On February 12, the Assembly Committee on Health, Aging and Long-Term Care held a hearing on Assembly Bill 23, a bill to create a Palliative Care Council.  At this hearing, numerous individuals testified in support of this bill.  In addition to state Representative Patrick Snyder (R-Wausau) and state Senator Jesse James (R-Thorp), who are the authors of this legislation, the following individuals – including WiHPCA member agency staff – testified in favor of the bill:

·        Siera Williams, RN, Director of Hospice and Palliative Care, Tomah Health

·        Michelle Theige, APNP, Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner, Tomah Health

·        Kimberly Casper, FNP-C, Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner, Tomah Health

·        Agron Ismaili, MD, Medical Director, VITAS Healthcare, Milwaukee

·        Carrie Schepp, General Manager, VITAS Healthcare, Milwaukee

·        Sara Sahli, Government Relations Director-Wisconsin, American Cancer Society

·        Kaylee Litchfield, RN, Palliative Care Nurse, UW Health

·        A number of letters of support were submitted from WiHPCA members, as well. 

The testimony of WiHPCA members and other bill supporters was well received by committee members.  In fact, no committee member – Republican or Democrat – made any remarks against this legislation. 

The other following organizations have formally registered their support for this bill, but did not testify at the hearing:

·        Alzheimer’s Association

·        Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources (GWAAR)

·        Mayo Clinic Health System

·        Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians

·        Wisconsin Academy of Physician Assistants

·        Wisconsin Medical Society

·        Wisconsin Nurses Association

WiHPCA’s government relations team continues to aggressively lobby the Legislature to continue to move this bill through the legislative process.