(a) The number of health care providers practicing in Wisconsin.
(b) The fees that health care providers pay under s.
655.27 (3), Wis. Stats.
(c) The premiums that health care providers pay for health care liability insurance,
was submitted to the legislature in May 2001. We have revised the report to clarify some of the figures included. The original report included statements regarding both a $100 million and $125 million reduction in fees. The actual amount should be $125 million, which is the actual amount of loss reduction imbedded in the ultimate loss estimates, as a result of the Act 10. This reduction in the ultimate loss estimate translates to a $60.8 million dollar reduction in fees collected under s.
655.27 (3), Wis. Stats., over the last seven years. However, it was further noted that loss experience to date is too immature to validate the reduction. I apologize for any confusion created by the report.
The attached report provides information regarding the background of Act 10, the statistics collected and the analyses performed.
Sincerely,
Connie L. O'Connell
Commissioner
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
July 26, 2001
The Honorable, The Senate:
As requested by the joint Legislative Audit Committee, we have completed an evaluation of the Department of Health and Family Services' (DHFS's) prior authorization process for occupational, physical, and speech therapy services provided under the Medical Assistance program. Administrative code states that prior authorization is intended to safeguard against unnecessary or inappropriate care. In 1999, approximately 6,300 individuals received therapy services that required prior authorization; these services cost $11.2 million.
From 1995 through June 2000, the average processing time for therapy prior authorization requests increased by 6.7 percent (1.1 working days), despite a decrease in the number of requests submitted and an increase in the number of staff processing requests. Longer processing times resulted primarily from increases in the percentage of incomplete requests returned to providers. In 1995, 43.9 percent of requests were returned at least once; in 1999, the rate of return was 49.5 percent.
We also examined denial rates for therapy prior authorization requests. We found that since 1997, denial rates have been substantially higher for school-age children than for other age groups. Unlike other age groups, school-age children can obtain services without prior authorization through the School-Based Services program. The Legislature created this program in 1995 to capture Medical Assistance funds for special education services. In 1992, 62 percent of Medical Assistance expenditures for therapy services for school-age children were paid to school-based providers. Community-based therapy providers and some parents believe that the growth of the program has made it difficult to obtain approval for therapy services outside of school and that DHFS staff are inclined to deny community-based services to children receiving school-based services. However, we found that denial rates for community-based therapy were slightly lower for children receiving therapy through the School-Based Services program than they were for children who were not receiving therapy through that program.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by DHFS and the Department of Public Instruction. DHFS's response is the appendix.
Sincerely,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Secretary of State
To the Honorable, the Senate:
Sincerely,
Douglas La follette
Secretary of State
State of Wisconsin
Department of Commerce
July 12, 2001
The Honorable, The Senate:
The enclosed report has been sent to you pursuant to s.
1.11 (2)(j), Stats. This section requires agencies to submit a report to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature, including the number of proposed actions for which the agency conducted an assessment of whether an impact statement was required and the number of impact statements prepared.
This report encompasses the activities of the Wisconsin Department of Commerce for the period from July 1, 2000 to July 1, 2001.
Any questions concerning this report may be directed to Dennis W. Kozich, General Counsel, at 608-266-3203.
Sincerely,
Brenda J. Blanchard
Secretary
State of Wisconsin
Joint Legislative Council
July 27, 2001
The Honorable, The Senate:
Enclosed is a copy of the
General Report of the Joint Legislative Council to the 1999 Legislature, prepared and submitted pursuant to s.
13.81 (3), Stats.
I would appreciated your noting in the
Senate Journal, pursuant to s.
13.172, Stats., that this report has been delivered to your office.
Sincerely,
Terry C. Anderson
Director
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
July 23, 2001
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Connolly-Keesler, Eileen, of Neenah, as a member of the Council on Domestic Abuse, to serve for the term ending July 1, 2004.
Sincerely,
SCOTT McCALLUM
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Human Services and Aging.
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
July 23, 2001
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Kaufert, Representative Dean,
of Neenah, as a member of the Council on Domestic Abuse, to serve for the term ending July 1, 2004.
Sincerely,
SCOTT McCALLUM
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Human Services and Aging.
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
July 23, 2001
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Vue
, Mai Zong,
of Madison, as a member of the Council on Domestic Abuse, to serve for the term ending July 1, 2004.
Sincerely,
SCOTT McCALLUM
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Human Services and Aging.
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
July 23, 2001
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Bohen
, Mary Lou,
of Middleton, as a member of the Council on Domestic Abuse, to serve for the term ending July 1, 2004.
Sincerely,
SCOTT McCALLUM
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Human Services and Aging.