THE VALUED VOICE

On December 12, a delegation of WHA leaders met with House Speaker Paul Ryan at his district office in Janesville to discuss key issues related to the potential replacement of Obamacare. WHA 2016 Board Chair Mike Wallace, Past Chair Therese Pandl and Chair-elect Bob Van Meeteren joined WHA President/CEO Eric Borgerding to share their views with Ryan.

"Given the initial stages we are in, and uncertainty with many elements of changing the ACA, I thought it was an excellent discussion," said Borgerding. "There are many questions, and a fair amount of angst, that are universal to hospitals, health systems, physicians and providers across the country, and then there are issues that are more unique to states like Wisconsin. Speaker Ryan has to keep an ear to both levels, and we were able to have that multi-leveled conversation."

Topics discussed included coverage expansion in Wisconsin, various aspects of Medicaid and the pace and implementation of changes to the ACA and ongoing communication.

"It was a great opportunity to bring a ground level, Wisconsin perspective to these monumental issues," Wallace said. "I speak for all WHA members in expressing our gratitude to Speaker Ryan for the opportunity to have this important discussion, the first of many dialogues."