August 20, 2010
The Honorable Jim Doyle
Governor
115 East, State Capitol
Madison, WI 53703
Dear Governor Doyle:
Pursuant to state statute 13.489 (1g), I would like to appoint the following members to the Transportation Projects Commission:
Representative Michael Sheridan
Representative John Steinbrink
Representative Fred Clark
Representative Mark Gottlieb
Representative Jerry Petrowski
These appointments are effective immediately.
Sincerely,
Michael J. Sheridan
Speaker
__________________
October 19, 2010
The Honorable Jim Doyle
Governor
115 East, State Capitol
Madison, WI 53703
Dear Governor Doyle:
Pursuant to state statute 13.489 (1g), I would like to appoint Representative Joe Parisi to replace me at the Transportation Projects Commission meeting on October 19, 2010.
This appointment is effective for this meeting only.
Sincerely,
Michael J. Sheridan
Speaker
__________________
Referral of Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Public Service Commission
Madison
September 28, 2010
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
A1016
Enclosed is the Public Service Commission's report entitled, "
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Resource Program Activities in Wisconsin, July 2007 - December 2008." This report is a requirement of
2005 Wisconsin Act 141, which directs the Public Service Commission to prepare a summary of not more than 2 pages to the legislature and to post the full report on the Commission's internet site on the following programs: the statewide energy efficiency and renewable resource program (
Focus on Energy); municipal utility and electric cooperative programs; and utility programs.
The Commission is pleased to report that the Focus on Energy program continues to achieve cost effective energy savings. As the summary indicates, for every dollar spent during the reviewed contract period (July 2007 - December 2008), the program delivered $2.20 in savings to Wisconsin homeowners and businesses. Last year the Focus on Energy program went on to achieve record energy savings and the financial audit for 2009 is nearing completion. A subsequent report to the legislature will soon follow.
Sincerely,
Eric Callisto
Chairperson
Referred to committee on Energy and Utilities.
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
Madison
September 30, 2010
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
This report is transmitted as required by s.
20.002 (11)(f), Wisconsin Statutes, (for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under s.
13.172 (3), Wisconsin Statutes) 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 cash balances during the month of August 2010.
On August 5, 2010, the General Fund cash balance closed at a negative $29.8 million. This negative balance continued intermittently through August 16, 2010, when the fund's cash balance closed at a positive $86.1 million. The General Fund cash balance reached its intra-month low of a negative $90.4 million on August 13, 2010. The negative balance was due to the difference in the timing of revenues and expenditures.
On August 23, 2010, the Medical Assistance Trust Fund cash balance closed at a negative $462 thousand (its intra-month low). This negative balance continued through August 24, 2010, when the fund's cash balance closed at a positive $39 thousand. The negative balance was due to the difference in the timing of revenues and expenditures.
On August 1, 2010, the Police and Fire Protection Fund cash balance closed at a negative $543 thousand (its intra-month low). This negative balance continued through August 25, 2010, when the fund's cash balance closed at a positive $503 thousand. The negative balance was due to the difference in the timing of revenues and expenditures.
On August 1, 2010, the Environmental Fund cash balance closed at a negative $10.6 million. This negative balance continued through August 31, 2010, when the fund's cash balance closed at a negative $901 thousand. The Environmental Fund cash balance reached its intra-month low of a negative $13.9 million on August 13, 2010. The negative balance was due to the difference in the timing of revenues and expenditures.
The General Fund, Medical Assistance Trust Fund, Police and Fire Protection Fund, and Environmental Fund shortfalls were not in excess of the statutory interfund borrowing limitations 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 and, as a result, the funds requiring the use of the authority will effectively bear the interest cost.
Sincerely,
Daniel J. Schooff
Secretary of Administration
Referred to committee on Ways and Means and joint committee on Finance.
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Department of Commerce
Madison
September 30, 2010
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
Please find enclosed a copy of the State of Wisconsin 2010-2014 Consolidated Plan to address housing and community development needs for the state. The Plan was developed by the Department of Commerce and has been reviewed and approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Section
16.31 (4), Wis. Stats., requires the Department to submit a copy of this state housing strategy plan to the Governor and the Chief Clerk of each house before October 1.
If you have any questions regarding the Plan, please contact Marty Evanson, Director, Bureau of Supportive Housing, at (608) 267-2713.
Sincerely,
James O'Keefe, Administrator
Division of Business Development
Referred to committee on Housing.
__________________
A1017
State of Wisconsin
Department of Health Services
Madison
October 1, 2010
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
I am writing to report that, after three months in operation, BadgerCare Plus Basic is financially solvent and successfully meeting the health care needs of 3,500 Wisconsin residents. This letter and the attached statistics fulfill the Department's legislative reporting requirements for Basic under section 49.67 of the Wisconsin Statutes.
With the successful launch of BadgerCare Plus Basic on July 1, 2010, uninsured Wisconsin residents gained another option for health care access. Basic was created to provide an affordable coverage choice to those on the waitlist for the BadgerCare Plus Core Plan. Core enrollment was capped in October 2009 due to limited federal funding. The Core waitlist was established at that time.
For $130 per month, Basic provides access to ten doctor's visits per year, a comprehensive generic drug benefit and one inpatient hospital stay and five outpatient hospital procedures before a hospital deductible is applied. Other professional medical services are also covered. Though the plan's benefits are very limited, Basic provides protection and peace of mind for those who have no other access to health insurance. Basic is self-funded, and state taxpayers pay nothing to support the program.
Per the specific reporting requirements identified in s.
49.67 (9g), claims payments for Basic totaled $803,957 through September 15, 2010. Premium revenue totaling $1,614,460 had been collected as of the same date. Additional reserve revenue of $1 million remains available to support Basic through the federal State Health Access Program (SHAP) grant administered by the Health Resource Services Administration (HRSA). In short, BadgerCare Plus Basic is completely solvent after its first three months of operation.
No changes to premiums, benefits, enrollee cost sharing or provider payment rates have been implemented since the program began on July 1, 2010. In August, DHS notified members already enrolled in Basic of opportunities to pay premiums in advance at a discounted rate. Advance payments reduce adverse selection by increasing member longevity in the plan. Beginning with the October 2010 benefit month, Basic members have options to pay a $360 quarterly premium, a $660 semi-annual premium or a $1,200 annual premium. More than 400 existing members (12%) opted to make an advance premium payment in September.
As of September 15, 3,503 people were enrolled in BadgerCare Plus Basic. Member demographic information, including age, gender and county of residence, is attached. Enrolling in Basic requires beginning an application for the BadgerCare Plus Core Plan online at access.wi.gov or by phone. That process involves reporting income and insurance information to determine if the applicant is eligible to be added to the Core waitlist. Since enrollment for Basic began, 542 potential Basic applicants were determined ineligible at the point of applying for the Core waitlist. Of the 542 applicants who did not qualify for Basic, 390 were not eligible due to having current insurance, insurance within the past 12 months or access to insurance. Eligible Basic members have no other insurance or access to insurance.
Once individuals have enrolled, the Basic verification process uses a variety of wage, income and insurance databases to verify the information members have reported. Disparities trigger DHS follow-up and potential disenrollment. As of September 15, DHS had determined 59 individuals ineligible for Basic due to other insurance.
The administrative portion of the Basic premium supports a full-time nurse case manager, whose duties focus on direct outreach to Basic members. The nurse has worked directly with more than 200 Basic members to coordinate their health care needs. Sixty-seven percent of Basic members reported their health condition as `good' in a telephone survey of 211 members conducted by the nurse case manager, 27% reported their health condition as `fair' and 6% as `poor.' Direct member contacts made by the nurse case manager have resulted in referrals to other programs for which Basic members may be eligible. To date, the nurse has referred 93 people to the Wisconsin Well Woman program and 27 members to apply for services under the Family Planning waiver.
In July, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved the Department's amendment to the Core Plan waiver to create a waitlist bypass into Core for Basic members who have been diagnosed with cancer. The policy had been recommended by the Department's Clinical Advisory Committee on Health and Emerging Technology (CACHET) to enhance care to Basic members who had been screened for cancer under Basic, but faced restricted treatment options under Basic's benefit limitations. To date, 14 Basic members with cancer have been transitioned to the Core Plan.
Under Governor Doyle's leadership, Wisconsin now provides access to health care for 98% of the State's residents. BadgerCare Plus Basic has been a key part of this accomplishment.
Sincerely,
Karen E. Timberlake
Secretary
Referred to committee on Health and Healthcare Reform.
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee
October 1, 2010
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
Enclosed please find the Family Medicine Biennial Report of the Medical College of Wisconsin, prepared according to the statutory requirement under section 13.106. This report contains information in the following areas:
The financial status of the family practice residency sites.
A1018
The number of family practice residents choosing to practice in medically underserved areas of the state upon graduation.
The number of graduates entering family practice as a career.
Please feel free to contact me at (414-955-8217) if you have any questions or would like additional information.
