To committee on Judiciary, Corrections and Privacy.
Senate Bill 182
Relating to: temporary revision of child or family support when payer is on active military duty.
By
Senators
Plale, Brown, Grothman, Darling, Wirch, A. Lasee and Lassa; cosponsored by Representatives Musser, Suder, Staskunas, Ainsworth, Zepnick, Hahn, Travis, Sheridan, Jeskewitz, Kestell, Albers, Nass, Ott, F. Lasee, J. Fitzgerald, Seidel, Gundrum, Sinicki and Kleefisch.
To committee on Veterans, Homeland Security, Military Affairs, Small Business and Government Reform.
__________________
The committee on Labor and Election Process Reform reports and recommends:
Assembly Bill 61
Relating to: residency of certain election officials.
Concurrence.
Ayes, 5 - Senators
Reynolds, Lazich, Kanavas, Hansen and Carpenter.
Noes, 0 - None.
Assembly Bill 64
Relating to: polling hours.
Concurrence.
Ayes, 5 - Senators
Reynolds, Lazich, Kanavas, Hansen and Carpenter.
Noes, 0 - None.
Thomas Reynolds
Chairperson
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
April 19, 2005
The Honorable, The Senate:
As requested by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, we have completed a review of the physician office visit data (POVD) program administered by the Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS). Chapter
153, Wis. Stats., directs DHFS to collect, analyze, and disseminate certain types of health care information. The POVD program is intended to provide a centralized, statewide source of information for outpatient health care services delivered in physician offices.
The program is funded by fees levied on physicians who are licensed and practicing in Wisconsin. Since fiscal year (FY) 1999-2000, DHFS has spent more than $2.9 million to administer the POVD program and related projects. It is authorized 12.28 full-time equivalent positions for all health care data collection activities, but only 6.2 full-time equivalent DHFS staff worked on physician-related projects, including the POVD program, in FY 2003-04.
We found numerous problems with the program, including serious concerns with the quality, comparability, and comprehensiveness of the data. For example, there are inconsistencies in reported charges, service delivery locations, and types of services being provided. Further, DHFS is collecting information from 13 medical practice groups, representing only 30.9 percent of Wisconsin physicians, and has released data only for 2003. The data it has released have been of limited usefulness to researchers and health care professionals, although this results in part from statutory and other restrictions on data release. DHFS has yet to produce information that is usable by the general public.
S179
In 2005 Assembly Bill 100, the Governor has proposed creating a new Health Care Quality and Patient Safety Board in October 2005. The proposed Board would be responsible for recommending changes to the POVD program, with the goal of replacing it with a new health care information system by July 2007. As it debates the Governor's proposal, the Legislature may wish to direct DHFS to address concerns with the POVD program; alternatively, the Legislature may choose to eliminate the program immediately.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by DHFS staff as we conducted this review.
Sincerely,
JANICE MUELLER
State Auditor
State of Wisconsin
Ethics Board
April 20, 2005
The Honorable, The Senate:
The following lobbyists have been authorized to act on behalf of the organizations set opposite their names.
For more detailed information about these lobbyists and organizations and a complete list of organizations and people authorized to lobby the 2005 session of the legislature, visit the Ethics Board's web site at
http://ethics.state.wi.us
Baas, Steve Metropolitan Milwaukee
Association of Commerce
Bartkowski, John Sixteenth Street Community
Health Center
Bloomingdale, Stephanie Wisconsin Federation of Nurses & Health Professionals
Brooks, Bryan CenturyTel Service Group LLC
Brooks, Bryan Evercare
Brooks, Bryan Omni Resources, Inc.
Brooks, Bryan Wisconsin Institute
Brooks, Bryan Wisconsin Medical Society
Christianson, Peter C Onyx Waste Services Inc
Cisco, Molly Grassroots Empowerment Project
Deisinger, Chris Union of Concerned Scientists
Dettmann, Cathleen State Bar of Wisconsin
Driessen, Anthony GMI, Inc.
Early, Annie Wisconsin Pipe Trades
Association
Elias, Nathan Discover Mediaworks Inc
Fonfara, Thomas GMI, Inc.
Fonfara, Thomas Onyx Waste Services Inc
Foti, Steven Wisconsin Pipe Trades
Association
Franken, Andrew National Vehicle Protection
Association
Gunderson, Dan Wisconsin Laborers District
Council
Holschbach, Todd Nature Conservancy, The
Hoven, Timothy United States Cellular
Corporation
Hulsey, Brett Sierra Club - John Muir Chapter
Jadin, Paul Green Bay Area Chamber of
Commerce
Jentz, Robert Nature Conservancy, The
Kammer, Peter Wisconsin Land Information
Association
Kisiel, John Wisconsin Builders Association
Kuehn, Ronald W Energy Education, Inc.
Kuehn, Ronald W Wisconsin Bowhunters
Association
Kuehn, Ronald W Wisconsin Outdoors Alliance
Kussow, Michelle Wisconsin State Council of Trout Unlimited
Lamb, Jordan Energy Education, Inc.
Lyke, Jim Forward Janesville Inc
McCoshen, William J Discover Mediaworks Inc
McKenzie, Ellyn Sixteenth Street Community
Health Center
Moore, Michael State Professional Education & Information Council
Murray, Michael Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Nilles, Bruce Sierra Club - John Muir Chapter
Osborne, Patrick Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation (WPS)
Partenfelder-Moede, Peggy Distilled Spirits Council of the United States
Peshek, Peter Onyx Waste Services Inc
Petak, George CenturyTel Service Group LLC
Petak, George McCain Foods USA Inc.
Petak, George Wisconsin Institute
Petak, George Wisconsin School Food Service Association
Petersen, Eric J Forward Janesville Inc
Plautz, Jolene Joint Water Quality Commission
of Danbury & St. Croix
Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin
Purtell-Boyce, Lisa Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin
