Confirmation.
Ayes, 5 - Senators Fitzgerald, Buettner, Darling, Moore and Grobschmidt.
Noes, 0 - None.
Mickelson, David M.,
of Madison, as a member of the Examining Board of Architects, Landscape Architects, Professional Geologists, Professional Engineers, Designers and Land Surveyors, to serve for the initial term ending July 1, 1996 and for the full term ending July 1, 2000.
Confirmation.
Ayes, 5 - Senators Fitzgerald, Buettner, Darling, Moore and Grobschmidt.
Noes, 0 - None.
Senate Bill 76
Relating to: changes in the laws regulating fireworks and granting rule-making authority.
Introduction of Senate substitute amendment 1.
Ayes, 5 - Senators Fitzgerald, Buettner, Darling, Moore and Grobschmidt.
Noes, 0 - None.
Introduction of Senate amendment 1 to Senate substitute amendment 1.
Ayes, 5 - Senators Fitzgerald, Buettner, Darling, Moore and Grobschmidt.
Noes, 0 - None.
Adoption of Senate amendment 1 to Senate substitute amendment 1.
Ayes, 5 - Senators Fitzgerald, Buettner, Darling, Moore and Grobschmidt.
Noes, 0 - None.
Adoption of Senate substitute amendment 1.
Ayes, 5 - Senators Fitzgerald, Buettner, Darling, Moore and Grobschmidt.
Noes, 0 - None.
Passage as amended.
Ayes, 4 - Senators Fitzgerald, Buettner, Darling and Moore.
Noes, 1 - Senator Grobschmidt.
Scott Fitzgerald
Chairperson
The committee on Environment and Energy reports and recommends:
Dittmar, Beverly,
of Wausau, as a member of the Snowmobile Recreation Council, to serve for the term ending July 1, 1998.
Confirmation.
Ayes, 5 - Senators Cowles, Farrow, Panzer, Burke and Clausing.
Noes, 0 - None.
Hilliard, Susan M.,
of Briggsville, as a member of the Snowmobile Recreation Council, to serve for the term ending July 1, 1998.
Confirmation.
Ayes, 5 - Senators Cowles, Farrow, Panzer, Burke and Clausing.
Noes, 0 - None.
Larsen
, Mark,
of River Falls, as a member of the Snowmobile Recreation Council, to serve for the term ending July 1, 1998.
Confirmation.
Ayes, 5 - Senators Cowles, Farrow, Panzer, Burke and Clausing.
Noes, 0 - None.
Ruehlow, Donald C.,
of Prairie du Chien, as a member of the Snowmobile Recreation Council, to serve for the term ending July 1, 1998.
Confirmation.
Ayes, 5 - Senators Cowles, Farrow, Panzer, Burke and Clausing.
Noes, 0 - None.
Van Duzee, Dirk,
of Wabeno, as a member of the Snowmobile Recreation Council, to serve for the term ending July 1, 1998.
Confirmation.
Ayes, 5 - Senators Cowles, Farrow, Panzer, Burke and Clausing.
Noes, 0 - None.
Robert Cowles
Chairperson
The joint survey committee on Retirement Systems reports and recommends:
Senate Bill 33
Relating to: granting credit for the payment of postretirement health insurance premiums under the state group health insurance program for accumulated unused sick leave earned for service in Wisconsin as a national guard technician prior to 1966 and making an appropriation.
Public Policy Involved
This bill is good public policy
Referred to committee on State Government Operations and Corrections.
Senate Bill 449
Relating to: maximum benefit and contribution limits under the Wisconsin retirement system, granting rule-making authority and making an appropriation.
Public Policy Involved
This bill is good public policy
Referred to committee on State Government Operations and Corrections.
George Petak
Senate Chairperson
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Committee on Senate Organization
January 17, 1996
The Honorable, The Senate:
Pursuant to Senate Rule
20, I have made the following appointment to Committee:
To the Council on Information Technology, Senator Gwendolynne Moore.
With regards to members of the minority party, the appointment reflects recommendations of that caucus.
Sincerely,
Michael Ellis
Chair
Legislative Audit Bureau
January 23, 1996
The Honorable, The Legislature:
We have completed our review of the Preadmission Screening and Annual Resident Review (PASARR) process, which is administered by the Department of Health and Social Services. The process, which is federally required for all states participating in the Medical Assistance (MA) program, is used to screen nursing home applicants and residents for serious mental illness and developmental disabilities. PASARR screening requirements apply to both MA and privately paying individuals. The Department expended a total of $5.1 million on the program in 1994, $3.9 million of which was paid to five contractors.
Although some of the federal requirements, such as requiring every nursing home resident to be screened annually for developmental disability, appear to be unnecessary, it appears the Department has little latitude in implementing the program. It is evident, however, that the Department should have exercised more control over the establishment of reimbursement rates for the provision of second-level screening. Because control was limited, three of the five contractors were apparently overcompensated by more that $1.5 million in 1994. Of this amount, more than $1.2 million was paid to one contractor. According to an audit filed with the Department by the contractor, its sole officer was compensated more than $1 million in 1994, with additional payments made for payroll taxes and retirement benefits.
The Department is currently seeking to recoup the overpayments. However, two of the three contractors, including the contractor from which the Department is seeking to recoup more than $1.2 million, have challenged the Department's authority to recoup any of the funds. According to department staff, the third contractor, from which the Department is seeking $200, 514, is working cooperatively to reach a settlement. It is expected that the Department will undertake a similar recoupment effort for the 1995 contract year because identical contracts were in place.
Finally, although the Department has developed a data base designed to provide information about the outcomes of the PASARR program, the information generated is inconsistent. Therefore, it is not possible to provide definitive information about the outcomes of the screening process, such as how many individuals were removed or diverted from nursing homes as a result of it.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by staff of the Department of Health and Social Services during the course of this review.
Sincerely,
Dale Cattanach
State Auditor
State of Wisconsin
Department of Corrections
January 22, 1996
