:  5%

Direction of the State and Economic Conditions

Direction of the State

This poll asked registered voters whether things in Wisconsin are generally going in the right direction, or if things have gotten off on the wrong track.  This poll found the following:

• Right Direction:  46%
• Wrong Track:  53%

Views of the National Economy

This poll asked registered voters how they would describe the national economy.  This poll found the following: 

• Excellent:  3%
• Good:  32%
• Not so good: 35%
• Poor:  30%

Polling on Various Issues – By Political Party

Republican Voters

This poll also asked Wisconsin registered voters which issue (out of the following eight issues) is the most important.  This poll found that the following issues are the most important to Republican voters:

• Economy:  55%
• Immigration and border security:  23%
• Abortion policy:  6%
• Ensuring fair and accurate elections:  5%
• Foreign relations:  3%
• Medicare & Social Security:  2%
• Health care:  2%
• The war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza:  1%
• Don’t know:  1%

Democratic Voters

This poll also asked Wisconsin registered voters which issue (out of the following eight issues) is the most important.  This poll found that the following issues are the most important to Democratic voters:

• Abortion policy:  27%
• Economy:  26%
• Medicare & Social Security:  16%
• Ensuring fair and accurate elections:  13%
• Health care:  9%
• The war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza:  3%
• Foreign relations:  2%
• Immigration and border security:  0%
• Don’t know:  4%

State Assembly

Assembly District 21 – Southeast Milwaukee County

• Rep. Jessie Rodriguez (R-Oak Creek) vs. David Marstellar (D-Milwaukee)
• This is a 53% Democratic district.

Assembly District 26 – Sheboygan Area

• Rep. Amy Binsfeld (R-Sheboygan) vs. Joe Sheehan (D-Sheboygan)
• This is a 52% Democratic district.

Assembly District 30 – Twin Cities Suburbs (River Falls, Hudson)

• Rep. Shannon Zimmerman (R-River Falls) vs. Alison Page (D-River Falls)
• This is a 51% Republican district.

Assembly District 51 – Southwestern Wisconsin

• Rep. Todd Novak (R-Dodgeville) vs. Elizabeth Grabe (D-Mount Horeb)
• This is a 54% Democratic district.

Assembly District 61 – Southwest Milwaukee County

• Rep. Bob Donovan (R-Greenfield) vs. LuAnn Bird (D-Hales Corners)
• This is a 51% Democratic district.

Assembly District 85 – Wausau Area

• Rep. Patrick Snyder (R-Schofield) vs. Yee Xiong (D-Weston)
• This is a 51% Republican district.

Assembly District 88 – Eastern Green Bay Suburbs

• Ben Franklin (R-De Pere) vs. Christy Welch (D-De Pere)
• This is a 50.5% Republican district.

Assembly District 89 – Green Bay and Western Suburbs

• Patrick Buckley (R-Green Bay) vs. Ryan Spaude (D-Green Bay)
• This is a 51% Democratic district.

Assembly District 92 – Northwest Wisconsin, including Chippewa Falls

• Rep. Clint Moses (R-Menomonie) vs. Joe Plouff (D-Menomonie)
• This is a 52% Republican district.

Assembly District 94 – La Crosse Area

• Ryan Huebsch (R-Onalaska) vs. Rep. Steve Doyle (D-Onalaska)
• This is a 50% Democratic/50% Republican District

State Senate

Senate District 8 – Northern Milwaukee Suburbs

• Sen. Duey Stroebel (R-Saukville) vs. Jodi Habush Sinykin (D-Whitefish Bay)
• This is a 51% Republican district.

Senate District 14 – Southcentral Wisconsin, mostly north of Madison

• Sen. Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan) vs. Sarah Keyeski (D-Lodi)
• This is a 52% Democratic district.

Senate District 18 – Fox Valley (Oshkosh, Appleton)

• Dr. Anthony Phillips (R-Appleton) vs. Kristin Alfheim (D-Appleton)
• This is a 54% Democratic District

Senate District 30 – Green Bay and Suburbs

• Jim Rafter (R-Allouez) vs. Jamie Wall (D-Green Bay)
• This is a 52% Democratic district.

Senate District 32 – La Crosse Area

• Stacey Klein (R-Trempealeau) vs. Sen. Brad Pfaff (D-Onalaska)
• This is a 53% Democratic District

On August 15, the Governor’s Task Force on the Healthcare Workforce held its final public meeting, during which it approved the following recommendations. These recommendations will be submitted to the Governor for potential inclusion in the Fiscal Year 2025-2027 budget request that he will submit to the Legislature in early 2025.

• Education and Training
• • Support faculty who teach health professions.
  • • Expand the faculty workforce to increase schools’ capacity to enroll students.

• Recruitment and Retention
• • Increase payer support for recruitment and retention.
  • • Increase funding provided through Medicaid and other payers to help employers boost provider compensation.

• Regulatory Policy
• • Support expanded pathways to licensure.
  • • Expand licensure pathways to keep patients safe while encouraging workforce participation among qualified professionals.

For further details, the full report (75 pages) may be viewed on the DHS website.

In recent weeks, the state Department of Health Services (DHS) submitted a report to the Legislature regarding the statewide immunization program.  The following are highlights from the report for the 2023-2024 school year:

•  89.2% of students met the minimum immunization requirements.
• 6.1% of students received a waiver for at least one required immunization.
• 1.9% of students had not received all the required immunizations.
• 1.9% of students received waivers for all immunizations.

The full report may be viewed here.

Earlier this summer, the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published their 2025 home health proposed payment rule, which immediately raised concerns for the home health care community in Wisconsin and across the country.

While the proposed rule includes a 2.5% increase, due to other proposed payment changes in the rule, including rebalancing of the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM), the update is estimated to be a 1.7% decrease, or $280 million less compared to calendar year 2024.

To express the concerns of our members that the rule as proposed will continue to significantly reduce access to essential home health services in Wisconsin and throughout the country, WiAHC signed on to a National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC) state chapter letter proving key recommendations to CMS to improve the proposed rule. CLICK HERE to read a draft copy of the letter.

Report details recommendations to address challenges facing the state’s healthcare workforce

Gov. Tony Evers announced today the Governor’s Task Force on the Healthcare Workforce has released its final report and advisory action plan providing solutions to address the state’s longstanding healthcare workforce shortages that have plagued the state for years.

The Task Force was charged with studying the workforce challenges facing the state’s healthcare system, including recruitment and retention, identifying ways to improve patient care and alleviate the burdens on the healthcare workforce, exploring educational and training pathways to grow a sustainable healthcare workforce, and creating an action plan with solutions related to workforce development, industry innovation, education, and training for consideration in the governor’s 2025-27 executive budget.

The 25-member force met six times since March to hear from healthcare industry experts and leaders, analyze labor market data, and produce an advisory action plan for Gov. Evers’ review and consideration. As a result of those meetings, the Task Force adopted 10 recommendations with 26 action items representing a variety of policies and programs to address various industry issues, including education, training, recruitment, and retention of healthcare workers. The action plan represents a strategic set of policy and implementation approaches targeting the healthcare industry’s chronic challenges.

The plan:

·        Presents a comprehensive analysis of current and future workforce challenges impacting the healthcare sector;

·        Explores educational and training pathways to create a more diverse, equitable, and sustainable workforce;

·        Identifies strategies to improve patient care and alleviate the burden on our healthcare workforce; and

·        Recommends solutions, including new policies and programs, modifications to existing programs, and necessary changes to state statutes. 

Solutions address three broad categories, including education and training, recruitment and retention, and regulatory policy, including:

Education and training

·        Support faculty who teach healthcare professions through increased compensation and incentives;

·        Expand access to clinical training and hands-on experiences;

·        Break down barriers by funding wraparound services for students, including transportation and child care; and

·        Sustain and expand training programs for direct care professionals and certified nurse aides.

Recruitment and retention

·        Adopt Medicaid Expansion to support healthcare workers and fund workforce initiatives;

·        Increase rates for home and community-based services and behavioral health providers;

·        Continue and create grant funding for innovative programs and trainings to support employers; and

·        Ensure healthcare workers are able to navigate insurance benefits options.

Regulatory policy

·        Authorize Medicaid to pay for community-focused services, such as those provided by doulas and community health workers;

·        Support pathways to licensure for qualified internationally educated professionals;

·        Enter into multi-state licensing compacts, allowing professionals to practice in other participating states; and

·        Fund and grow healthcare workforce wellness programming to support retention.

Wisconsin held its partisan primaries yesterday (August 13) for state legislative and congressional races for the fall general election. Despite a significant number of primaries (primaries were held in roughly half of the 99 Assembly seats and 4 of the 16 Senate seats), there were very few surprises, with the only incumbents that lost their reelection bids were those who were paired against other incumbents due to redistricting.  There was also a statewide referendum on two proposed constitutional amendments. Please find below key election result highlights:

CONGRESSIONAL RACES OF NOTE:

• In the 8th Congressional District GOP primary, Trump-endorsed Tony Wied edged out state Senator Andre Jacque and former state Senator Roger Roth in this closely watched race. Wied will face Democrat Kristin Lyerly in November for the opportunity to fill the open seat vacated earlier this year by Congressman Mike Gallagher (R). Jacque will return to the State Senate, as his seat is not up in November.
• In the 3rd Congressional District, former WEDC Board member Rebecca Cooke beat state Rep. Katrina Shankland in the Democratic primary. She will face Congressman Derrick Van Orden (R) in the November general election. The 3^rdCD is considered a swing seat, and Democrats have targeted it in their attempt to win back the House this fall.

OVERVIEW OF STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES:

• Assembly Speaker Robin Vos easily won his primary challenge, which took place after two failed recall attempts against him earlier this year.
• Freshman Republican State Rep. Nate Gustafson defeated Rep. Mike Schraa in the 55^thAssembly District.  Schraa has served in the State Assembly for 12 years.
• Republican State Rep. John Spiros won his three-way primary for the 86^thAD, which also included two-term incumbent State Representative Donna Rozar.
• Freshman Republican State Rep. Elijah Behnke defeated freshman Rep. Peter Schmidt after moving into the 5^thAD to challenge him.
• Dave Armstrong defeated Jimmy Swenson in the GOP primary for the 67th Assembly District, capturing nearly 78% of the vote.
• Republican State Senator Dan Knodl defeated State Representative Janel Brandtjen in the Republican primary for the 24^thAssembly District.  Sitting senators don’t typically run for the State Assembly. However, Knodl was redistricted into another Senator’s seat and decided to return to the State Assembly rather than run for the Senate.  He served 15 years in the State Assembly prior to serving the last year in the State Senate.
• Dan Feyen (R-Fond du Lac) easily defeated Tim Ramthun in the GOP primary for the 20th Senate District, capturing nearly 65% of the vote.
• Democrat State Representative Melissa Ratcliffe won a three-way primary for the 16^thSenate District, defeating fellow State Representatives Jimmy Anderson and Samba Baldeh.  Both Anderson and Baldeh had to forgo running for their Assembly seat to run for Senate, so neither will be returning to the State Assembly in January.

PRPOSED CONSTITITIONAL AMENDMENTS:

• Wisconsin voters rejected both constitutional amendment questions on the ballot, which aimed to give the Legislature more control over spending federal funds.

CLICK HERE to review all election results.

On August 6, WiAHC unveiled a list of state legislators selected as “Champions of Home Health Care” and “Friends of Home Health Care” for the 2023-2024 state legislative session.  At the completion of each two-year legislative session, WiAHC identifies an exclusive group of lawmakers for their exceptional work to address the priorities of home health care agencies and staff throughout Wisconsin. 

The 2023-2024 “Champion of Home Health Care” recipients are:

--State Rep. Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam)                               

--State Sen. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green)

The 2023-2024 “Friend of Home Health Care” recipients are:

--State Sen. Duey Stroebel (R-Saukville)                                

--Rep. Terry Katsma (R-Oostburg)

--Sen. Mary Felzkowski (R-Tomahawk)                                  

--Rep. Shannon Zimmerman (R-River Falls)

--Sen. Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan)                                           

--Rep. Jessie Rodriguez (R-Oak Creek)

--Sen. Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point)                                   

--Rep. Tony Kurtz (R-Wonewoc)

--Sen. Eric Wimberger (R-Green Bay)                                    

--Rep. Alex Dallman (R-Green Lake)

--Sen. LaTonya Johnson (D-Milwaukee)                                 

--Rep. Tip McGuire (D-Kenosha)

--Sen. Kelda Roys (D-Madison)                                                 

--Rep. Deb Andraca (D-Whitefish Bay)