State Representative Patrick Snyder (R-Wausau) and state Senator Jesse James (R-Thorp), introduced legislation in the Assembly (Assembly Bill 23) and Senate (Senate Bill 39), respectively, which would create a state Palliative Care Council to advise the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) and create a palliative care consumer and professional information and education program.  Assembly Bill 23 has been referred to the Assembly Committee on Health, Aging and Long-Term Care and Senate Bill 39 has been referred to the Senate Committee on Health.  We are sharing this information with you as many home health agencies also provide palliative care. 

The primary intent of this legislation is to improve awareness of and access to palliative care, as there are not enough health care providers who specialize in palliative care in Wisconsin.  Furthermore, there is a shortage of information on palliative care for practicing health care providers, patients, and their loved ones.   

The proposed palliative care council would work with DHS on analyzing existing palliative care programs, as well as identifying ways in which health care providers could improve the quality of life for patients throughout our state.  The council comprises 22 members representing diverse perspectives, including physicians, nurses, a spiritual care professional, palliative care patients or family members of such patients, a health insurance company representative with expertise in palliative care, and members of the Legislature.  The council would meet at least twice per year in various locations across the state.

Many other states have already taken the step of creating a palliative care advisory council or advisory group to increase awareness of access to this specialized type of care.  In fact, 22 other states from coast to coast have formed such entities. 

The Assembly Committee on Health, Aging and Long-Term Care held a hearing on this bill on February 12, which is discussed below.

On February 12, the Assembly Committee on Health, Aging and Long-Term Care held a hearing on Assembly Bill 23, a bill to create a Palliative Care Council.  At this hearing, numerous individuals testified regarding this bill.  In addition to state Representative Patrick Snyder (R-Wausau) and state Senator Jesse James (R-Thorp), who are the authors of this legislation, the following individuals testified in favor of the bill:

·        Siera Williams, RN, Director of Hospice and Palliative Care, Tomah Health

·        Michelle Theige, APNP, Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner, Tomah Health

·        Kimberly Casper, FNP-C, Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner, Tomah Health

·        Agron Ismaili, MD, Medical Director, VITAS Healthcare, Milwaukee

·        Carrie Schepp, General Manager, VITAS Healthcare, Milwaukee

·        Sara Sahli, Government Relations Director-Wisconsin, American Cancer Society

·        Kaylee Litchfield, RN, Palliative Care Nurse, UW Health

The testimony of bill supporters was well received by committee members.  In fact, no committee member – Republican or Democrat – made any remarks against this legislation. 

The other following organizations have formally registered their support for this bill, but did not testify at the hearing:

·        Alzheimer’s Association

·        Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources (GWAAR)

·        Mayo Clinic Health System

·        Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians

·        Wisconsin Academy of Physician Assistants

·        Wisconsin Medical Society

·        Wisconsin Nurses Association

In early February, the state Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) announced that it is the first multi-occupational licensing agency in the United States that now offers a digital occupational credential that may be downloaded to a smartphone.  For more information, please go to the DSPS website to obtain download directions.

Last October, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) held a two-day Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) innovation grants summit.  According to DHS, “organizations across Wisconsin, along with state and national experts, came together to showcase innovative programs, workshop ideas, and discuss the future of home and community-based services.”  DHS has now launched a dedicated website that includes content from the summit, which includes HCBS grant information and videos of various portions of the summit. 

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has recently opened up registration for the following statewide events:

·        Wisconsin Harm Reduction Conference– This event will be held at the Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells on July 16-17, 2025.  This conference will focus on reducing harms associated with drug use.  More information about the conference can be found on the DHS website. 

·        Opioids, Stimulants, and Trauma Summit– This summit will be held at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells on May 6-8, 2025.  This annual summit will focus on prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery strategies related to opioids, stimulants, and trauma. More information is available on the DHS website. 

The State Assembly and State Senate convened on Monday, January 6 to kick off the 2025-2026 legislative session.  In the Assembly, Republicans hold 54 seats and Democrats hold 45 seats. In the Senate, Republicans hold 18 seats and Democrats hold 15 seats.  

The following legislators will serve in leadership positions in both the Assembly and Senate during the 2025-2026 legislative session:

Senate Republicans

• Senate Majority Leader – Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg)
• Senate President – Mary Felzkowski (R-Tomahawk)
• Senate Assistant Majority Leader – Dan Feyen (R-Fond du Lac)
• Senate President Pro Tempore – Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point)
• Senate Republican Caucus Chair – Van Wanggaard (R-Racine)
• Senate Republican Caucus Vice-Chair Rachel Cabral-Guevara (R-Appleton)

Senate Democrats

• Senate Minority Leader – Dianne Hesselbein (D-Middleton)
• Senate Assistant Minority Leader – Jeff Smith (D-Eau Claire)
• Senate Minority Caucus Chair – Mark Spreitzer (D-Beloit)
• Senate Minority Vice Caucus Chair – Dora Drake (D-Milwaukee)

Assembly Republicans

•  Assembly Speaker – Robin Vos (R-Rochester)
• Assembly Majority Leader – Tyler August (R-Walworth)
• Assembly Assistant Majority Leader – Scott Krug (R-Nekoosa)
• Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore – Kevin Peterson (R-Waupaca)
• Assembly Majority Caucus Chair – Rob Summerfield (R-Bloomer)
• Assembly Majority Caucus Vice Chair – Cindi Duchow (R-Delafield)
• Assembly Majority Caucus Secretary – Nancy VanderMeer (R-Tomah)
• Assembly Majority Caucus Sergeant at Arms – Treig Pronschinske (R-Mondovi)

Assembly Democrats

• Assembly Minority Leader – Greta Neubauer (D-Racine)
• Assembly Assistant Minority Leader – Kalan Haywood (D-Milwaukee)
• Assembly Minority Caucus Chair – Lisa Subeck (D-Madison)
• Assembly Minority Caucus Vice Chair – Clinton Anderson (D-Beloit)
• Assembly Minority Caucus Secretary – Mike Bare (D-Verona)
• Assembly Minority Caucus Sergeant at Arms – Jodi Emerson (D-Eau Claire)

Legislative Leaders Announce Committee Chairs

At the end of last year, Legislative Republicans announced the chairs of the various Assembly and Senate committees for the 2025-2026 legislative session.  The following committee chairs may be of interest to WiAHC members:

Assembly Committees

·        Committee on Health, Aging and Long-Term Care

o   Chair:  Rep. Clint Moses (R-Menomonie)

·        Committee on Insurance

o   Chair:  Rep. Barbara Dittrich (R-Oconomowoc)

·        Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Prevention

o   Chair:  Rep. Paul Tittl (R-Manitowoc)

·        Committee on Regulatory Licensing Reform

o   Chair:  Rep. Shae Sortwell (R-Two Rivers)

·        Committee on Science, Technology, and Artificial Intelligence

o   Chair:  Rep. Nate Gustafson (R-Fox Crossing)

Senate Committees

·        Committee on Health

o   Chair:  Sen. Rachael Cabral-Guevara (R-Appleton)

·        Committee on Insurance, Housing, Rural Issues & Forestry

o   Chair:  Sen. Romaine Quinn (R-Birchwood)

·        Committee on Licensing, Regulatory Reform, State & Federal Affairs

o   Chair:  Sen. Chris Kapenga (R-Pewaukee)

·        Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children & Families

o   Chair:  Sen. Jesse James (R-Altoona)

Legislators Appointed to Assembly and Senate Health Committees

The following state legislators have been appointed to the Assembly and Senate Health Committees for the 2025-2026 legislative session:

Assembly Committee on Health, Aging & Long-Term Care

·        Rep. Clint Moses (R-Menomonie), Chair

·        Rep. Rob Brooks (R-Saukville), Vice Chair

·        Rep. Barbara Dittrich (R-Oconomowoc)

·        Rep. Rick Gundrum (R-Slinger)

·        Rep. Joel Kitchens (R-Sturgeon Bay)

·        Rep. Adam Neylon (R-Pewaukee)

·        Rep. Patrick Snyder (R-Weston)

·        Rep. Rob Summerfield (R-Bloomer)

·        Rep. Nancy VanderMeer (R-Tomah)

·        Rep. Chuck Wichgers (R-Muskego)

·        Rep. Lisa Subeck (D-Madison), Ranking Democrat

·        Rep. Sheila Stubbs (D-Madison)

·        Rep. Robyn Vining (D-Wauwatosa)

·        Rep. Tara Johnson (D-Town of Shelby)

·        Rep. Renuka Mayadev (D-Madison)

Senate Committee on Health

·        Sen. Rachael Cabral-Guevara (R-Appleton), Chair

·        Sen. Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point), Vice Chair

·        Sen. Jesse James (R-Thorp)

·        Sen. Jeff Smith (D-Brunswick), Ranking Democratic Member

·        Sen. Dora Drake (D-Milwaukee)

In January, the state Department of Health Services (DHS) announced that they now offer their certified direct care professional (CDCP) training program in the Hmong language, in addition to English and Spanish.  CDCPs provide personal/supportive home care to senior citizens and disabled people.

Wisconsinites interested in receiving the CDCP certification may sign up to receive free training and then will need to pass an online test in order to be certified.  Certified individuals who obtain employment with an eligible employer may earn up to $500 in combined hiring and retention bonuses. 

More information may be found on the DHS website.

As we look back over the 2023-2024 state legislative session, we are grateful for the strong advocacy efforts of WiAHC in Madison.  With your help, WiAHC helped accomplish a number of priorities that benefit home health care agencies and the patients we serve:

• The following funding items supported by WiAHC were included in the state’s FY2023-FY2025 enacted budget:
• State funding to continue the federally funded Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) 5.0 percent Medicaid reimbursement rate increase through June 30, 2025.  This rate increase was initially funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). 
• Maintained $5 million in annual funding for the nurse educators’ program. 
• WiAHC also supported legislation – Senate Bill 476 – that codified existing state regulations allowing health care providers that do not have a physical location in Wisconsin to be certified as a Medicaid provider in order to treat patients who are Medicaid beneficiaries via telehealth as long as the provider is licensed in the state and is in good standing with the relevant occupational licensing board.  Governor Evers signed this bill on March 22, 2024. 

We look forward to continuing our strong working relationship with WiAHC as the 2025-2026 state legislative session begins.

From all of us at Hoven Consulting, we would like to wish all of you and your families a very happy and healthy holiday season! 

In early December, the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) unveiled a new streamlined Medicaid process for new clinicians.  In particular, the process captures data that medical professionals enter into the DSPS system when applying for an initial medical credential and automatically and securely imports that into the system that registers and validates new clinicians with the state’s Medicaid program.  Prior to this process change, new clinicians would have to manually enter required information in order to register as a Medicaid provider – much of which is duplicative to what is manually entered when applying for an initial health care credential.