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WiAHC Government Affairs Report

July 28, 2023 9:15 AM | Anonymous

By Hoven Consulting – WiAHC’s lobbying firm

  • Fiscal Year 2023-2025 Finalized State Budget Highlights

The following are highlights of the finalized Fiscal Year 2023-2025 state budget, which was signed into law by Governor Tony Evers on July 5, 2023. 

Department of Health Services (DHS) – The approved DHS budget increased spending by $3.1 billion overall over the biennium. 

  • Medicaid/Medical Assistance
  • Nursing Home Support Services:  Provide $73,200,000 in FY2023-24 and $73,200,000 in FY2024-25 to increase the support services portion of Medical Assistance program reimbursement for nursing homes. Require DHS to establish and implement a priced rate for nursing home support services based on median facility costs, plus 25 percent.
  • Nursing Home Ventilator Dependent Rate:  Provide $5,000,000 in FY2023-24 and $5,000,000 in FY2024-25 to increase the all-encompassing ventilator-dependent resident reimbursement rate for nursing home care. Require DHS to increase the reimbursement rate under the Medical Assistance program for an authorized facility treating a resident of the facility who has received prior authorization for ventilator-dependent care reimbursed under the all-encompassing ventilator dependent resident reimbursement rate by $200 per patient day.
  • Elder and Disability Services
  • Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs):  Provide $2,513,700 in FY2023-24 and $5,027,400 in FY2024-25 in funding increases.
  • Complex Patient Pilot Program:  Provide $5,000,000 in FY2023-24 on a one-time basis to help facilitate the transfer of complex patients from acute care settings, such as hospitals, to post-acute care facilities, such as nursing homes.
  • Public Health
  • Allied Health Professional Training:  Provide $2,500,000 annually to expand allied health professional education and training grants.  Expand eligibility for the program to include registered nurses.
  • Behavioral Health
  • Telemedicine Crisis Response Pilot Program:  Provide $2,000,000 in FY2023-24 for a telemedicine crisis response pilot program.

Higher Education Aids Board

  • Nurse Educators:  Maintained $5 million in annual funding for this program.  However, WiAHC had requested to increase this annual funding total to $10 million. 

Department of Safety and Professional Services

  • Occupational Credentialing
  • Software:  $3.57 million for occupational credentialing software and related maintenance.
  • License Processing Staffing:  7 license processing contract workers (on a four-year employment contract).
  • Customer Service Call Center Staffing:  6 license processing-focused customer service call center contract workers (on a two-year employment contract).
  • Prescription Drug Monitoring
  • $1.1 million for software improvements, electronic health records integration, and licensing costs for the state’s electronic Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (ePDMP). 

·       DHS Launches Independent Living Supports Pilot Program

In late June 2022, DHS announced the launch of their Independent Living Supports Pilot Program.  This program will allow eligible senior citizens and individuals with disabilities to access short-term, flexible services and supports to allow them to continue to live independently, instead of entering Medicaid long-term care.  This program will make available up to $7,200 in services and support to eligible individuals either on a one-time or continuing basis.  Such services and support include supportive home care, specialized medical equipment, home and vehicle modifications, among other items. 

For more information, including the list of counties in which the pilot program is taking place, go to the DHS pilot program website.  

  • Improved Finances for State Medicaid Fund

DHS has projected that the state Medicaid fund ended state fiscal year 2023 with a $875.5 million surplus compared to the FY2021-2023 budgeted amount.  In addition, the surplus is $79.1 million more than what DHS projected this past spring.  This surplus was due to a number of factors, including lower costs for prescription drugs and long-term health care.  Once the surplus amount is finalized and confirmed at the end of July 2023, surplus funds will be transferred to the state’s general fund. 

  • DHS Annual Adjustment to Patient Health Care Record Fees

Each year on July 1, DHS is required by state law to adjust the maximum fees (factoring in the change in the consumer price index) that health care providers may charge for patient medical records.  The updated fee schedule may be viewed on the Legislature’s website. 


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