WiHPCA News

  • November 22, 2024 10:36 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    In early November, Republicans and Democrats started to vote internally on their respective leadership teams.  The following are the newly selected leaders, as of November 14:

    Senate Republicans

    • Senate Majority Leader – Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg)
    • Senate President – Mary Felzkowski (R-Tomahawk)
      • She is new in this role. 
    • Senate Assistant Majority Leader – Dan Feyen (R-Fond du Lac)
    • Senate President Pro Tempore – Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point)
    • Senate Republican Caucus Char – Van Wanggaard (R-Racine)
    • Senate Republican Caucus Vice-Chair Rachel Cabral-Guevara (R-Appleton)
      • She is new to this role. 

    Senate Democrats

    • Senate Minority Leader – Dianne Hesselbein (D-Middleton)
    • Senate Assistant Minority Leader – Jeff Smith (D-Eau Claire)
    • Senate Minority Caucus Chair – Mark Spreitzer (D-Beloit)
      • He is new in this role. 
    • Senate Minority Vice Caucus Chair – Dora Drake (D-Milwaukee)
      • She is new in this role. 

    Assembly Republicans

    • Assembly Speaker – Robin Vos (R-Rochester)
    • Assembly Majority Leader – Tyler August (R-Walworth)
    • Assembly Assistant Majority Leader – Scott Krug (R-Nekoosa)
      • He is new in this role. 
    • Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore – Kevin Peterson (R-Waupaca)
    • Assembly Majority Caucus Chair – Rob Summerfield (R-Bloomer)
    • Assembly Majority Caucus Vice Chair – Cindi Duchow (R-Delafield)
    • Assembly Majority Caucus Secretary – Nancy VanderMeer (R-Tomah)
    • Assembly Majority Caucus Sergeant at Arms – Treig Pronschinske (R-Mondovi)

    Assembly Democrats

    ·        Assembly Minority Leader – Rep. Greta Neubauer (D-Racine)

    ·        Assembly Assistant Minority Leader – Rep. Kaylan Haywood (D-Milwaukee)

    ·        Assembly Minority Caucus Chair – Lisa Subek (D-Madison)

    ·        Assembly Minority Caucus Vice-Chair – Rep. Clinton Anderson (D-Beloit)

    • He is new in this role. 

    ·        Assembly Minority Caucus Secretary – Rep. Mike Bare (D-Verona)

    ·        Assembly Minority Caucus Sergeant at Arms – Rep. Jodi Emerson (D-Eau Claire)

    • She is new in this role. 


  • November 22, 2024 10:35 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    WiHPCA is happy to remind members about and provide links to the latest legislative and regulatory articles and information on the hospice industry from Hospice News and other publications:

    ·       House Passes Gerald’s Law to Establish Burial Benefits for Veterans in Hospice

    Hospice News – By Jim Parker | Nov. 19, 2024

     

    The U.S. House of Representatives has passed Gerald’s Law, which would close a hospice-related loophole in veterans’ benefits. When eligible veterans die, many of their families are entitled to a financial benefit from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to defray some of the costs of funerals and cremation or burial. However, when a veteran transitions from a VA facility to hospice, they lose access to that benefit. This is even the case when hospice care is provided by the VA itself. Read more...

    ·       Medicare Made $190M in Improper Hospice Payments to Hospitals

    Hospice News – By Jim Parker | Nov. 19, 2024

     

    Medicare made an estimated $190 million in improper payments to acute-care hospitals for outpatient hospice services between 2017 and 2021. An audit by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (OIG) set out to determine whether Medicare payments to acute-care hospitals for outpatient services provided to hospice enrollees complied with Medicare requirements. OIG found that 70% of those payments were not compliant. Read more...

    ·       Hospices Leaders: ‘Vigilant’ Compliance Pivotal in MAC Auditing Climate

    Hospice News – By Holly Vossel| Nov. 18, 2024

     

    The auditing environment has heated up in the hospice industry, with inconsistencies reportedly proliferating among the various types of regulatory enforcement activity — particularly those performed by Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs). The issue has some hospice providers delving deeper into a range of compliance strategies. Read more...

    ·       CMS Ramps Up Efforts to Root Out ‘Door Knocker’ Hospice Schemes

    Hospice News – By Holly Vossel| Nov. 15, 2024

     

    The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently elaborated on its plans to expand public education campaigns designed to help protect hospice beneficiaries from fraudulent actors in the space. Program integrity concerns have heated up in the hospice industry. Swarms of new hospices have emerged in certain regions in recent years, with some unscrupulous operators receiving federal funding through illegitimate business practices. Read more...

    Hospice News, which is part of the Aging Media Network, is a leading source for news and information covering the hospice industry. 


  • October 24, 2024 9:52 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    On October 18, WiHPCA Legislative Committee member Rick Risler, who serves as the executive director of St. Croix Hospice, presented a “Champion of Hospice and Palliative Care” award for the 2023-2024 legislative session to state Senator Jesse James (R-Eau Claire Area) in the St. Croix Hospice office in Eau Claire.

    Earlier this year, WiHPCA also presented “Champions of Hospice and Palliative Care” awards for the 2023-2024 legislative session to Representative Patrick Snyder (R-Wausau Area) and Senator Kelda Roys (D-Madison).  WiHPCA is honoring these legislators for their exceptional work to address the priorities of hospice and palliative care agencies and staff throughout the state. 

  • October 24, 2024 9:51 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    On October 2, 2024, Marquette Law School released a new statewide election poll, which was conducted between September 18-26.  The following poll findings may be of interest.

    Presidential Race

    The following are the results for polling of registered Wisconsin voters: 

    • Kamala Harris (D):  52%
    • Donald Trump (R):  48%

    When factoring in various Presidential candidates from other political parties, the results are as follows for registered Wisconsin voters:

    • Kamala Harris (Democrat):  48%
    • Donald Trump (Republican):  44%
    • Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (Independent):  3%  [Note: Kennedy has suspended his campaign but will remain on the ballot, according to a ruling by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.]
    • Chase Oliver (Libertarian Party):  1%
    • Jill Stein (Green Party):  1%
    • Randall Terry (Constitution Party): Less than 1% 
    • Claudia De la Cruz (Party for Socialism and Liberation):  0%
    • Cornel West (Independent): 0%

    U.S. Senate Race

    The following are the results for registered Wisconsin voters: 

    • Tammy Baldwin (D):  53%
    • Eric Hovde (R):  46%

    Governor Tony Evers’ Job Performance

    This poll asked registered voters if they approve or disapprove of the way that Democrat Tony Evers is handling his job as Governor.  This poll found the following:

    • Approve:  48%
    • Disapprove:  46%
    • Don’t know:  5%

    Direction of the State and Economic Conditions

    Direction of the State

    This poll asked registered voters whether things in Wisconsin are generally going in the right direction, or if things have gotten off on the wrong track.  This poll found the following:

    • Right Direction:  44%
    • Wrong Track:  56%

    Views of the National Economy

    This poll asked registered voters how they would describe the national economy.  This poll found the following: 

    • Excellent:  5%
    • Good:  32%
    • Not so good: 30%
    • Poor:  33%

    Polling on Various Issues – By Political Party

    Republican Voters

    This poll also asked Wisconsin registered voters which issue (out of the following eight issues) is the most important.  This poll found that the following issues are the most important to Republican voters:

    • Economy:  53%
    • Immigration and border security:  31%
    • Medicare & Social Security:  5%
    • Abortion policy:  3%
    • Ensuring fair and accurate elections:  3%
    • Foreign relations:  2%
    • Health care:  1%
    • The war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza:  1%
    • Don’t know:  1%

    Democratic Voters

    This poll also asked Wisconsin registered voters which issue (out of the following eight issues) is the most important.  This poll found that the following issues are the most important to Democratic voters:

    • Abortion policy:  31%
    • Economy:  19%
    • Medicare & Social Security:  13%
    • Health care:  13%
    • Ensuring fair and accurate elections:  11%
    • Foreign relations:  5%
    • The war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza:  2%
    • Immigration and border security:  1%
    • Don’t know:  5%


  • October 24, 2024 9:51 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    On October 15, Governor Tony Evers announced that the state government ended Fiscal Year 2024 with a positive balance of $4.6 billion.  This amount is $821.3 million higher than projected.  This balance will be used when the Legislature crafts the state’s Fiscal Year 2025-2027 budget next year. 

    Also, the state’s budget stabilization fund or “rainy day fund,” which is intended to be used to balance the state budget in a time of reduced tax revenue, is $1.9 billion.  This fund balance is the highest in the state’s history. 

  • October 24, 2024 9:50 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Forward Analytics, a division of the Wisconsin Counties Association, released a report on September 29 entitled, “On the Brink: Probing the Coming Senior Care Challenges.”  According to their website, “Forward Analytics is a Wisconsin-based research organization that provides state and local policymakers with nonpartisan analysis of issues affecting the state.” 

    With the expected significant growth of the senior citizen population in Wisconsin, the report finds that nearly 60,000 additional beds in nursing homes and assisted living facilities may be needed by 2040.  In addition, the report notes that nearly 10,000 nurses, certified nursing assistants (CNAs), and home health/personal care aides will be needed in these types of facilities by 2030.  The full report may be found on the Forward Analytics website


  • October 24, 2024 9:50 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Recently, Wisconsin DHS announced that the UpliftWI phone line is now available to receive calls daily – including holidays – from 10:00AM to 10:00PM.  It was previously available daily – including holidays – from 12:00PM to 12:00AM.

    If you are not familiar with the UpliftWI phone line, DHS describes it as “…a nonemergency source of support for people experiencing increased stress or symptoms from mental health and substance use concerns.” 

    This phone line does not charge a fee to callers and operates as a confidential service.  The UpliftWI line may be reached at 534-202-5438.  For more information on this service, please visit Mental Health America of Wisconsin’s UpliftWI website

  • October 24, 2024 9:48 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    WiHPCA is happy to remind members about and provide links to the latest legislative and regulatory articles and information on the hospice industry from Hospice News and other publications:

    ·       The Hospice CARE Act’s Potential to ‘Dramatically Reshape’ End-of-Life Care Delivery

    Hospice News – By Holly Vossel| Oct. 15, 2024

    Hospice providers and stakeholders are carefully examining the proposed changes included in the recently introduced Hospice Care Accountability, Reform, and Enforcement (Hospice CARE) Act as the bill begins its journey through the legislative process. Leading concerns in the industry include the bill’s suggested regulatory reforms to address program integrity in the hospice industry, along with potential changes to reimbursement, caregiver support and palliative care payment pathways. Read more...

    ·       Hospice Fraud Casts Lengthening Shadow Over Future of Industry

    Hospice News – By Holly Vossel| Oct. 11, 2024

    Fraudulent operators in the hospice space have misspent millions of Medicare dollars in recent years. This problem has become so severe that it has become one of the defining issues facing the hospice industry, with providers and other industry stakeholders expressing concern about significant impacts to future payment, access, sustainability and utilization. This is the first of a two-part Hospice News series that examines the financial and operational pressures weighing on the minds of hospice providers amid instances of fraud, waste and abuse occurring in the industry. Read more...

    ·       2 Charged in $54 Million Hospice, Health Care Fraud Case

    Hospice News – By Jim Parker| Oct. 10, 2024

    Two individuals in California have been arrested for their roles in a $54 million scheme to defraud Medicare for hospice and diagnostic testing. One of the alleged perpetrators, Sophia Shaklian, has been charged with 16 counts of health care fraud and four for transactional money laundering. A second, Alex Alexsanian, is charged with one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments and three counts of concealment money laundering. Read more...

    ·       Court Rules False Claims Act Provisions Unconstitutional, with Implications for Hospice Cases

    Hospice News – By Jim Parker| Oct. 7, 2024

    A federal judge has struck down the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, with broad implications for hospice and other health care enforcement actions. The ruling centers on the law’s qui tam clauses, which the court found unconstitutional. In a qui tam action, a whistleblower, called a “relator” by the courts, files a False Claims Act suit on behalf of the government and possibly receives a portion of any funds recovered by the government via the lawsuit, typically ranging from 15% to 25%. Read more...

    Hospice News, which is part of the Aging Media Network, is a leading source for news and information covering the hospice industry.

  • September 24, 2024 1:10 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Earlier this year, WiHPCA announced that three state legislators were selected as “Champions of Hospice and Palliative Care” for the 2023-2024 legislative session:  Rep. Patrick Snyder (R-Wausau Area), Sen. Kelda Roys (D-Madison), and Sen. Jesse James (R-Eau Claire Area).  WiHPCA is honoring these legislators for their exceptional work to address the priorities of hospice and palliative care agencies and staff throughout the state. 

    In August, WiHPCA had the opportunity to personally present the “Champions of Hospice and Palliative Care” awards to Rep. Snyder and Sen. Roys. WiHPCA anticipates that this award will be presented to Sen. James in the coming weeks.

        

  • September 24, 2024 1:09 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    On September 11, 2024, Marquette Law School released a new statewide election poll, which was conducted between August 28 – September 5.  The following poll findings may be of interest.

    Presidential Race

    The following are the results for polling of likely Wisconsin voters: 

    • Kamala Harris (D):  52%
    • Donald Trump (R):  48%

    U.S. Senate Race

    The following are the results for likely Wisconsin voters: 

    • Tammy Baldwin (D):  52%
    • Eric Hovde (R):  47%

    Governor Tony Evers’ Job Performance

    This poll asked registered voters if they approve or disapprove of the way that Democrat Tony Evers is handling his job as Governor.  This poll found the following:

    • Approve:  51%
    • Disapprove:  44%
    • Don’t know:  5%


    Direction of the State and Economic Conditions

    Direction of the State

    This poll asked registered voters whether things in Wisconsin are generally going in the right direction, or if things have gotten off on the wrong track.  This poll found the following:

    • Right Direction:  46%
    • Wrong Track:  53%

    Views of the National Economy

    This poll asked registered voters how they would describe the national economy.  This poll found the following: 

    • Excellent:  3%
    • Good:  32%
    • Not so good: 35%
    • Poor:  30%

    Polling on Various Issues – By Political Party

    Republican Voters

    This poll also asked Wisconsin registered voters which issue (out of the following eight issues) is the most important.  This poll found that the following issues are the most important to Republican voters:

    • Economy:  55%
    • Immigration and border security:  23%
    • Abortion policy:  6%
    • Ensuring fair and accurate elections:  5%
    • Foreign relations:  3%
    • Medicare & Social Security:  2%
    • Health care:  2%
    • The war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza:  1%
    • Don’t know:  1%

    Democratic Voters

    This poll also asked Wisconsin registered voters which issue (out of the following eight issues) is the most important.  This poll found that the following issues are the most important to Democratic voters:

    • Abortion policy:  27%
    • Economy:  26%
    • Medicare & Social Security:  16%
    • Ensuring fair and accurate elections:  13%
    • Health care:  9%
    • The war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza:  3%
    • Foreign relations:  2%
    • Immigration and border security:  0%
    • Don’t know:  4%

Wisconsin Hospice and Palliative Care Association

563 Carter Ct, Suite B

Kimberly, WI 54136


Phone: 920-750-7726 | Fax: 920-882-3655

Email: wihpca@badgerbay.co

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