Guiding Patients to Effective Care

Hello, I’m State Representative Jessie Rodriguez.

It has been another busy week in Madison!

On Tuesday, I testified on a bill I authored with Representative Sanfelippo that would create a pilot program to help hospitals across the state create intensive care coordination programs.

In 2016, over 10,000 individuals in Wisconsin visited emergency room departments seven or more times at an estimated cost of $50 million dollars. Using the emergency room for primary care is a costly and inefficient use of Medicaid dollars and puts a strain on hospital resources.

Intensive care coordination programs connect Medicaid patients who frequently use the emergency room as their main source of healthcare with a primary care physician and an intensive care coordinator.

Through this program, coordinators will connect these patients to a variety of services and integrate additional needs including health literacy and mental health services. Not only will these programs help patients receive the one-on-one care they need, it will also lead to long-term cost savings in the Medicaid program.

There will be a lot happening in the weeks ahead, so keep an eye out for the next Rodriguez Recap.

Have a nice weekend!

The Joint Finance Committee signed off on legislation Thursday that provides $250,000 in grants to allow counties across the state to create Family Drug Treatment Courts (FDTC).

Family Drug Treatment Court is a cost-effective alternative drug treatment program that has yielded tremendous success in Milwaukee County helping 262 families since the program began. The FDTC primarily helps parents struggling with sobriety and drug addiction. Many of the parents in the program have had their children removed from the home. With help from social workers, judges and attorneys, parents develop a plan to get sober and be reunified with their child.

The Family Drug Treatment Court has helped many families in Milwaukee County and by securing funding I am confident it will help more families in other counties across the state facing similar challenges in addressing the drug epidemic.

This week, student officers from around the state traveled to Madison to meet with state legislators to discuss student organizations. One of the students from Oak Creek is part of HOSA – Future Health Professionals and we discussed her aspirations to get involved in the health field after she goes to college.

Additionally, pharmacy students from Oak Creek and South Milwaukee stopped by as part of the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin legislative day. The students shared their thoughts on legislative initiatives that will allow them to better serve their patients.

It was a pleasure meeting these determined students and I wish them well in their future endeavors!