January 9

Annual Fiscal Report Shows Surplus

The Department of Administration issued its Annual Fiscal Report for the state of Wisconsin yesterday. The report shows tax revenues have increased 4.3 percent, which will have our state end the biennium with a $135.6 million surplus.

This surplus is found in the general fund, which includes taxes, gaming compact revenue and other revenue generated by state agencies.

I am proud to see that the legislatures commitment to fiscal responsibility and tax cuts has had such a positive effect on the state's economy. This surplus proves that our bold reforms are working, businesses are growing, and Wisconsin is continuing to move forward.

Click here to read the full DOA Annual Fiscal Report.

Mental Health Initiative Passes the Senate Health Committee

This week the Senate Mental Health Committee held a public hearing and executive session on SB 293. This legislation is a three-part initiative that seeks to better coordinate mental health services and to improve outcomes for Wisconsin Medicaid patients who are suffering from mental illness.

The first initiative would implement a behavioral health care coordination pilot program. Current Wisconsin Medicaid enrollees who have significant or chronic mental illness often make repeated trips to the emergency room. This continuous cycle is a significant cost driver for our state’s healthcare system and ultimately is not in the best long-term interest of the patient. SB 293 allows for the use of alternate Medicaid reimbursement models with the goal of incentivizing providers to manage and coordinate all aspects of care; behavioral, physical, and social services. This synchronized and preventative care can help to prevent future ER visits.

The project will provide $1.5 million in all funds ($600,000 GPR) to at least two pilot programs for up to three years. Health care providers eligible for the pilot must meet certain criteria. This pilot is based upon a similar effort in Illinois that resulted in savings of $8 million to taxpayers.

The second pilot program is targeted to adult Medicaid recipients who have mild to moderate mental health needs. Under current law, Medicaid does not reimburse providers who provide consultation to a primary care physician when a patient is in need of care. The purpose of the pilot is to show that proactive consults with a psychiatrist will reduce costs and lead to better outcomes.

The third initiative would implement an online mental health bed tracking system. Our state’s system for tracking the availability of psychiatric care has become antiquated. Currently, when an individual needs inpatient psychiatric care, clinics have no other option than to call around to individual hospitals in an attempt to locate an open bed. An online system can display bed availability statewide in real time, saving valuable staff time and resources. The startup investment is $50,000 GPR and an annual cost to maintain of $30,000 GPR.

SB 293 has wide bipartisan support with over 70 cosponsors from both houses and is also supported by the Wisconsin Hospital Association, the Wisconsin Medical Society, and Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare. SB 293 was successfully voted out of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee by a unanimous vote.

Urban Education Task Force Meeting

This week, the Speaker's Taskforce on Urban Education held its second public hearing. The day began with a tour of Jerome I. Case High School in Racine and Southport Elementary School in Kenosha and ended with a public hearing held at UW-Parkside.

The public hearing had roughly 50 people in attendance on Tuesday afternoon, including several members of the Racine Unified School Board and Kenosha Unified School District. We heard from a number of these School Board and District members where they spoke of their districts successes and pitfalls and ways in which the state could better assist urban school districts that have difficulties with low graduation rates and limited resources. There was also a strong emphasis placed on the state contributing to the accessibility of treatment for students with mental health problems.

These school tours and hearings allow legislators to get a first hand reference of the difficulties that urban schools currently face. By listening to school administrators and school board members, we are able to bring their thoughts and ideas back to Madison where positive action can be taken to provide better resources and aid to our urban schools.

This Weekend's Events

October 17

9am-3:30pm

Junior Women's Craft Fair

Langlade County Fairgrounds

Antigo

October 16 and 17

6-11 pm

Haunted Sawmill-Arcane Asylum

The Haunted Sawmill

Merrill

October 16-23