The report is available on the Legislative Audit Bureau's Web page at
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/lab. Copies are also available from our office. If you have further questions please contact me.
Sincerely,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
November 9, 2000
The Honorable, The Legislature:
At the request of the Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS), we have completed a financial audit of the Health Insurance Risk-Sharing Plan (HIRSP) for fiscal year 1998-99. HIRSP provides medical insurance for individuals unable to obtain coverage in the private market. At the end of calendar year 1999, 7,904 policyholders were enrolled in the plan. We were able to provide an unqualified opinion on the HIRSP financial statement and we note that HIRSP had net income of $6.6 million, which is a considerable improvement over the $9.4 million loss the previous year.
Oversight responsibility for HIRSP transferred to DHFS from the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance in 1998. DHFS has taken steps to address problems experienced with that transition and changes in statutes affecting the program. However, some of our prior audit concerns related to HIRSP's funding structure and service delivery still need to be addressed, and improved reporting is needed to help DHFS manage the program.
We also found DHFS does not have controls in place to ensure that policyholders are charged and pharmacies are reimbursed at HIRSP-allowed rates for prescription drugs, which represent 45 percent of HIRSP's total claim costs. As the result of suspending important system controls, we estimate that HIRSP overpaid drug claims during fiscal year 1998-99 and 1999-2000 by at least $3.7 million. DHFS is taking steps to recover these overpayments, as well as to improve its drug claim process.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by DHFS and the plan administrators. The response from DHFS is the appendix.
Sincerely,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
October 30, 2000
The Honorable, The Legislature:
Chapter
34, Laws of 1979, requires that when the Department of Administration maintains an office in Washington, DC, for the purpose of promoting federal/state cooperation, it should submit a report detailing the activities of the office and reporting the status of federal legislation of concern to the Legislature and other state agencies. (Wis. Stats. 16548(2)).
The report for the period July, 2000, through September, 2000, is attached.
Sincerely,
George Lightbourn
Secretary
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
Division of Gaming
November 6, 2000
The Honorable, The Legislature:
Included with this correspondence, I am submitting the report of the Department of Administration, Division of Gaming (Gaming), for the first quarter of fiscal year 2001 (July 1, 2000 through September 30, 2000). As required by s.
562.02(1)(g), Wis. Stats., the attached materials contain pari-mutuel wagering and racing statistical information, as well as the revenues for the program areas of Racing, Charitable Gaming and Indian Gaming. Please note that Bingo revenues are now captured in a new appropriation (836) and therefore are shown on a separate chart form the rest of Charitable Gaming.
If you have any questions or comments regarding this report, please do not hesitate to contact Richard Pedersen at (608) 270-2546.
Sincerely,
F. Scott Scepaniak
Administrator
State of Wisconsin
Department of Commerce
October 9, 2000
The Honorable, The Senate:
Pursuant to s.
15.04(d), I am enclosing a copy of the Department's 1997-1999 Biennial Report.
Sincerely,
Brenda J. Blanchard
Secretary
State of Wisconsin
Ethics Board
November 14, 2000
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 1999 session of the legislature, visit the Ethics Board's web site at
http://ethics.state.wi.us
Franken, Andrew Northern States Power Company
Skewes, William Wisconsin Utilities Association Inc
Wilson, John D. Northern States Power Company
S698
Also available from the Wisconsin Ethics Board are reports identifying the amount and value of time state agencies have spent to affect legislative action and reports of expenditures for lobbying activities filed by the organizations that employ lobbyists.
Sincerely,
Roth Judd
Director
Wisconsin Technical College System Board
The Honorable, The Legislature:
This letter is to certify that all sixteen Wisconsin Technical Colleges have provided sexual assault and harassment orientation, materials and information as required under state statute 38.12 (11) for the 2000-2001 school year.
Individual college letters assuring compliance along with sample information and materials provided to students are on file in our office at this time. If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Keith Krinke, Systems Equal Opportunity Officer, of my staff at 266-1844.
Sincerely,
Edward Chin
State Director
__________________
The committee on Agriculture, Environmental Resources and Campaign Finance Reform reports and recommends:
Relating to lake planning grants.
No action taken.
Relating to sites contaminated with petroleum products discharged from petroleum storage tanks.
No action taken.
Relating to reducing ozone concentrations in the ambient air in southeastern Wisconsin by controlling nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions.
No action taken.
Relating to the control of volatile organic compound emissions from auto body refinishing operations.
No action taken.
Relating to commercial fishing for chubs on Lake Michigan.
No action taken.
Relating to the 2000 migratory game bird season.
No action taken.
Alice Clausing
Chairperson
The committee on Economic Development, Housing and Government Operations reports and recommends:
Relating to peace officers, causes for denial, firearms permits, and firearms proficiency certifiers.
No action taken.
