WiHPCA News

In October, WiHPCA unveiled a list of state legislators selected as “Champions of Hospice and Palliative Care” and “Friends of Hospice and Palliative Care” for the 2025-2026 state legislative session.  At the completion of each two-year legislative session, WiHPCA identifies an exclusive group of lawmakers who have shown exceptional support to address the priorities of hospice and palliative care agencies and staff throughout Wisconsin. 

For the 2025-2026 legislative session, both state Representative Patrick Snyder (R-Wausau) and state Senator Jesse James (R-Thorp) were selected as “Champions of Hospice and Palliative Care” as they both introduced and advocated for legislation creating a state palliative care council – the top policy priority for WiHPCA. A WiHPCA representative presented Rep. Snyder with an award plaque, which is shown in a photo below.

In addition, the following legislators received the “Friend of Hospice and Palliative Care” designation due to their support of legislation creating a state palliative care council:

• State Sen. Rachael Cabral-Guevara (R-Fox Crossing)
  o   She voted to advance the Palliative Care Council bill in the Senate Health Committee, of which she serves as chair.

• State Rep. Clint Moses (R-Menomonie)
  o   He voted to advance the Palliative Care Council bill in the Assembly Health Committee, of which he serves as chair.

• Rep. Lisa Subeck (D-Madison)
  o   She voted to advance the Palliative Care Council bill in the Assembly Health Committee and co-sponsored this bill.

• Sen. Jeff Smith (D-Brunswick)
  o   He voted to advance the Palliative Care Council bill in the Senate Health Committee.

WiHPCA Government Relations Director Tim Hoven (right) presenting the Champion of Hospice and Palliative Care award to state Rep. Patrick Snyder (left)

On September 30, 2026, Marquette University Law School Poll released its most recent poll, which surveyed 843 Wisconsin registered voters between September 16-23, 2026. This new poll covers the 2026 general election, including the gubernatorial race, as well as various policy areas.

The margin of error for registered voters polled was +/-4.3%. The sample size of likely voters was 692, and the margin of error was +/-4.8%.

The following September 2026 poll findings may be of interest:

Wisconsin Gubernatorial Candidates – 2026 November General Election
Here is how Wisconsin likely voters said they would vote in the November general election:

• Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley (D)         49%
• Congressman Tom Tiffany (R)                                      46%       
• Undecided                                                                     5%

State Legislature – Generic Vote
When asked generically about voting for state legislative candidates in the November general election, Wisconsin likely voters responded that they would vote in the following manner:

• Democratic State Legislative Candidate                       48%
• Republican State Legislative Candidate                       45%
• Undecided                                                                     7%

General Issues
The most important issue among registered voters:

• Inflation and the cost of living 45%
• Illegal immigration and border security 11%
• Health insurance  9%
• Jobs and the economy  9% 
• Property taxes                                                          7%
• Data centers                                                             5%
• Abortion policy                                                          5%
• Affordability of housing                                             4%
• Public schools                                                          4%
• Crime in your community:                                         2%

State and Local Policy (Among Registered Voters)

Public Schools

• More important to hold down property taxes vs. public school funding is more important                    54%
• Public school funding is more important vs. more important to hold down property taxes                   45%

State Budget Surplus

• Return the entire state budget surplus to taxpayers        48%
• Use the surplus to pay for state and local services          52%

Data Centers/Artificial Intelligence

• How much have voters read or heard about data center construction:
  o   A lot                                      36%
  o   A little                                    56%
  o   Nothing at all:                       7%

• Costs of data centers outweigh the benefits 74%
• Benefits of data centers outweigh the costs 25%

• Favor at least a one-year ban on data center construction 68%
• Oppose at least a one-year ban on data center construction 32%

• Is the development of artificial intelligence good or bad for society?
  o   A bad thing:                        65%
  o   A good thing:                      34%

October 1 Meeting Summary (from the Wheeler Report)

Regarding consumer-facing chatbots, members leaned toward requiring upfront disclosure rather than regulating how chatbots behave. They still asked staff to include draft [legislative] options for suicide and self-harm protocols and for extra safeguards when a chatbot interacts with a minor, so those can be debated and possibly cut later. The committee chose not to require healthcare practitioners to disclose when they use AI tools. Members said AI is already embedded throughout clinical work, citing radiology as an example, and that disclosure rules would become a "slippery slope." This was consistent with the Medical Examining Board's position that the practitioner is responsible for the record. That also produced a discussion over ambient-listening scribes that delete their audio recordings, and whether patients lose evidence they could use in a malpractice dispute. Members likewise declined to mandate AI continuing education or to legislate governance standards for organizations that deploy AI. With regard to governance, several members said smaller and rural providers need resources such as grants and data-science support more than they need new requirements.

On health insurance and prior authorization, there was broad support for requiring meaningful human review before a coverage or prior authorization request is denied, along with reporting on outcomes so the requirement can be enforced. Another topic was a state AI "regulatory sandbox," which members suggested renaming a "laboratory." It would grant AI developers temporary, supervised relief from state rules, mainly licensing rules, so they could test products in Wisconsin and report the results back to the state. Members discussed which agency would run it, how much it would cost, whether there is real demand, how patients would be protected, and how it could connect to a multi-state effort.

In mid-October, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced that they are seeking members for four state Medicaid-focused boards, committees and councils. According to an email from DHS, the agency is seeking the following:

• People focused on Medicaid, including:
• • A current Medicaid member or their caregiver living in the Western region of the state
  • A long-term care direct care worker (staff who provide services to Medicaid members in long term care settings, like a home, nursing home, or assisted living facility)
  • A community outreach expert (a trusted advisor to Medicaid members who makes connections, shares resources, ensures quality services, or helps members overcome barriers)

• People focused on the IRIS (Include, Respect, I Self-Direct) Program, including 3-4 current IRIS participants or their supported or legal decision makers

• People focused on long-term care, including:
• • Three (3) self-advocates who receive long-term care services
  • A long-term care expert
  • Two (2) long-term care providers

For more information and to apply, please visit the DHS Medicaid Boards, Committees, and Councils page. Please note that the deadline is November 6!

The Wisconsin Hospice and Palliative Care Association (WiHPCA) is pleased to announce that the Call for Board Nominations is now open for the 2027-2029 term.

Serving on the WiHPCA Board of Directors is a meaningful opportunity to help shape the future of hospice and palliative care across Wisconsin. We encourage passionate, engaged members who are committed to advancing our mission to consider applying.

Board service offers a chance to share your expertise, contribute to strategic initiatives, and collaborate with fellow leaders dedicated to supporting quality hospice and palliative care services throughout the state.

Applications will be accepted through October 31, 2026. Interested members can apply by completing the nomination form: APPLY HERE

We encourage all qualified members to take this opportunity to get involved and make a lasting impact on our organization and the communities we serve.

Submit your application today and help lead the future of WiHPCA!

With less than 50 days until the November general election, Marquette University Law School Poll released its most recent poll on August 26, which surveyed 891 Wisconsin registered voters between August 12-20, 2026. The margin of error for registered voters polled was +/-4.0%. This is Marquette’s first poll following the August 11 primary election. This new poll covers the 2026 general election, including the gubernatorial race, as well as various policy areas.

The following August 2026 poll findings may be of interest:

Wisconsin Gubernatorial Candidates – 2026 November General Election

Here is how Wisconsin likely voters said they would vote in the November general election:

• ·        Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley (D)                 49%
• ·        Congressman Tom Tiffany (R)                                                   44%      
• ·        Undecided                                                                                      7%

General Issues

The most important issue among registered voters:

• ·        Inflation and the cost of living                                   43%
• ·        Illegal immigration and border security                  12%
• ·        Health insurance                                                           10%
• ·        Jobs and the economy                                                 7%
• ·        Property taxes                                                               6%
• ·        Affordability of housing                                               6%
• ·        Data centers                                                                   5%
• ·        Abortion policy                                                              4%
• ·        Public schools                                                                3%
• ·        Crime in your community:                                          1%

The following are brief summaries of this Study Committee’s first three meetings:

August 13 Meeting Summary (from the Wheeler Report)

The 2026 Legislative Council Study Committee on the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Health Care met [on August 13] to examine how AI is being deployed across health systems, insurance, Medicaid/Medicare, and mental health, and what role Wisconsin law should play. National policy experts and state-level advocates described a fast-moving, fragmented landscape: some states are restricting AI from being the sole basis for adverse coverage decisions, others are piloting AI “sandboxes” to test tools under regulator oversight, and many are experimenting with disclosure, consent, and governance rules. A recurring theme was how to balance innovation, cost-savings, and access with patient safety, privacy, and public trust, especially in areas like prior authorization, chatbots, and behavioral health.

September 9 Meeting Summary (from the Wheeler Report)

[The September 9] hearing focused on consumer health data, patient privacy, AI-assisted clinical practice, medical board authority, electronic health record tools, health-system implementation, rural and safety-net considerations, and the need for practical guardrails. It was emphasized that AI is already present in healthcare workflows, from administrative support and appointment scheduling to clinical documentation, care-gap identification, imaging, and decision-support tools. Presenters urged the committee to consider identifying lower-risk uses that support clinicians from higher-risk applications that communicate directly with patients, make autonomous recommendations, or could be perceived as replacing licensed healthcare professionals.

• ·        The Future of Privacy Forum provided an overview of the fragmented federal privacy landscape and the rapid growth of state comprehensive privacy laws.

• ·        The Federation of State Medical Boards discussed how AI tools are being used by both patients and clinicians, including AI-powered symptom tools, ambient scribes, clinical decision-support platforms, and pilots involving automated prescription renewal.

• ·        Dr. Richard Bruce of the University of Wisconsin–Madison described radiology as one of the earliest and most active areas of AI adoption in medicine.

• ·        UnityPoint Health–Meriter outlined practical considerations for healthcare organizations implementing AI, including cost, return on investment, staffing, vendor roadmaps, privacy, data retention, patient consent, environmental impact, quality of care, and the need for research.

• ·        Marshfield Clinic described AI use from the perspective of a rural health-system deployer. They discussed generative AI tools for staff, ambient listening, care-gap closure, and inbox management.

• ·        Outreach Community Health Centers discussed federally qualified health centers serving low-income, uninsured, Medicaid, unhoused, and medically vulnerable patients.

• ·        Epic described its approach to AI development, emphasizing collaboration with users, validation, monitoring, and deployment.

September 10 Meeting Summary (from the Wheeler Report)

The Study Committee on the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Health Care held their third hearing [on September 10]. Dr. Sean Griffin highlighted the importance of independent accreditation, noting 600 best practices and the need for transparency and accountability. He stressed the potential risks, including data bias and ethical considerations. Ann Trinkler from Delta Dental Wisconsin detailed their use of AI in claims utilization management, ensuring human oversight. Ryan Peterson from the Alliance Cooperative underscored the unique challenges and benefits of self-funded healthcare plans, advocating for flexible, outcomes-based regulation to support AI's responsible integration. Lakeland Care, a nonprofit managing Medicaid services, emphasized AI's role in reducing repetitive tasks and improving operational decisions.

In August, the Universities of Wisconsin (UW) announced that their consolidated FY2027-2029 budget request will include funding to work towards the goal of training 35,000 new health care clinicians over the next decade. This is known as the “Healthy Wisconsin” initiative, which comprises a $90 million budget request to train health care clinicians throughout the UW’s 13 campuses across the state. This budget request has been submitted to the Office of the Governor to be considered to be part of the FY2027-2029 consolidated state government budget request that the Governor will submit to the Legislature in early 2027.

In August, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced that they are seeking responses from Wisconsinites on how best to spend its share of opioid settlement funds. The State of Wisconsin expects to receive more than $874 million between 2022 and 2038 due to a multi-state lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies. Interested Wisconsinites may fill out the DHS online survey, which will be available through September 30, 2026.

In late July, Governor Tony Evers (D) informed state agencies that they should not submit FY2027-2029 budget requests to the Office of the Governor that include funding increases. Exceptions include funding for K-12 education, the University of Wisconsin system, Medicaid, and overhauling the state prison system.

Current practice is that state agencies submit budget requests to the Office of the Governor on September 15, then the Governor consolidates those requests – often with modifications – and then submits his full budget request to the Legislature early the following year. Of course, a new governor will be elected in November 2026, and the new governor could make significant modifications.