•
Psychosis, diagnostic related group (DRG) number 430, continues to be ranked first by total inpatient payments, but accounted for less than 10 of the total admissions for HIRSP policyholders.
•
Circulatory disorders continue to be the most costly major diagnostic category for HIRSP enrollees accounting for 25 percent of total inpatient payments.
•
The average per member per month cost of the Plan in 1994 was $356.00. Twenty-five percent of all outpatient services were for Drugs/Supplies, which averaged $45.06 per member per month.
•
The most expensive hospitalization was for a primary diagnosis of bone marrow disorder/surgery for which a total payment of $157,806 was made.
•
The most utilized hospital in the state was University Hospital in Madison, accounting for 8 percent of total inpatient days. St. Luke's Medical Center in Milwaukee received the highest total payments for inpatient care.
COST CONTAINMENT
•
Starting May 1994, HIRSP entered into a contract with Meridian Resource Corporation to audit high cost inpatient and outpatient hospital claims. During the first year of operation, the contractor reviewed 205 claims. Of these, sixteen claims were selected for audit with total estimated savings to HIRSP of $7500.
A421
•
A drug card program, expected to save HIRSP funds was authorized by the Board for implementation during 1995. Total estimated savings for the two programs is approximately $800,000 annually.
POLICYHOLDER EDUCATION
•
The Consumer Affairs Committee created by the Board of Governors (Board) to assure policyholders that the Board receives input from policyholders continued to meet. During the year, the plan published three editions of a quarterly newsletter to inform policyholders about changes in the plan, health care reform, etc. Topics addressed during the past year included introduction of key personnel at Blue Cross/Blue Shield, information on how plan premiums are determined, responsible plan usage, and an explanation of the subsidy program.
•
During the year, the Blue Cross customer service area received 65,436 calls. The call abandonment rate declined from 8.8 percent to 4 percent during the year.
I am confident that the HIRSP Board of Governors will continue to explore additional cost-containment options for the plan, which will prove to be beneficial to both HIRSP enrollees and the state of Wisconsin.
The data continues to show that HIRSP remains as a viable alternative for health insurance for Wisconsin citizens. Please contact Eileen Mallow of my staff if you have any questions.
Best regards,
Josephine W. Musser
Commissioner of Insurance
Referred to committee on Insurance, Securities and Corporate Policy.
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
Madison
June 30, 1995
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
As required by
1993 Wisconsin Act 351, I am submitting to you for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under s. 13. 172 (3) of Wisconsin law the second semiannual
Wisconsin Gasohol and
Alternative Fuel Use Report. If you or any committee members have questions, please contact Nathaniel E. Robinson, Administrator, Division of Energy and Intergovernmental Relations at 608/266-7257.
Sincerely,
james a. klauser
Secretary, DOA
Referred to committee on Environment and Utilities.
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Department of Health and Social Services
Madison
June 30, 1995
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
1989 Wisconsin Act 31, Section
1118i, requires the Department of Health and Social Services to submit to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature a report on June 30 annually on the allocation and expenditure of funds for services for homeless individuals. Attached is the Department's fourth annual report.
Departmental staff are available if you have any questions or require any additional information.
Sincerely,
richard W. Lorang
Acting Secretary, DHSS
Referred to committee on Health.
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Commissioner of Insurance
Madison
July 1995
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
Pursuant to the requirements of section 153.20, Wis. Stats., we are pleased to submit to the Governor and the Legislature Uncompensated Health Care, Wisconsin Hospitals, FY 1994. This report, prepared by the Office of Health Care Information, sets forth the total charges for charity care, bad debt, and total uncompensated health care for hospital fiscal year 1994; the projected total charges for hospital fiscal year 1995; the number of patients receiving uncompensated health care for hospital fiscal year 1994; and the projected number of patients who will receive uncompensated health care in hospital fiscal year 1995.
The information contained in this report was obtained from data submitted by Wisconsin hospitals on their annual FY 1994 Hospital Uncompensated Health Care Plan and their annual FY 1994 Hospital Fiscal Survey.
Sincerely,
Josephine W. Musser
Commissioner of Insurance
Trudy A. Karlson, Ph.D.
Director, OHCI
Referred to committee on Health.
__________________
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State of Wisconsin
Office of the Commissioner of Insurance
Madison
July 6, 1995
TO: Charles R. Sanders
Assembly Chief Clerk
FROM: Josephine Musser
Commissioner of Insurance
DATE: July 6, 1995
RE: Governor's Task Force on Hospital and Academic Medical Center Costs
The Task Force has completed its work and has prepared the attached document for your review. The Task Force was active, creative and productive -- resulting in a set of recommendations for resolving the problems identified in the
1993 Wisconsin Act 447. The first part of the document is a policy brief, the second part is a more detailed Technical Report.
The Office is available to clarify the information in the report and to provide support as needed.
Referred to committee on Health.
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Department of Development
Madison
July 10, 1995
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
In accordance with s.
234.65(5), the Department of Development is required to provide a report addressing the effects of the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority's (WHEDA) lending activities on the state's economic development.
I am respectfully submitting the attached WHEDA report for loans closed in 1994 in the manner provided in section 13.172(3), Wisconsin Statutes. If you have any questions concerning the report or would like to obtain copies, please contact Bev Haberman in our Division of Policy and Information at 608/266-5381.
Sincerely,
william J. Mccoshen
Secretary, DOD
Referred to committee on Small Business and Economic Development.
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Department of Health and Social Services
Madison
July 12, 1995
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
As required by Chapter 252.04 (11) of the Wisconsin Statutes, we are pleased to provide the annual report on the statewide immunization program. Please distribute this report to the appropriate standing committees.
Sincerely,
Richard W. Lorang
Deputy Secretary, DHSS
Referred to committee on Health.
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Department of Public Instruction
Madison
July 25, 1995
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
The department is pleased to submit the 1994 Annual Report on the Status of Bilingual-Bicultural Education programs, as required under s.
115.996, Wisconsin Statutes.
The report provides a review of the state's administration and funding of bilingual education in Wisconsin and factors contributing to program expansion and the resulting continuously lower annual reimbursement rates for school districts. The number of pupils served from minority languages, the locations of the state-funded programs during the 1994 fiscal year (July 1, 1993, through June 30, 1994), and staff-related data are included in the report to inform those with responsibilities for ensuring the continued success of bilingual education programs in Wisconsin. I am confident that you will find the report informational, useful and of concern given the rising numbers of pupils to be served absent a corresponding increase in fiscal support by the state.
If you have questions on any aspect of this report, please contact Dr. William J. Erpenbach, director, divisonwide planning and process, 267-1072. He will be happy to discuss these with you at your convenience.
Sincerely,
John T. Benson
State Superintendent, DPI
Referred to committee on Education.
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