09-0994-1-2010
Sincerely,
BRUCE J. HOESLY
Senior Legislative Attorney/Code Editor
__________________
Corrections In:
TO 2009 SENATE
JOINT RESOLUTION 62
Prepared by the Legislative Reference Bureau
(March 29
, 2010)
2. Page 1, line 1: change "Relating
" to "relating
".
****NOTE: Corrects the title of the proposal to supply the enumeration of sections affected, pursuant to Joint Rule 56 (3) (b). __________________
WHA Information Center
March 29, 2010
The Honorable, The Senate:
Enclosed is a hard copy of the Fiscal Year 2008 Guide to Wisconsin Hospitals produced by WHA Information Center pursuant to s.153.22, Wis. Stats. The report was posted on our Web site in October 2009. Please feel free to download and print additional copies.
If you have any questions regarding the report you may contact me at 608-274-1820, 800-231-8340 or
jkachelski@wha.org.
Sincerely,
joseph kachelski
Vice President
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Government Accountability Board
March 30, 2010
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 2009-2010 session of the legislature, visit the Government Accountability Board's web site at:
Cook, Andrew Association of American
Publishers
Engel, Andrew Association of American
Publishers
McIntosh, Forbes Wisconsin Dental Association
Osborne, Patrick Association of American
Publishers
Tyre, Scott National Electrical
Manufacturers Association
Wright, Kimberlee Midwest Environmental
Advocates, Inc.
Also available from the Wisconsin Government Accountability 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 organizations that employ lobbyists.
Sincerely,
kevin kennedy
Director and General Counsel
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
March 30, 2010
The Honorable, The Legislature:
As required by s.
13.94(1)(de), Wis. Stats., we have completed a financial audit of the Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund, which insures health care providers in Wisconsin against medical malpractice claims that exceed the primary malpractice insurance thresholds established in statutes. The Fund is managed by the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI). We have provided an unqualified auditor's report on the Fund's financial statements for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2009, 2008, and 2007.
S662
The Fund's financial position has declined significantly over the last two years. Its audited financial statements show negative net assets in the amount of -$109.0 million as of June 30, 2009. In
2007 Wisconsin Act 20, the Legislature directed that $200.0 million be transferred from the Fund to the Medical Assistance Trust Fund. The Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund's financial position also has been affected by the recent downturn and instability in the economy and the investment markets. Further, the FY 2008-09 total of $65.7 million in annual claim payments was the largest since the Fund's inception.
As recommended in past audits, actuarial audits are being completed every three years. However, OCI failed to request an evaluation of the appropriateness of the explicit loss liability risk margin and the investment return assumption as part of its 2008 actuarial audit, as had been recommended in our 2007 financial audit. We again recommend that OCI address these two areas in the next actuarial audit.
The Fund's computerized provider system had required correction by regular manual reviews and adjustments. However, the Fund recently implemented a new system, at a total cost of $1.4 million. We will evaluate the adequacy of the new system as part of our next audit of the Fund.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by the staff of OCI and the Fund's contractors. A response from OCI follows the appendices.
Sincerely,
janice mueller
State Auditor
