Wednesday, July 5, 2000
Ninety-Fourth Regular Session
The Chief Clerk makes the following entries under the above date.
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State of Wisconsin
Department of Health and Family Services
June 23, 2000
The Honorable, The Senate:
The Bureau of Health Information, Department of Health and Family Services, is pleased to submit o the Governor and to the Legislature the
Uncompensated Health Care Report for fiscal year 1998. The data for this report was collected under Section
153.05, Wisconsin Statutes, and is published as authorized by the requirements of section 150.20, Wisconsin Statutes. This report is based on annual hospital uncompensated health care data reported to the Bureau of Health Information by all operating general medical-surgical and specialty hospitals in Wisconsin.
This report sets forth the total charges for charity care, bad debt, and total uncompensated health care for fiscal year 1998. It also shows the projected number of patients and the projected charges for charity care, bad debt, and total uncompensated health care in fiscal year 1999.
Sincerely,
Joe Leean
Secretary
State of Wisconsin
Department of Health and Family Services
June 27, 2000
The Honorable, The Senate:
The
1999 Wisconsin Act 133 directs the Department of health and Family Services (DHFS) to develop a dental outreach and education plan for Medicaid recipients and providers. I am pleased to send you the completed outreach and education plan, the fiscal estimate for implementing the plan on a statewide basis, and a letter of support from the Marquette University School of Dentistry. The two projects that are part of the plan are designed to address the educational barriers that Medicaid recipients face in accessing dental care and in building relationships with dental providers. Both projects include strategies to integrate this critical information into the academic preparation of dentist and dental hygienists.
The plan has been developed by DHFS in consultation with the following partner organizations: the Marquette University School of Dentistry, College of Nursing and School of Allied Health (Dental Hygiene); the Wisconsin Area Health Education Center; the Wisconsin Dental Association; the Children's Health Alliance; the Wisconsin Primary Health Care Association; the Department of Workforce Development; and the Department of Public Instruction. The plan represents a unique collaboration of key partners in addressing the issue of dental access for Wisconsin's low-income, Medicaid or uninsured citizens.
Thank you for your attention to this plan.
Sincerely,
Joe Leean
Secretary
State of Wisconsin
Department of Health and Family Services
June 29, 2000
The Honorable, The Senate:
On behalf of the Board of governors of the Health Insurance risk Sharing Plan (HIRSP), I am pleased to submit the calendar year 1999 annual report. This submission is in accordance with the statutory requirements set forth in s.
149.15(2m).
As reflected in the report, throughout 1999 the Department and HIRSP Board have made significant progress toward strengthening HIRSP. Highlights of our accomplishments are noted below:
HIRSP's Financial Position Is Strong: The plan maintains a healthy cash balance, allowing HIRSP to maintain stable premiums, assessments and provider payment rates.
Premiums Paid By Policyholders Remain As Low As Possible: Premiums have remained at the lowest level permitted by law, i.e., 150% of the industry standard rate, since 1998. Premiums paid by policyholders of HIRSP's Plan 2 (the "Medicare supplement" policy) have been gradually increased to balance the increasing costs of Plan 2 without imposing drastic premium hikes.
Enrollment Levels Are Rising For The First Time in Years: DHFS has reversed a six-year trend of steadily declining enrollment from a high of 12,707 in 1992 to a low of 7,248 in 1998. Enrollment as of May 1, 2000, was 8,653.
We will continue to work with the Board to further streamline and strengthen HIRSP. In particular, over the course of the next year we will focus on developing additional cost-containment strategies to reduce overall HIRSP costs wherever possible.
We appreciate the continuing support of the Legislature. Please contact me if I may provide additional information.
Sincerely,
Joe Leean
Secretary
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
June 27, 2000
The Honorable, The Legislature:
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This report is transmitted as required by sec. 20.002(11)(f) of the Wisconsin Statutes, (for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under sec. 13.172(3) Stats.), and confirms that the Department of Administration has found it necessary to exercise the "temporary reallocation of balances" authority provided by this section in order to meet payment responsibilities and cover resulting negative balances during the month of May, 2000.
On May 1, 2000 the Wisconsin Health Education Loan Repayment Fund balance was -$13 thousand. This shortfall increased to -$20 thousand on May 11, 2000, decreased to -$8 thousand on May 26, 2000 and continued into the month of June. As of the date of this letter, it is expected to be resolved soon. This shortfall is due to the timing of revenues.
On May 18, 2000 the Wisconsin Petroleum Inspection Fund balance was -$4.53 million. This shortfall continued until May 23, 2000 when the balance reached $12.15 million. This shortfall was due to the timing of revenues.
On May 1, 2000 the Wisconsin Lottery Fund balance was -$24.79 million. This shortfall decreased to -$16.64 million on May 12, 2000, to -$9.06 million on May 25, 2000, and to -$7.71 million on My 31, 2000. This shortfall continued until June 16, 2000 when the balance reached $1.36 million. This shortfall was due to a timing difference between the distribution of property tax credits and the receipt of Lottery revenues.
The Wisconsin Health Education Loan Repayment Fund, Wisconsin Petroleum Inspection Fund, and Wisconsin Lottery Fund shortfalls were not in excess of the statutory interfund borrowing limitation and did not exceed the balances of the funds available for interfund borrowing.
The distribution of interest earnings to investment pool participants is based on the average daily balance in the pool and each fund's share. Therefore, the monthly calculation by the State Controller's Office will automatically reflect the use of these temporary reallocations of balance authority.
Sincerely,
George Lightbourn
Secretary
Referred to the joint committee on Finance.
State of Wisconsin
Department of Public Instruction
June 29, 2000
The Honorable, The Legislature:
Under s.
118.38, States., local school boards may request the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to waive, with some exceptions, any school board or school district requirement in chs.
115 to
121, Stats., or in the administrative rules promulgated by the DPI.
Section
118.38(4), Stats., requires the DPI to report to the governor and to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s.
13.172(3), Stats., the number of waivers requested, a description of each waiver request, the reason given for each waiver request, and the educational and financial effects on the school district of each waiver that was granted. This report must be submitted by July 1, 2000. In response to s. 11838(4), Stats., attached is the department's
Waivers Impact Report, which presents the requested information from October 1995 through April 2000.
If you have any questions regarding this report, please contact Lawrence Allen, Director, Education Options Team, at (608) 267-2402.
