Valued Voice - October 14, 2011

October 14, 2011
Volume 55, Issue 39

Worker’s Compensation Advisory Council Reaches Tentative Agreement

New Legislator Profile: Rep. Steve Doyle (D-Onalaska)

Political Action Spotlight: Wisconsin Hospitals Conduit & PAC Campaign Update

Taxable Benefits of Adult Dependents Proposals Advance

Rep. Murtha "Shadows" Baldwin Area Medical Center CEO

New Tax-Exempt Financing Tool Available in Wisconsin

Budget, Financial Impact Focus of ICD-10 Transition Strategies Webiner Series

2011 Primary Care Physician Scholarship Awarded by WHA Foundation, WCA Group Health Trust and WCMEW

Partners of WHA Host Nearly 325 Hospital Volunteers at Statewide Convention

Register Today for "Care Transitions Connection"

Communication Key Element for Positive Patient Experience

Wisconsin Hospitals Community Benefits: Social, Economic and Educational Factors that Influence Health

Worker’s Compensation Advisory Council Reaches Tentative Agreement
Requires audit of "black box" databases

The Worker’s Compensation Advisory Council reached a tentative agreement this week on this biennium’s Workers Compensation package. The WCAC intends to vote on the agreement during a teleconference scheduled Monday, October 17. The agreement will be drafted as a bill for the Legislature to consider. Traditionally, the Legislature passes and the Governor approves the WCAC proposed bill without amendment.

The tentative agreement includes the following changes in provider reimbursement:

Establish the maximum fee for health care services provided to injured workers at 1.2 rather than 1.4 standard deviations above the mean charge, using the current certified databases to establish the maximum fee.
Require a committee of the WCAC to audit the certified databases for compliance with program requirements.
Establish the maximum fee at 1.3 standard deviations above the mean if the audit does not commence within six months of the date of the bill’s enactment.

The new maximum fee would trim reimbursement only for providers with charges above 1.2 standard deviations above the mean charge. In other words, nearly 80 percent of providers should be unaffected by the change. The WCAC considered, but then rejected, other proposals that could have had a significant negative impact on health care providers. Those rejected proposals included reducing the maximum fee to 1.0 standard deviations above the mean charge; establishing a new fee schedule for medical devices, hardware and prosthetics; codifying the current treatment guidelines; and limiting the employee’s choice of health care provider for the first 90 days after injury. A number of these proposed changes, which generally amount to significant cuts to provider payments, are being implemented in states like Illinois and are causing disruptions in care delivery.

The health care liaisons to the WCAC, which include representatives of the Wisconsin Chiropractic Association, the Wisconsin Medical Society, and the Wisconsin Physical Therapy Association in addition to WHA, sent a letter to the Council supporting the audit of the certified databases, but asked that the audit precede any change in reimbursement.

The tentative agreement also includes an increase in payments to injured workers who are permanently partially disabled. Additional information concerning the proposals and negotiations is available here: http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/wc/councils/wcac/default.htm

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New Legislator Profile: Rep. Steve Doyle (D-Onalaska)
A series of interviews with newly-elected legislators, by Mary Kay Grasmick, editor

Rep. Steve Doyle credits the experience he gained serving on the La Crosse County Board as helping him understand one of the biggest issues facing state government—the Medicaid budget.

Doyle said the County Board partnered with the medical facilities in La Crosse County on issues related to Medicaid, BadgerCare, Family Care and other health-services related issues for many years. Doyle said he is concerned about scaling back benefits for more than 200,000 people currently enrolled in Medicaid.

"We need to focus on encouraging employers to provide health insurance," according to Doyle.

Reps. Doyle and Pat Strachota (R-West Bend) co-authored a bill that seeks to fix a negative side effect of a law enacted in the 2009-10 Legislative Session in Wisconsin (which was also in the federal health reform bill) that allows young people to stay on their parent’s health insurance until they reach age 27. Wisconsin is among a handful of states where parents pay taxes on the value of insurance on an adult child. AB 277, which is supported by WHA, would make that benefit tax exempt (see related story). These are the types of actions, according to Doyle, that state government must take to make it easier for people to be covered by traditional insurance.

"With our high unemployment levels and with employers trying to stay afloat, people either don’t have a job or they have a job that doesn’t have health insurance. We need to be sensitive to people who do not have insurance and make a state option available to them," he said. He suggests a collaborative approach with state programs, such as BadgerCare. He believes the state has an obligation to make those programs work.

But that won’t be easy. There are programs for the very poor, but there are those that slip between the cracks. Those are the people who Doyle believes efforts must be focused upon. He is not against premiums, but he is concerned that if the premiums are too high, people won’t be able to pay them and they will once again not have coverage.

Doyle suggests that consideration be given to adding an incentive to employers if they provide a basic level of insurance coverage. That, along with some of the aspects of the federal health care reform package, could help widen the coverage net in Wisconsin.

Doyle is optimistic that Wisconsin will develop a health insurance exchange. He said his impression is there is a fair amount of common ground on how it could be structured in Wisconsin that will not alienate the existing insurance companies or medical providers. Doyle has nothing but compliments for the two medical facilities in La Crosse—Gundersen Lutheran and Mayo Health Clinic. Doyle worked closely with both of them in his years on the county board. He said both are "outstanding corporate citizens" that work closely with La Crosse County on issues of sustainability and economic development.

"Both Mayo and Gundersen Lutheran are excellent models for other industries not only as major employers in the area, but as innovators, as well," Doyle said.

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Political Action Spotlight: Wisconsin Hospitals Conduit & PAC Campaign Update
Goal reaches 71 percent, majority of contributors choosing conduit

To date, 343 individuals have chosen to participate in the 2011 Wisconsin Hospitals Conduit and State PAC fundraising campaign. So far, the campaign has raised nearly $177,000, which is 71 percent of the $250,000 goal.

Contributions to candidate campaigns have exceeded the last non-election year (2009) which is no surprise given 2011 turned out to be an election year as a result of the nine senate recall elections this past summer. Disbursements in 2011 have surpassed the 2009 amount by nearly $30,000.

The majority of these campaign contributions are conduit contributions, which also reflects that individuals prefer to give through the Wisconsin Hospitals Conduit. In fact, 78 percent of total funds raised to date are contributions to the Wisconsin Hospitals Conduit as individuals see value in being able to direct their funds to the candidate campaigns of their choosing. Remember to contact WHA’s Jodi Bloch or Jenny Boudreau to check your Wisconsin Hospital Conduit account balance when a candidate campaign requests your financial support.

Individual contributors are listed in The Valued Voice by name and affiliated organization on a regular basis. 2011 contributors to date are listed below. Contributors are listed alphabetically by contribution category. The next publication of the contributor list will be in the October 28 edition of The Valued Voice. For more information, contact Jodi Bloch at 608-217-9508 or Jenny Boese at 608-274-1820.

Contributions ranging from $1 – 499
Adams, Daniel	Memorial Medical Center - Ashland
Alstad, Nancy	Fort HealthCare
Annala, Shannon	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Arendt, Kathleen	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Ashenhurst, Karla	Ministry Health Care
Ayers, Mandy	Wisconsin Hospital Association
Bablitch, Steve	Aurora Health Care
Banaszynski, Gregory	Aurora Health Care
Barkovich, Catherine	Sacred Heart Hospital
Beall, Linda	Hudson Hospital
Beglinger, Joan	St. Mary's Hospital
Bell, Kristine	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Bernklau, Robert	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Biros, Marilyn	SSM Health Care-Wisconsin
Bliven, David	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Bloom, Deborah	Sacred Heart Hospital
Boecker, Ron	Wheaton Fransican Healthcare
Boson, Ann	Ministry Saint Joseph’s Children’s Hospital
Boudreau, Jenny	Wisconsin Hospital Association
Braun, Michael	Aspirus, Inc.
Braunschweig, Jennifer	Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center
Brenholt, Craig	St. Mary's Hospital
Brenny, Terrence	Stoughton Hospital Association
Burgener, Jean	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Buss, Diane	St. Mary's Hospital
Calhoun, William	Mercy Medical Center
Campau, Patricia	Columbia St. Mary's, Inc.
Campbell-Kelz, Nancy	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Casey, Candy	Columbia Center
Caven, Michael	Memorial Medical Center - Ashland
Ceelen, John	Ministry Health Care
Censky, Bill	Holy Family Memorial, Inc.
Clapp, Nicole	Grant Regional Health Center
Clark, Renee	Fort HealthCare
Connor, Michael	Aurora Health Care
Cooksey, Patricia	Hudson Hospital
Cox, Tamarah	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Dahl, James	Fort HealthCare
Dalebroux, Steve	St. Mary's Hospital
Danner, Dean	Aspirus, Inc.
Decker, Michael	Divine Savior Healthcare
DeMars, Nancy	Sacred Heart Hospital
Derks, Darla	Sacred Heart Hospital
DeRosa, Jody	St. Mary's Janesville Hospital
Devermann, Robert	Aurora Medical Center in Oshkosh
Dietrich, Dean	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Dolohanty, Naomi	Aurora Health Care
Donlon, Marcia	Holy Family Memorial, Inc.
Drengler, Kathryn	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Drexler, Rochelle	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Dux, Larry	Community Memorial Hospital
Ehn, Diane	Froedtert Health
Ela, Susan	Aurora Health Care
Elliott, Roger	St. Joseph's Hospital
Erickson, Susan	Meriter Hospital
Erickson, William	Ministry Saint Mary’s Hospital
Evans, Kim	Bellin Hospital
Evenson, Rock	Froedtert Health
Fabich, Robb	Aspirus, Inc.
Facey, Alice	St. Clare Hospital and Health Services
Fielding, Laura	Holy Family Memorial, Inc.
Freiberg, Kerry	Community Memorial Hospital
From, Leland	Beloit Health System
Fuchs, Thomas	St. Joseph's Hospital
Furlong, Marian	Hudson Hospital
Garavet, Scott	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Garvey, Gale	St. Mary's Hospital
Gaynor, Stanley	Black River Memorial Hospital
Giedd, Janice	St. Joseph's Hospital
Gjolberg, Skip	Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospital
Goldberg, David	Community Memorial Hospital
Govier, Mary	Holy Family Memorial, Inc.
Grohskopf, Kevin	St. Clare Hospital and Health Services
Groskreutz, Kevin	St. Joseph's Hospital
Gruber, Richard	Mercy Health System Corporation
Grunwald, Patricia	Meriter Hospital
Gulan, Maria	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Gullicksrud, Lynn	Sacred Heart Hospital
Gutsch, Mike	Southwest Health Center
Halida, Cheryl	St. Joseph's Hospital
Hamilton, Lisa	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Hamilton, Mark
Hattem, Marita	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Heilmann, Lea	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Hemes, Jim
Hessert, Peter	Aspirus, Inc.
Hieb, Laura	Bellin Hospital
Hill, Nick	St. Joseph's Hospital
Hockers, Sara	Holy Family Memorial, Inc.
Hoege, Beverly	Reedsburg Area Medical Center
Hofer, John	Bay Area Medical Center
Holmes, Sheryl	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Holub, Gregory	Ministry Door County Medical Center
Jelle, Laura	St. Clare Hospital and Health Services
Jensen, Russell	St. Mary's Hospital
Johnas, Nancy	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Johnson, Joanne	St. Mary's Hospital
Keene, Kaaron	Memorial Health Center - An Aspirus Partner
Kellar, Richard	Aurora West Allis Medical Center
Kelsey Foley, Kathy	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Kempen, Jacob	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
King, Steve	St. Mary's Hospital
Klay, Lois	St. Joseph's Hospital
Klein, Rick	Aurora Health Care
Kuehni-Flanagan, Tracy	St. Joseph's Hospital
Lachecki, Therese	Memorial Medical Center - Ashland
Laird, Michael	Froedtert Health St. Joseph's Hospital
Lange, George	Westgate Medical Group, CSMCP
Lentz, Darrell	Aspirus, Inc.
Leonard, Mary Kay	St. Mary's Hospital
Logemann, Cari	Aspirus, Inc.
Lucas, Roger	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
LuCore, Patricia	Sacred Heart Hospital
Magnussen, Eric	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Marcouiller, Don	Memorial Medical Center - Ashland
Margan, Rob	Wisconsin Hospital Association
Markgraf, Janelle	Langlade Hospital - An Aspirus Partner
Maroney, Lisa
Marquardt, Amy
Mason, Paul	Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare - All Saints
Matzke, Monica	Aspirus, Inc.
Maurer, Mary	Holy Family Memorial, Inc.
McKenzie, Paula	St. Mary's Hospital
McKevett, Timothy	Beloit Health System
McNally, Maureen	Froedtert Health
Meicher, John	St. Mary's Hospital
Merline, Karen
Meyer, Jeffrey	Osceola Medical Center
Meyer, Margaret	Community Memorial Hospital
Mourey, Gerald	Aspirus, Inc.
Muellerleile, Steven	Westfields Hospital
Mulder, Doris	Beloit Health System
Myers, Lynne	Meriter Hospital
Needham, Jean	Westfields Hospital
Nelson, Dean	St. Mary's Hospital
Nevers, Rick	Aspirus, Inc.
Niemer, Margaret	Children's Hospital and Health System
Norton, Marcella	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Ojala, Theresa	St. Mary's Hospital
O'Keefe, James	Mile Bluff Medical Center
Olson, Bonnie	Sacred Heart Hospital
Omdahl, Nicholas	Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare - All Saints
Ose, Peggy	Riverview Hospital Association
Osen, John	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Page, Alison	Balwin Area Medical Center
Palecek, Steve	St. Joseph's Hospital
Peiffer, Susan	Sacred Heart Hospital
Pempek, Kalynn	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Penczykowski, James	St. Mary's Hospital
Peters, Kenneth	Bellin Hospital
Petonic, Mary Frances	Meriter Hospital
Pinske, Heather	St. Mary's Hospital
Piper, Barbara	Sacred Heart Hospital
Polenz, Scott	Memorial Medical Center - Neillsville
Potts, Dennis	Aurora Health Care
Powell, Stacey	Sacred Heart Hospital
Priest, Geoffrey	Meriter Hospital
Proehl, Sheila	Hudson Hospital
Prunty, Brian	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Quinn, George	Wisconsin Hospital Association
Radoszewski, Pat	Children's Hospital and Health System
Rambert, Luanne	Community Memorial Hospital
Rambo, Kari	Hudson Hospital
Reinke, Mary	Aurora Health Care
Rickelman, Debbie	WHA Information Center
Roethle, Linda	Bellin Hospital
Roller, Rachel	Aurora Health Care
Rozenfeld, Jonathan	St. Mary's Hospital
Rubenzer, Deanne	St. Joseph's Hospital
Rudolph, Wade	Sacred Heart Hospital
Rueber, Joel	Aspirus, Inc.
Rutkowski, Jennifer	Grant Regional Health Center
Samitt, Craig	Dean Health System
Saunaitis, Tamara	Meriter Hospital
Schade, Randy	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Schaefer, Mark	Froedtert Health
Schaetzl, Ron	St. Clare Hospital & Health Services
Schraufnagel, Patricia	Memorial Medical Center - Ashland
Schroeder, Larry	Sauk Prairie Memorial Hospital
Schuelke, Susan	Community Memorial Hospital
Scieszinski, Robert	Ministry Door County Medical Center
Scinto, Jeanne	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Sczygelski, Sidney	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Sheehan, Heather	Hayward Area Memorial Hospital and Water’s Edge
Smith, Greg	Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare
Snow, Rachel	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Sparks, Steven	St. Mary's Hospital
Stanford, Cynthia
Statz, Darrell	Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative
Stelzer, Jason	St. Clare Hospital and Health Services
Stine, Stephen	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Stoffel, Julie	St. Joseph's Hospital
Strasser, Kathy	Aspirus, Inc.
Strobel, Donald	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Sullivan, Anne	Memorial Medical Center - Ashland
Sullivan, Gail	St. Joseph's Hospital
Tapper, Joy	Milwaukee Health Care Partnership
Tarantino, Jennifer	Aurora Health Care
Taylor, Steve	Beloit Health System
Tews, Carol	Memorial Medical Center - Neillsville
Tincher, Pat	Langlade Hospital - An Aspirus Partner
Tobin, Susan	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Todd, Jeffrey	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Turner, Sally	Aurora Health Care
Vakoc, Patricia	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
VanDeVoort, John	Sacred Heart Hospital
Voelker, Thomas	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Vogt, Paula	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Walker, Troy	St. Clare Hospital and Health Services
Wanless, Kathy	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Watts, Susan	St. Vincent Hospital
Wipperfurth, Kay	Fort HealthCare
Witt, Heather	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Yaron, Rachel	Ministry St. Clare’s Hospital
Zeller, Brad	Hayward Area Memorial Hospital and Water’s Edge
Contributions ranging from $500 – 999
Andersen, Travis	St. Elizabeth Hospital
Bailet, Jeffrey	Aurora Health Care
Bayer, Tom	St. Vincent Hospital
Bjork, Tanya
Bukowski, Cathy	Ministry Eagle River Memorial Hospital
Bultema, Janice
Byrne, Frank	St. Mary's Hospital
Canter, Richard	Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare
Cardamone, Dr. Steve	Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare
Carlson, Dan	Bay Area Medical Center
Clough, Sheila	Ministry Health Care’s Howard Young Medical Center
Court, Kelly	Wisconsin Hospital Association
Deich, Faye	Sacred Heart Hospital
Dicus-Johnson, Coreen	Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare
Dietsche, James	Bellin Hospital
Eckels, Timothy	Hospital Sisters Health System
Frank, Jennifer	Wisconsin Hospital Association
Garcia, Dawn	St. Joseph's Hospital
Granger, Lorna	ProHealth Care
Grundstrom, David	Flambeau Hospital
Guirl, Nadine	ProHealth Care
Heifetz, Michael	SSM Health Care-Wisconsin
Huettl, Patricia	Holy Family Memorial, Inc.
Hyland, Carol	Agnesian HealthCare
Hymans, Daniel	Memorial Medical Center - Ashland
Johnson, Patricia	Hayward Area Memorial Hospital and Water’s Edge
Kerwin, George	Bellin Hospital
Klimisch, Ronald	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Krueger, Mary	Ministry Saint Clare's Hospital
Lewis, Gordon	Burnett Medical Center
Mantei, Mary Jo	Bay Area Medical Center
May, Carol	Sauk Prairie Memorial Hospital
Nelson, Dave	SSM Health Care-Wisconsin
Nelson, James	Fort HealthCare
Nelson, Nanine	ProHealth Care
Oberholtzer, Curt	Bay Area Medical Center
Ouimet, Mary	Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare - All Saints
Peterson, Douglas	Chippewa Valley Hospital
Pollard, Dennis	Froedtert Health
Postler-Slattery, Diane	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Richards, Theresa	Ministry Saint Joseph’s Children’s Hospital
Rocole, Theresa	Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare
Russell, John	Columbus Community Hospital
Sale, Nora	Froedtert Health
Schafer, Michael	Spooner Health System
Schneider, David	Langlade Hospital - An Aspirus Partner
Selberg, Heidi	HSHS-Eastern Wisconsin Division
Shabino, Charles	Wisconsin Hospital Association
Simaras, James	Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare
Stuart, Philip	Tomah Memorial Hospital
Swanson, Kerry	St. Mary's Janesville Hospital
Van Meeteren, Bob	Reedsburg Area Medical Center
VanCourt, Bernie	Bay Area Medical Center
Volpe, Joseph	Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare
Worrick, Gerald	Ministry Door County Medical Center
Zenk, Ann	Ministry Saint Mary's
Contributions ranging from $1,000 - 1,499
Alig, Joanne	Wisconsin Hospital Association
Anderson, Sandy	St. Clare Hospital and Health Services
Boland, Susan	Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare - All Saints
Britton, Gregory	Beloit Health System
Buser, Kenneth	Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare - All Saints
Duncan, Robert	Children's Hospital and Health System
Fale, Robert	Agnesian HealthCare/St. Agnes Hospital
Francis, Jeff	Ministry Health Care
Fritsch, Phyllis	Upland Hills Health
Geboy, Scott	Hall, Render, Killian, Heath & Lyman
Hahn, Brad	Aurora Health Care
Harding, Edward	Bay Area Medical Center
Hilt, Monica	Ministry Saint Mary’s Hospital
Karuschak, Michael	Amery Regional Medical Center
Kerschner, Joseph	Children's Hospital and Health System
Kosanovich, John	UW Health Partners Watertown Regional Medical Center
Little, Steven	Agnesian HealthCare
Loftus, Philip	Aurora Health Care
Martin, Jeff	Ministry Saint Michael’s Hospital
Morgan, Dwight	Aurora Health Care
Normington, Jeremy	Moundview Memorial Hospital and Clinics
Olson, David	Froedtert Health
Robertstad, John	ProHealth Care - Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital
Sexton, William	Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospital
Size, Pat
Sohn, Jonathan	Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare
Standridge, Debra	Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare
Troy, Peggy	Children's Hospital and Health System
Wallace, Michael	Fort HealthCare
Westrick, Paul	Columbia St. Mary's, Inc.
Contributions ranging from $1,500 - 1,999
Bloch, Jodi	Wisconsin Hospital Association
Boese, Jennifer	Wisconsin Hospital Association
Borgerding, Dana
Coffman, Joan	St. Joseph's Hospital
Eichman, Cynthia	Ministry Our Lady of Victory Hospital
Grasmick, Mary Kay	Wisconsin Hospital Association
Herzog, Mark	Holy Family Memorial, Inc.
Jacobson, Catherine	Froedtert Health
Kammer, Peter	The Kammer Group
LePore, Michael	Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare
Mettner, Michelle	Children's Hospital and Health System
Mohorek, Ronald	Ministry Health Care
O'Brien, Mary	Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center
Olson, Edward	ProHealth Care
Potter, Brian	Wisconsin Hospital Association
Stanford, Matthew	Wisconsin Hospital Association
Starmann-Harrison, Mary
Warmuth, Judith	Wisconsin Hospital Association
Wolf, Edward	Lakeview Medical Center
Woodward, James	Meriter Hospital
Contributions ranging from $2,000 - 2,499
Brenton, Mary E.
Fish, David	Hospital Sisters Health System
Kachelski, Joe	Wisconsin Statewide Health Information Network
Katen-Bahensky, Donna
Kief, Brian	Ministry Saint Joseph’s
Leitch, Laura	Wisconsin Hospital Association
Merline, Paul	Wisconsin Hospital Association
Neufelder, Daniel	Affinity Health System
Oliverio, John	Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare
Pandl, Therese	HSHS-Eastern Wisconsin Division
Sanders, Michael	Monroe Clinic
Contributions ranging from $2,500 - 2,999
Desien, Nicholas	Ministry Health Care
Levin, Jeremy	Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative
Taylor, Mark	Columbia St. Mary's, Inc.
Contributions ranging from $3,000 - 3,999
Borgerding, Eric	Wisconsin Hospital Association
Erwin, Duane	Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Petasnick, William	Froedtert Health
Size, Tim	Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative
Turkal, Nick	Aurora Health Care
Contributions ranging from $4,000 - 4,999
Contributions $5,000 +
Brenton, Stephen	Wisconsin Hospital Association
Tyre, Scott	Capitol Navigators, Inc

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Taxable Benefits of Adult Dependents Proposals Advance

Bills that would apply a federal tax exemption to Wisconsin state income tax were approved by committees in both the Senate and Assembly this week.

Assembly Bill (AB) 277, authored by State Representatives Pat Strachota (R-West Bend), Steve Doyle (D-Onalaska) and others, was passed by the Assembly Insurance Committee. The bill, along with its companion, Senate Bill (SB) 203 authored by Senator Van Wanggaard (R-Racine) and others, was also approved by the Joint Committee on Tax Exemptions and the Joint Finance Committee.

In the 2009-10 Legislative Session, Wisconsin passed an insurance mandate that extended health insurance coverage to adult children up to age 27. Because of this, employers were required to subject the imputed income associated with this coverage to state income tax.

A similar provision was included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), but federal tax law was amended to exempt the value of this coverage from federal income tax. Wisconsin has become the only state not to apply this exemption to state income tax law.

WHA supports the proposals as they would be a welcome fix for employers facing the significant challenge of determining the fair market value of this dependent coverage and the imputed income associated with it.

Approval is expected for the bi-partisan measures when they are considered by the full Senate and Assembly next week.

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Rep. Murtha "Shadows" Baldwin Area Medical Center CEO

Recently Rep. John Murtha had the opportunity to shadow Baldwin Area Medical Center CEO Alison Page. Shadow days are a WHA grassroots initiative designed to allow legislators to see first-hand what it takes to run a hospital in today’s health care environment.

During his time with Page, Rep. Murtha was able to learn in-depth information about hospital financing and how Baldwin Area Medical Center, as a Critical Access Hospital, makes that financing work so the hospital can continue providing the care needed in their local community. Page also discussed how the hospital is an important element of the local economy, providing jobs as well as other indirect economic benefits.

Murtha had the opportunity during his time to meet hospital staff throughout his shadow day and learned how issues pending at the state and federal level could impact small, rural hospitals like Baldwin.

"Baldwin Area Medical Center was pleased to host Rep. Murtha, and we thank him for spending time with us," said CEO Alison Page. "I believe the day gave us the chance to show just how important this hospital is to our community and to each of us."

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New Tax-Exempt Financing Tool Available in Wisconsin

A new financing tool for non-traditional borrowers has been made available through the federal Heartland Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2008 (the "Act") which radically expands previously ineligible borrowers’ access to tax-exempt bond markets. The Act was adopted in response to severe storms, tornadoes and flooding in the Midwest during the summer of 2008 to aid in the economic recovery of the affected areas.

Among the tools authorized by the Act are a new category of tax-exempt bonds called Midwestern Disaster Area Bonds (MDAB) for use by a wider array of private businesses in the region that are not traditionally able to access tax-exempt financing, including:

Specialty and for-profit hospitals;
Privately owned medical office buildings and clinics;
Ambulatory surgery centers; and
Most other medical facilities.

MDABs are available to most private businesses, regardless of tax status, in select Wisconsin counties and must be issued prior to January 1, 2013. In Wisconsin, facilities located in Adams, Calumet, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Manitowoc, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Ozaukee, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Sheboygan, Vernon, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha and Winnebago Counties are eligible to utilize this new class of bonds.

In general, MDABs must be used in support of the following activities:

Land acquisition and new construction;
Refinancing of debt incurred prior to December 31, 2011;
Acquisition and rehabilitation of existing buildings; and
Costs of issuance.

MDABs offer a great deal of flexibility both in terms of project scope and financing terms, however; underwriting and credit criteria remain the same as under traditional tax-exempt bond financing. For instance, the length and the terms of the bonds remain tied to the useful life of the asset and the underlying creditworthiness of the borrower dictate the yield on the bonds. Still, the new access to tax-exempt bond markets MDABs makes available to previously ineligible asset classes makes these bonds an attractive financing vehicle, albeit for a limited time.

For more information on MDABs, contact Liz Stephens, program manager, Public Finance Authority, at 888-508-7188 ext. 863 or email lstephens@pfauthority.org.

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Budget, Financial Impact Focus of ICD-10 Transition Strategies Webinar Series

Hospital executives, chief financial officers and their ICD-10 team members need to ensure their organizations have a strong plan in place for ICD-10 implementation that minimizes the clinical and financial impact on your organization and staff.

On November 11, Wisconsin hospitals can take part in a monthly, four-part webinar series sponsored by WHA and focused on helping hospital executives and their ICD-10 team leaders understand the magnitude of the ICD-10 implementation, the financial and clinical impact of the transition on your own organization, and be better prepared for on-time implementation.

The four sessions will focus on these top priorities in ICD-10 transition planning: budget development and review; reimbursement changes and the financial impact of ICD-10 on hospitals; the value of strategic planning for ICD-10 readiness; and assessing your vendors for their readiness. WHA encourages all hospital leaders to participate in this webinar series along with your CFO, physician leaders and ICD-10 implementation team members.

No matter where you are on the planning timeline, participation in this series will be an important part of your transition process – both to give your organization the jumpstart it might need and/or as a double-check to ensure your team hasn’t overlooked something important.

A full brochure describing the four sessions and online registration are available at: http://events.SignUp4.com/ICD10Impact11-12. An audio recording of the presentation will be available to registered attendees at no extra cost, to share with ICD-10 transition team members who are unable to participate on the scheduled dates.

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2011 Primary Care Physician Scholarship Awarded by WHA Foundation, WCA Group Health Trust and WCMEW

The 2011 Primary Care Physician Scholarship was recently presented to Melissa Natzke, a third-year medical student at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (UWSMPH).

Natzke is a native of Tigerton, Wisconsin, a rural community in northeastern Wisconsin, where she shares the town "had just one doctor for many years. She saw just about everyone in town, including everyone in my family, from my siblings to my great-grandmother." It was this experience combined with a six-week family medicine externship that solidified her desire to become a family physician in a rural area of Wisconsin. Natzke also shares that she hopes to practice a similar type of family and patient-oriented medicine, noting the pride and sense of identity a community feels from having their own doctor and clinic.

Before entering medical school, Natzke earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree and a Master of Public Health degree from UWSMPH. She is currently a registered pharmacist and a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association and Phi Delta Chi Professional Fraternity.

This $5,000 scholarship was funded by the Wisconsin Counties Association (WCA) Group Health Trust, with the specific goal of increasing the number of medical students going into primary care, as well as staying in Wisconsin to practice following graduation. The scholarship was open to third and fourth year medical students at both UWSMPH and the Medical College of Wisconsin. It was presented in collaboration with the WHA Foundation, Inc. and the Wisconsin Council on Medical Education and Workforce (WCMEW).

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Partners of WHA Host Nearly 325 Hospital Volunteers at Statewide Convention

Nearly 325 Partners of WHA volunteer members from hospitals across Wisconsin attended the annual Partners of WHA state convention October 4-6 in Eau Claire, to participate in leadership development opportunities and celebrate hospital volunteerism.

One highlight of the convention was a panel discussion focused on health reform, access to health care and rising health care costs. Panelists included WHA member CEOs Joan Coffman of St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls, Dave Dobosenski of St. Croix Regional Medical Center in St. Croix Falls, and David Miller of River Falls Area Hospital in River Falls. The panel was moderated by Eric Borgerding, executive vice president of WHA.

In addition, the event offered a variety of workshops on topics including state and federal legislative updates, grassroots advocacy, strategic planning and organ transplant programs.

Founded in 1951 as Wisconsin Hospital Association Auxiliaries, Partners of WHA, Inc. emphasizes volunteer service and participation in grassroots advocacy, public policy and community health education, and health career programs for Wisconsin hospitals. Additionally, with nearly 12,000 individual members, Partners of WHA promotes leadership development offering resources and education seminars to local hospital volunteer and auxiliary groups, and shares information on successful community health education initiatives, advocacy and fundraising activities and trends in volunteerism through a variety of channels, including its quarterly newsletter, Reaching Out.

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Register Today for "Care Transitions Connection"
A forum for hospitals, long-term car and home care to discuss care transitions improvement and reducing preventable hospital readmissions.

November 2, 2011
Kalahari Resort, Wisconsin Dells

Brochure and registration information can be found on-line at http://events.SignUp4.com/CareTrans11-2

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Communication Key Element for Positive Patient Experience

A commitment to communication is one of the essential elements for successful health care organizations, James Merlino, MD, FACS, chief experience officer for Cleveland Clinic, told participants at the Patient Experience Summit on September 30. "Communication is critical, and the message must be razor-focused," said Dr. Merlino.

More than 120 health care professionals participated in the day-long event, which featured presentations about local strategies and successes, key roles in the patient experience, and learning from service champions from outside of health care. Representatives from Gundersen Lutheran Health System, Meriter Health Services, Grant Regional Health Center, Aurora Medical Group and Prevea Health provided information about their organizations’ patient experience efforts.

Consistent processes, an engaged workforce, and an auditing protocol to sustain change also are necessary for health care organizations to achieve excellence, Dr. Merlino said. "When you show people the data, it drives performance," he said, adding that everyone must be held accountable.

The Wisconsin Medical Society, Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality (WCHQ) and WHA organized the Summit through a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Aligning Forces for Quality grant.

The Patient Experience Summit presentations and best practice resources are available on the WCHQ website at https://wchq.site-ym.com/?pat_exp_library.

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Wisconsin Hospitals Community Benefits: Social, Economic and Educational Factors that Influence Health

There is a strong association between social and economic factors and adverse health outcomes. Low socioeconomic status, including poverty, lack of education, and other factors are strong influences on health. Wisconsin hospitals are dedicating resources and developing programs to address these issues and improve the health status of those individuals that often cannot access even basic health services.

Hospital participates in "Hmongfest" event

St. Joseph’s Hospital was represented at the first annual Hmoobfest event at the Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds. Hmoobfest – "Hmoob" is the Hmong spelling for "Hmong" – proved to be an interactive experience for those in attendance. Through games, activities and classes, participants came away with a deeper connection to the Hmong culture. Jodi Arriola, Intensive Care Unit, teamed up with Susan Moch and Jamie Callahan of the UW-Eau Claire School of Nursing to present an educational session on hand washing and flu prevention.

St. Joseph’s Hospital, Chippewa Falls

Reaching out to African American women for breast cancer education

A woman has a one in eight chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer during her life. After skin cancer, breast cancer ranks as the second-most diagnosed cancer among women in the United States. But, for African American women in Milwaukee, it ranks first. Addressing this disparity has been a focus of the Breast Cancer Program at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin.

The Breast Cancer Program is one of 14 disease-specific programs offered through the Clinical Cancer Center, where every woman receives multidisciplinary care for her particular situation. Building on this team approach, the Breast Cancer Program has built alliances with community partners such as the Sister’s Network, House of Peace, the Wisconsin Well Woman Program, Men and Women Supporting Each Other (a support group), After Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD) and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Nursing. These partnerships have broadened the scope of the program and allowed it to reach a great number of women in the central city.

Froedtert’s Breast Care Program has been reaching out to medically underserved and uninsured women in Milwaukee’s central city since 2008. Over the past two years, approximately ten African-American educators, coordinated by Froedtert staff, have been providing culturally sensitive community-based breast health education in central city locations.

"We want to provide women with access to timely detection screenings and diagnostic services," says Julie Griffie, MSN, a clinical nurse specialist with the program. "Our outreach efforts are led by a support group of women who are survivors or immediate family members of survivors. They volunteer and educate African American women on the symptoms, risk factors and available resources. Through our efforts, we have been able to detect breast cancer in its beginning stages in more women, which results in greater chances of survival."

In 2009, Froedtert’s breast health educators reached over 4,000 underserved women and reported great success in meeting with women where they gather. The educators have been invited and welcomed into community churches, beauty shops, meal sites and homes. The programming has been well received, with participants feeling able to speak freely and seek mentoring to resolve their health concerns.

"Froedtert’s breast care outreach and education speaks volumes to our entire community," says Sandra Millon Underwood, RN, PhD and professor with the UWM College of Nursing. "African American women are a traditionally underserved population when it comes to breast care. Froedtert’s work with this vulnerable population is premier for any health care institution dedicated to addressing health disparities."

The African American breast care outreach program has received the attention of funders, as well. With the help of the Froedtert Hospital Foundation, the program was recently awarded significant grants from the American Cancer Society and Kohl’s Department Stores to continue and grow its outreach with minority women.

"All women–regardless of race, ethnicity or socioeconomic status–deserve a fighting chance to survive breast cancer," says Dr. Underwood. "The continued work of the Breast Care Program’s outreach ensures that will happen. Froedtert and the Medical College are champions when it comes to ending health disparities in breast cancer."

Froedtert Hospital, Milwaukee

Support for African American children

African American children face many unique challenges in American society. In Milwaukee, stressors such as poverty, violence, mental health, child abuse, neglect, poor education, and teen pregnancy impact their quality of life. The National Black Child Development Institute (BCDI) was established in 1971 as a non-profit organization committed to helping African American children overcome challenges and barriers in education, health care, mental health, and child welfare that might prevent them from reaching their full potential in life. The BCDI-Milwaukee Affiliate supports this work on the local level in Milwaukee.

Aurora Family Service is a natural partner for BCDI Milwaukee, and is represented by Dawn Shelton-Williams. Dawn is the manager of community–based services for Aurora Family Service. She manages two of Aurora Family Service family support programs: the Family Enrichment Program and Wraparound Milwaukee. As a BCDI-Milwaukee Board member, she describes her role:

"I have been a member of the Board of Directors for BCDI-Milwaukee since 1999. I served as president of the Board of Directors in 2007 and 2008. Currently, I serve as the co-chair for the Health Committee for the Board. For the past few years, BCDI-Milwaukee has partnered with Aurora Family Service and Aurora school-based nurses in sponsoring BCDI-Milwaukee’s Annual Children’s Health Fair."

In June 2010, BCDI-Milwaukee hosted this health and fitness fair at Frances Starms Learning Discovery Center on the north side of Milwaukee. Dozens of families attended. Aurora Health Care school-based nurses immunized four children not previously immunized through other initiatives and provided hearing and vision screens to eight children, as well as adults.

Because unsafe sleep plays a role in an average of 15-20 infant deaths each year in Milwaukee and contributes to infant mortality rates, Safe Sleep presentations were conducted by Susie Barlow-Stanis, RN, Family Enrichment Program parent educator. In addition to Aurora Family Service, BCDI-Milwaukee partners include:

• Children’s Service Society of Wisconsin
• Gray’s Child Development Center, Inc.
• Milwaukee Public Schools
• Milwaukee Brotherhood of Firefighters
• UW-Milwaukee TRIO Programs
• UPS
• Martin Luther King Community Center
• Neighborhood Children’s Sports League

Aurora Sinai Medical Center & Aurora Family Service, Milwaukee

Submit community benefit stories to Mary Kay Grasmick, editor, at mgrasmick@wha.org.

Read more about hospitals connecting with their communities at www.WiServePoint.org.

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