LRB-1091/1
DAK:cjs:jf
2003 - 2004 LEGISLATURE
March 31, 2003 - Introduced by Representatives Miller, Young, Pocan, Berceau,
Plouff, Coggs
and Morris, cosponsored by Senators Carpenter and Risser,
by request of Coalition for Wisconsin Health. Referred to Committee on
Health.
AB229,1,6 1An Act to amend 15.01 (4) and 59.17 (2) (c); and to create 15.07 (1) (a) 8., 15.07
2(2) (m), 15.07 (5) (z), 15.07 (5m) (c), 15.20, 15.207, 20.430, 59.53 (24), 62.09 (8)
3(cm) and chapter 152 of the statutes; relating to: establishing a publicly
4financed health care system for residents of this state, creating the Department
5of Health Planning and Finance, Health Policy Board, and regional health
6councils, granting rule-making authority, and making appropriations.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, payment for medical services received by residents of this
state is made from a combination of federal moneys (such as under the Medicare,
Medical Assistance (commonly referred to as "Medicaid"), and various block grant
programs), general purpose revenues (such as the "state share" of the joint
federal-state Medical Assistance Program, the Badger Care Program, state
contributions to relief block grants for health care services, and moneys appropriated
for specific medical purposes, such as cancer control grants), local moneys (such as
funding for medical relief health care services and county nursing homes and
hospitals), private health insurance coverage purchased by individuals or provided,
in part, as employee benefits, and out-of-pocket payments by health care
consumers.
This bill establishes a universal health plan for Wisconsin, under which,
beginning July 1, 2006, each state resident, with certain specified exceptions, shall

receive reasonable medical services necessary to maintain health, enable diagnosis,
or provide treatment or rehabilitation for an injury, disability, or disease. Specified
persons who are excepted from the July 1, 2006, beginning date are phased in for
eligibility that begins July 1, 2007.
To administer the universal health plan, the bill creates a Department of
Health Planning and Finance (DHPF), with six regional offices, that is directed and
supervised by an 11-member Health Policy Board that is also created in the bill. The
Health Policy Board appoints the secretary of health planning and finance and is
required to review that appointment after 36 months. The bill also creates six
regional health councils that are attached to DHPF and that report at least twice a
year to the Health Policy Board on the health care needs, problems, and concerns of
the region. The bill requires appropriation of general purpose revenues to DHPF for
operation of the Health Policy Board for the 2003-05 fiscal biennium and requires
that the Health Policy Board consider numerous specified issues related to the
formation of a universal health plan in this state.
Under the bill, by July 1, 2005, DHPF must begin implementation of processes,
in light of policies determined by the Health Policy Board, to effect numerous
matters, including specifying the amounts and sources of funds to finance payment
to providers under the universal health plan, applying for waivers to federal
Medicaid statutes and rules, and establishing a listing of approved medicinal
substances and formulae. The secretary of health planning and finance and the
secretary of administration must, until September 1, 2005, meet at least
semimonthly to formulate decisions on issues concerning the universal health plan
and DHPF and how the scope and functions of DHPF affect the scope and functions
of the Department of Health and Family Services, the Office of the Commissioner of
Insurance, the Board on Aging and Long-Term care, and the duties or powers of any
other state agency. The Health Policy Board must convey the decisions to the
Legislative Reference Bureau for drafting of necessary proposed legislation for
introduction in the legislature in 2006. The Legislative Reference Bureau must
prepare, in proper form for introduction, the proposed legislation that relates to the
decisions.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB229, s. 1 1Section 1. 15.01 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB229,3,72 15.01 (4) "Council" means a part-time body appointed to function on a
3continuing basis for the study, and recommendation of solutions and policy
4alternatives, of the problems arising in a specified functional area of state

1government, except the Wisconsin land council has the powers specified in s. 16.965
2(3) and (5) and the powers granted to agencies under ch. 227, the Milwaukee River
3revitalization council has the powers and duties specified in s. 23.18, the council on
4physical disabilities has the powers and duties specified in s. 46.29 (1) and (2), and
5the state council on alcohol and other drug abuse has the powers and duties specified
6in s. 14.24, and the regional health councils have the powers and duties specified in
7s. 152.30 (1)
.
AB229, s. 2 8Section 2. 15.07 (1) (a) 8. of the statutes is created to read:
AB229,3,109 15.07 (1) (a) 8. Members of the health policy board elected under s. 15.20 (1)
10shall be elected as provided in that subsection.
AB229, s. 3 11Section 3. 15.07 (2) (m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB229,3,1312 15.07 (2) (m) The chairperson of the health policy board shall serve for a period
13of 3 years and may be reelected for 2 additional successive terms.
AB229, s. 4 14Section 4. 15.07 (5) (z) of the statutes is created to read:
AB229,3,1515 15.07 (5) (z) Members of the health policy board, $50 per day.
AB229, s. 5 16Section 5. 15.07 (5m) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
AB229,3,2017 15.07 (5m) (c) Health policy board. Members of the health policy board may
18be reimbursed for lost wages if required by their employers to use leave without pay
19in order to attend meetings of the health policy board, and they may be reimbursed
20for actual and necessary child care expenses without proof of financial hardship.
AB229, s. 6 21Section 6. 15.20 of the statutes is created to read:
AB229,4,3 2215.20 Department of health planning and finance. There is created a
23department of health planning and finance under the direction and supervision of
24the health policy board. The health policy board shall consist of the following
25members, each of whom is to serve for a 6-year term and, if reelected or reappointed,

1for an additional 6-year term and none of whom may be a health care provider, as
2defined in s. 152.01 (6), an administrator or owner of a health care facility or
3organization, or an elected public official:
AB229,4,5 4(1) One member elected by and from the current membership of each of the 6
5regional health councils specified under s. 15.207 (1) (b).
AB229,4,9 6(2) Five members, nominated by the governor and with the advice and consent
7of the senate appointed, who reflect as much as possible a balance of genders, races,
8ages, sexual orientations, ethnicities, religions, geographic areas, and the interests
9of management, labor, and individuals with disabilities.
AB229, s. 7 10Section 7. 15.207 of the statutes is created to read:
AB229,4,14 1115.207 Same; councils. (1) Regional health councils. (a) There are created
126 regional health councils that are attached to the department of health planning
13and finance under s. 15.03, one of which is established in each of the following areas
14of this state:
AB229,4,1715 1. The northern region, consisting of Ashland, Bayfield, Douglas, Florence,
16Forest, Iron, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Oneida, Portage, Price, Sawyer, Taylor,
17Vilas, and Wood counties.
AB229,4,2018 2. The southern region, consisting of Adams, Columbia, Crawford, Dane,
19Dodge, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Juneau, Lafayette, Richland, Rock, Sauk, and
20Vernon counties.
AB229,4,2321 3. The western region, consisting of Barron, Burnett, Buffalo, Chippewa,
22Clark, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Rusk, St.
23Croix, Trempealeau, and Washburn counties.
AB229,5,3
14. The northeastern region, consisting of Brown, Calumet, Door, Fond du Lac,
2Green Lake, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Oconto,
3Outagamie, Shawano, Sheboygan, Waupaca, Waushara, and Winnebago counties.
AB229,5,54 5. The southeastern region, consisting of Kenosha, Ozaukee, Walworth,
5Washington, Waukesha, and Racine counties.
AB229,5,66 6. The area within Milwaukee County.
AB229,5,107 (b) Each regional health council shall consist of the following members, none
8of whom may be a health care provider, as defined in s. 152.01 (6), an administrator
9or owner of a health care facility or organization, or an elected public official, to serve
10for no more than 3 3-year terms:
AB229,5,1311 1. In the northern region, a total of 16 members, consisting of one member from
12each county in that region. The county board of supervisors of each county in that
13region shall appoint one person from that county.
AB229,5,1614 2. In the southern region, a total of 15 members, consisting of one member from
15each county in that region. The county board of supervisors of each county in that
16region shall appoint one person from that county.
AB229,5,1917 3. In the western region, a total of 17 members, consisting of one member from
18each county in that region. The county board of supervisors of each county in that
19region shall appoint one person from that county.
AB229,5,2220 4. In the northeastern region, a total of 17 members, consisting of one member
21from each county in that region. The county board of supervisors of each county in
22that region shall appoint one person from that county.
AB229,5,2523 5. In the southeastern region, a total of 12 members, consisting of 2 members
24from each county in that region. The county board of supervisors of each county in
25that region shall appoint 2 persons from that county.
AB229,6,5
16. In the area within Milwaukee County, a total of 12 members, consisting of
26 persons who are residents of the city of Milwaukee and are appointed by the mayor
3of the city of Milwaukee as provided under s. 62.09 (8) (cm), and 6 persons who are
4residents of Milwaukee County but are not residents of the city of Milwaukee and are
5appointed by the county executive of Milwaukee County.
AB229, s. 8 6Section 8. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert
7the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table PDF
AB229, s. 9 8Section 9. 20.430 of the statutes is created to read:
AB229,6,11 920.430 Health planning and finance, department of. There is
10appropriated to the department of health planning and finance for the following
11program:
AB229,6,14 12(1) Health planning and finance. (a) General program operations. The
13amounts in the schedule for the general program operations of the department of
14health planning and finance.
AB229,6,1615 (b) Universal health plan services and benefits. The amounts in the schedule
16for health care services and benefits provided under s. 152.10 (4).
AB229,6,1817 (i) Gifts and grants. All moneys received from gifts, grants, bequests, and
18devises to carry out the purposes for which made.
AB229,7,3
1(m) Federal funds; state operations. All moneys received from the federal
2government, as authorized by the governor under s. 16.54, for the purposes for which
3made and received.
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