Continuing Forward

This week, Gov. Walker delivered his annual State of the State Address before a joint session of the Wisconsin State Legislature. As Gov. Walker said during his speech, the state of our state is historically strong.

Not only is the unemployment rate at a record low, jobs continue to pour in from around the country and we continue to lower taxes all while making historic investments in K12 education. Not to mention, due to our bold reforms the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau announced the state will end the biennium with a significant budget surplus that is going back to hard working taxpayers.

But we’re not done yet. Gov. Walker unveiled plans to address healthcare including a permanent waiver to secure SeniorCare and encouraging the Senate to pass legislation that will protect people with pre-existing conditions. The Assembly passed the proposal last fall.

I’m excited to continue working on reforms that improve access to healthcare, promote job growth and help working families across Wisconsin.

Together, we will continue moving Wisconsin Forward.

Have a terrific weekend!

On Thursday, Rep. Joe Sanfelippo and I testified in the Health Committee on legislation that will create an innovative intensive care coordination pilot program.

The program encourages hospitals to provide intensive care coordination for Medicaid patients that are high users of emergency room services. These patients will work with social workers and healthcare professionals to address their complex health needs by connecting the patient with a primary doctor, working with a health care provider and developing a support system outside of the hospital.

Last year, more than 10,000 people in Wisconsin visited an emergency room seven or more times at a cost of more than $50 million. This small group of patients, known as high utilizers, accounted for 111,000 emergency department encounters last year. Using emergency departments for primary care is a costly and inefficient use of Medicaid dollars and reduces access to emergency care for those who truly need it.

Wisconsin has been a leader in developing innovative programs that improve access to care while controlling costs. The intensive care coordination program is another innovative approach that continues this longstanding tradition.