By Hoven Consulting – WiAHC’s lobbying firm
In the FY2023-2025 state budget bill that Governor Evers signed into law, the Legislature appropriated $5 million for a complex patient pilot program focused on successfully transferring patients with complex medical needs from acute care facilities to post-acute care facilities. These are funds that are directed toward the state Department of Health Services (DHS).
Governor Evers’ original FY2023-2025 budget request included a provision giving DHS authority to administer these funds, including the creation of an advisory group that would assist the department with developing and creating a complex patient pilot program. Furthermore, members of such an advisory group would need to have “clinical, financial, or administrative expertise in government programs, acute care, or post-acute care.” However, the final enacted version of the budget did not provide this authority. Despite that, the Evers Administration is working towards obtaining legislation that provides this authority.
With this in mind, WiAHC sent a letter to state Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Kirsten Johnson in August requesting that DHS consider appointing a home health care provider to a complex patient pilot program advisory group, should separate legislation be enacted that authorizes this program, including the creation of an advisory group.
On August 31, Governor Tony Evers and the state Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) unveiled a new online dashboard that provides high-level data on occupational license processing. In addition to showing the average number of days to process all new applications, all health applications, and all business applications, users may also look up application review times by profession.
On August 23, Governor Tony Evers signed an executive order creating the Governor’s Task Force on Workforce and Artificial Intelligence. This task force will “produce an advisory action plan to identify the current state of generative artificial intelligence’s impact on Wisconsin’s labor market and develop informed predictions regarding its implication for the near term and future.” In addition, it will “recommend solutions related to workforce development and educational systems.”
This task force will be chaired by the state Department of Workforce Development Secretary Amy Pechacek and will include the Secretary of the state Department of Administration, the head of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, representatives from the University of Wisconsin System, the Wisconsin Technical College System, as well as other public and private sector representatives.
The Governor’s executive order did not include a timeline for the work of this task force.
On August 31, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos announced the creation of several speaker’s task forces, including one focused on artificial intelligence. This task force, comprised entirely of Republican and Democratic state representatives, will hold public hearings at various locations across Wisconsin, starting in September. The task force aims to complete its work by the end of 2023 and recommend legislation for introduction during the 2024-2025 legislative session. This task force will be chaired by state Rep. Nate Gustafson (R-Neenah).
On August 16, state Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer (D-Racine) appointed Rep. Deb Andraca (D-Whitefish Bay) to serve on the Legislature’s budget-writing Joint Committee on Finance for the rest of the 2023-2024 legislative session. Rep. Andraca, who represents portions of the north shore Milwaukee suburbs, will replace Rep. Evan Goyke (D-Milwaukee), who is departing the committee to focus on his campaign for the position of Milwaukee City Attorney.
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