By Hoven Consulting – WiHPCA’s lobbying firm
- Governor Signs Bill Protecting Health Care Workers
In April, Governor Evers signed a number of bills that passed both chambers of the legislature earlier this year, including the following bill supported by WiHPCA:
- SIGNED - Assembly Bill 960 – This bill makes it a felony to threaten or physically attack a health care provider, a staff member of a health care facility or a family member of either, if the threat or attack is related to an official act of the provider or is related to an incident at the health care facility. As WiHPCA supports this legislation, it joined various health care organizations and sent a joint memo to the Legislature supporting this bill earlier this year.
- Proposed Legislative Study Committees Announced
After the legislative session concludes in even-numbered years, the Legislative Council - the legislature's in-house, non-partisan group of attorney advisors - organizes study committees that perform in-depth reviews of various state policy matters facing Wisconsin. Committees are comprised of both legislators and citizen members.
Study committees hold hearings, during which they hear public testimony – including from subject-matter experts – on state policies that may need to be fixed or updated. Once a committee has completed receiving public testimony, it generally drafts legislation for possible introduction and consideration by the legislature. In mid-April, the list of study committees was finalized. The following proposed study committees may be of interest to WiHPCA:
· Study Committee on Occupational Licenses
o Sen. Rob Stafsholt (R-New Richmond) will be the Chair and Rep. Shae Sortwell (R-Two Rivers) will be the Vice Chair.
· Study Committee on Uniform Death Reporting Standards
o Sen. Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan) will be the Chair and Rep. Jesse James (R-Altoona) will be the Vice Chair.
Once the scope of these committees is established, we will share that with WiHPCA members who may wish to consider serving on one of these committees.
- Upcoming Blackout Period for Initial Occupational Credential Applications
The state Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) will temporarily stop accepting initial applications for 72 types of occupational credentials starting at 12:00PM on Friday, April 29, and ending at 11:59PM on Sunday, May 15. The list of such credentials may be viewed on the DSPS website and mostly includes professionals in the health care field, including physicians, physician assistants, licensed practical nurses and registered nurses.
This temporary blackout period will be put in place to allow DSPS to implement its new online occupational credentialing portal, which will replace its current paper application process. This new portal will be unveiled on Monday, May 16.
