Wisconsin DHS Announces Rate Increase to Help Support Healthcare Workforce During COVID-19 Case Surge
 
Gov. Tony Evers and the Department of Health Services (DHS) earlier this month announced that Wisconsin has increased reimbursement rates by five percent for several types of home and community-based services (HCBS) provided to members of Wisconsin's Medicaid programs. The announcement from Gov. Evers and DHS today comes as the state continues to face healthcare workforce challenges in the midst of surging COVID-19 cases across Wisconsin. Last week, the Evers Administration announced the state has worked to recruit nearly 600 temporary staff to support the state's healthcare workforce.

HCBS providers serve Wisconsin's older adults, as well as adults and children with disabilities, enabling them to live independently in the community. The rates were increased by using funds provided through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The increases took effect as of Jan. 1, 2022, and will run through March 31, 2024.

“As our state continues to face some of the worst case increases we've seen during this pandemic, we're working to ensure our state's hospitals and long-term care facilities have the resources and support to retain and recruit workers and continue providing care to folks across our state,” said Gov. Evers. “The pandemic has put a significant strain on our healthcare workforce, and we're making critical investments so providers can better keep pace with rising costs and maintain access to care for Wisconsinites.”

“It is essential that we invest in our long-term care infrastructure so Wisconsinites who are elderly or who have a disability are able to access the services and support they need to live as independently as possible in their community,” said DHS Secretary-designee Karen Timberlake. “These rate increases are needed now more than ever as providers of care and services for our elders and adults and children living with disabilities are also being affected by the current surge in COVID-19 cases.”

Increasing Rates for Nursing Homes and Hospitals
Gov. Evers and DHS have increased rates and provided additional support to Wisconsin's nursing homes and hospitals, so they have the resources and support to continue providing high-quality care. Wisconsin hospitals and nursing homes provide care that is essential to the well-being of people across the state. COVID-19 has added more financial pressure due to supply and equipment costs, testing, and disruptions in admissions and discharges. Increasing funding for nursing homes and hospitals is a key part of supporting our most vulnerable residents.

Over the period from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2023, Wisconsin will invest more than $500 million in payments and incentives to nursing homes, and more than $275 million in payments and incentives to hospitals. These payments are summarized below. They reflect increased reimbursement rates for nursing homes, increased payments made to hospitals that provide a higher amount of care to Medicaid members and people who are uninsured or underinsured, increased payments to rural hospitals, and additional funding provided to hospitals and nursing homes to offset the losses and expenditures providers have experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nursing Homes
The rate increases for nursing homes were provided through the 2019-21 and 2021-23 biennial budgets. Payments to offset losses and expenditures experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic were provided through one-time federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Stability (CARES) Act funding.

• Rate increases in the 2019-21 biennial budget: $148,157,800 (Reflects budgeted amounts for fiscal year 2020 through fiscal year 2023, The rate increase is ongoing.)
• Rate increases in the 2021-23 biennial budget: $252,409,700 (Reflects budgeted amounts for fiscal year 2022 through fiscal year 2023. The rate increase is ongoing.)
• CARES Act Direct Provider Payments to Nursing Homes: $75,640,729
• CARES Act Admissions Incentive Program: $30,000,000

Hospitals
Increased payments for hospitals were provided through the 2019-21 and 2021-23 biennial budgets. Payments to offset losses and expenditures experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic were provided through one-time federal CARES Act funding.

• Increased disproportionate share hospital payments in the 2019-21 and 2021-23 biennial budgets: $215,587,514
• Increased rural critical care supplement for rural hospitals in the 2019-21 and 2021-23 biennial budgets: $19,748,200
• CARES Act Direct Provider Payments to Hospitals: $40,000,000

Increasing Rates for HCBS
Wisconsin projects that the demand for long-term care services will rise faster than the workforce will grow in the coming years. According to the Governor's Taskforce on Caregiving, the state's population aged 65 and older is expected to grow by 72 percent between 2015 and 2040. The rate is six times higher than the overall Wisconsin population growth project of 12 percent for the same period.

HCBS are essential to meeting the daily needs of the members of Wisconsin's long-term care programs, allowing them to avoid unnecessary institutionalization. Examples of HCBS include care received at an assisted living facility, personal care, home health, residential substance use disorder treatment, respiratory care, and in-home nursing, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. These services have been shown to be a cost-effective alternative to higher-cost institutional services, such as nursing home placements or hospital services. Higher rates help providers recruit staff and maintain the important system that delivers such critical care. The rate increase is part of DHS' broader plan to reinvest resources provided through ARPA into home and community-based services.

The ARPA rate increase for HCBS is being made in addition to the investments in support of the Medicaid HCBS workforce provided through the 2021-23 biennial budget. This included funding to increase the hourly rate for personal care services, increases for behavioral treatment services for individuals with autism and other disorders, increases for home health, therapeutic services, and Family Care providers, as well as funding increases for the direct care workforce funding program for Family Care. These investments will be significant to support individuals in their homes. As one example, when the workforce investments in the 2021-23 biennial budget are combined with this five percent rate increase, the hourly reimbursement rate for personal care services will be increased by 14 percent from $19.16 per hour and $21.84 per hour.

WiAHC Legislative Tracker

The 2021-22 WiAHC Legislative Bill Tracker lists and allows members to follow and learn more about the bills WiAHC is lobbying on and monitoring as they work through the legislative process. The Bill Tracker, which you can find below, includes the bill number, a brief description of the bill, its status, and WiAHC’s position on the proposal.

• Bill: Assembly Bill 215 / Senate Bill 230
• Description: Relating to visitation of a long-term care facility resident or hospital patient by an essential visitor or member of the clergy.
• Status: AB 215 was introduced and referred to the Assembly Aging and Long-Term Care Committee. SB 230 was introduced and referred to the Senate Human Services, Children, and Families Committee.
• WiAHC Position: Support

• Bill: Assembly Bill 679 / Senate Bill 687
• Description: Relating to hospital services provided in a home setting.
• Status: AB 679 was referred to and passed by the Assembly Health Committee on 11/10/21. SB 687 was referred to the Senate Health Committee and received a public hearing on 1/12/22.
• WiAHC Position: Currently Neutral/Actively Monitoring

• Bill: Assembly Bill 718 / Senate Bill 753
• Description: Relating to prohibiting certain practices relating to insurance coverage of clinician-administered drugs (“white bagging” legislation).
• Status: AB 718 was introduced and referred to the Assembly Health Committee. SB 753 was introduced and referred to the Senate Insurance, Licensing and Forestry
• WiAHC Position: Support

• Bill: Assembly Bill 729 / Senate Bill 700
• Description: Relating to modifying administrative rules related to home health agencies.
• Status: AB 729 was referred to the Assembly Aging and Long-Term Care Committee and received a public hearing on 01/12/22. SB 230 was referred to the Senate Human Services, Children, and Families Committee and received a public hearing on 01/13/22.
• WiAHC Position: Support

• All Health Plans to Cover Cost of At-Home COVID-19 Tests
  On January 13, Governor Evers and Insurance Commissioner Nathan Houdek announced that all health insurance plans will be required to cover the cost of at-home rapid, diagnostic COVID-19 tests, starting on January 15, 2022.  This is required by the federal government.  These tests may be free or reimbursable to patients, depending upon arrangements health plans and insurance companies make with retailers/pharmacies.  Health plans and insurance companies will be required to cover up to eight such diagnostic tests per person, per month. 

• State Improves Prescription Drug Monitoring Program 
  In December, the state Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) announced that the U.S. Department of Justice awarded $1,648,000 to the Wisconsin Enhanced Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (ePDMP).  These dollars will be used to help connect the ePDMP with existing electronic medical records systems in Wisconsin. DSPS intends to focus these efforts on medical providers in rural and underserved regions in our state. 
• Medicaid Program Surplus Projected
  On December 30, 2021, the Department of Health Services informed the legislature that it projects that the state will have a $184.9 million surplus in the Medicaid program by the end of the 2021-2023 state budget.  The state budget expires at the end of state fiscal year 2023, which ends on June 30, 2023.  This increase is largely due to the extension of the federal COVID-19 public health emergency and the additional 6.2 percent Medicaid match rate, which is provided by the federal government while the emergency declaration is in place. 
• Gov. Evers Announces Wisconsin National Guard to Support Hospital and Nursing Home Capacity
  Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers recently announced new efforts with the Wisconsin National Guard to bring needed staffing support to Wisconsin's hospitals and nursing homes by training Wisconsin National Guard members as certified nursing assistants. In an effort to free up capacity at hospitals, staffing relief will allow skilled nursing facilities to open up 200 or more beds by the end of February to receive post-acute care patients. This week, approximately 50 Wisconsin National Guard members were deployed to six nursing homes across the state. A group of about 80 members who started training this week will deploy at the end of January. Another group of about 80 members will start training in early February to deploy by the end of February.
• Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Actz
  On December 10, President Biden signed the Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act (S. 610) into law, addressing multiple policies expected to drastically cut  physician Medicare reimbursement in 2022. More specifically, the act does the following:
• • Provides a 3 percent increase to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) conversion factor in 2022, which provides relief from the scheduled expiration of a 3.75 percent increase passed as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021.
  • Extends the suspension of the automatic 2 percent cut to Medicare reimbursement, known as the sequester, until March 31, 2022.
  • Delays an additional 4 percent cut stemming from the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (PAYGO) until at least 2023.

• Supreme Court Blocks Biden’s COVID Vaccine Mandate Rule for Large Businesses; Upholds Health Worker Requirement
  As has been widely reported, the U.S. Supreme Court recently handed down a split decision on two Biden administration COVID-19 vaccine requirement workplace rules: 1.) An OSHA rule requiring businesses with at least 100 employees to compel their workers to get vaccinated or wear masks and test negative at least once per week; and 2.) The CMS rule mandating most health care workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The High Court struck down the OSHA Rule on a 6-3 decision, but it upheld the CMS mandate on a 5-4 decision.

WiAHC Government Affairs Report | By Hoven Consulting – WiAHC’s Lobbying Firm

Assembly and Senate Committees Hold Hearing on Home Health Rules Update Bill

During the week of January 10, the Assembly Aging & Long-Term Care Committee and the Senate Labor and Regulatory Reform Committee held hearings on Assembly Bill 729 and Senate Bill 700, respectively.  This legislation, which was introduced by Rep. Donna Rozar (R-Marshfield) and Sen. Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan) at the request of WiAHC, brings Wisconsin’s regulations in line with federal regulations by eliminating home health care professional advisory bodies but maintaining governing bodies.  WiAHC state lobbyist Tim Hoven testified at both hearings on behalf of WiAHC and received a positive reception from members of both committees. 

Current state administrative rules require each home health agency to establish a professional advisory body, which is required to review and submit recommendations to the governing body regarding various operational matters each year.  However, in 2017, federal regulations eliminated professional advisory committees and instead created an ongoing quality assessment and performance improvement (QAPI) program.

A home health agency’s governing body is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the QAPI program is operated properly. An additional professional advisory body is no longer needed in state administrative rules now that the federal government has eliminated professional advisory committees and required home health agencies to implement QAPI programs, which prioritizes quality of care and patient safety.  CLICK HERE to read the one-page issue summary that WiAHC provided to legislators.

Politicians on the Move

• On January 10, State Representative Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) stepped down as Assembly Minority Leader.  He was first elected to the Assembly in 2006 and was elected as Assembly Minority Leader in 2017.  On January 10, State Representative Greta Neubauer (D-Racine) assumed the role of Assembly Minority Leader.  Rep. Kalan Haywood (D-Milwaukee) was elected to serve as the next Assistant Minority Leader and will take over from State Rep. Dianne Hesselbein (D-Middleton), who will run for the seat of State Senator Jon Erpenbach (D-West Point), who is retiring this year.
• State Representative Beth Meyers (D-Bayfield) recently announced that she will not run for re-election in 2022.  She was first elected in 2014.  She is a member of the Assembly Democratic leadership team as the Minority Caucus Secretary and is also a member of the Aging and Long-Term Care Committee.  On January 10, new Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer appointed Rep. Meyers to a seat on the Joint Finance Committee for the rest of the 2021-2022 legislative session.
• State Representative Jim Steineke (R-Kaukauna), the current Assembly Majority Leader, recently announced he will not seek re-election in 2022. Steinke was first elected in 2010, and quickly rose through the ranks of the Assembly GOP leadership. He has served as Majority Leader since 2015.
• State Senator Kathy Bernier (R-Chippewa Falls) announced on January 7 that she will not run for re-election this year.  She was elected to the Senate in 2018 and previously served in the Assembly from 2011-2018.  She currently chairs the Senate Committee on Elections, Election Process Reform and Ethics and serves on the Joint Finance Committee.

Home Health Care News

By Andrew Donlan | November 19, 2021

The Biden administration’s Build Back Better plan – which includes an array of support for home-based care and senior services – took a significant step Friday.

A $1.9 trillion bill got the necessary number of votes to make it through the U.S. House of Representatives. The next stop will be the Senate.

“Today’s historic vote of support for home care comes at a time when the country needs it more than ever,” National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) President William A. Dombi said in a statement shared with Home Health Care News. “Health care at home is widely recognized as high value, high quality and highly preferred.”

Most notably, $150 billion will be dedicated to reducing waiting lists for in-home care services and improving pay for low-wage in-home care professionals.

But the Build Back Better plan will also include $150 billion to increase the supply of affordable housing, $130 billion to provide tax credits for uninsured people in states that have not expanded Medicaid benefits, $1 billion for direct care workforce competitive grants, and $20 million for hospice and palliative nursing programs.

“From pediatric nursing care to home care aide services for those with multiple chronic illnesses as they age, this legislation will provide improved access to home care,” Dombi said. “We now look to the Senate to complete the work to protect our families and friends who need this essential care.”

Originally, the plan included $400 billion for home- and community-based services (HCBS), but it was eventually trimmed as Democrats and Republicans bargained for their respective side’s wishes.

Even the lesser version won’t be a shoo-in to get through the Senate, though advocates are arguing relentlessly on its behalf. The Senate is expected to consider the bill in the coming weeks, with the hope that a decision will be made before Christmas.

“Today’s vote is a major step forward for millions of older Americans … stuck on waiting lists to rent a place they can afford, and unable to get the home health and other help they and their families need,” Katie Smith Sloan, the president and CEO of LeadingAge, said in a statement. “It’s also an overdue step toward alleviating workforce shortages that are denying critical services and support to millions of older adults.”

While the funding would help on the recruiting and retention front by improving wages, it would also likely give hundreds of thousands more Americans access to home-based care.

“Support for home- and community-based services and affordable senior housing programs in the Build Back Better legislation can fundamentally transform how people grow old in this country,” Sloan continued. “These are critically needed resources – especially the investments in the workforce – that will immediately help alleviate current shortages and scarcity across aging services.”

The investment in workers, particularly, has drawn praise from organizations across the country that represent caregivers and other home-based care professionals.

Ai-jen Poo, the executive director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA) and Caring Across Generations, remarked that this was a step toward “the care and infrastructure our families and economy need.”

“Today’s vote brings us one step closer to realizing a future where America’s home care workers … receive a family-sustaining wage,” Poo said in a statement. “And those who need care … will be able to receive quality, affordable care services at home. The Senate’s quick passage of this historic legislation with all three pillars of the care economy – including home- and community-based services, child care and paid family medical leave – will enable us to start building the care infrastructure our families and economy need.”

The plan would be building on other legislative moves made to support in-home care since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The passage of another $1.9 trillion stimulus bill, the American Rescue Plan set the stage for Build Back Better after it made a 10 percentage point increase to HCBS funding through the Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentage (FMAP) match.

An example of how those funds were used surfaced earlier this week in Florida, as the state used that hike to invest $1.1 billion to support HCBS for Floridians. Of that $1.1 billion, more than $669 million will go toward directly addressing HCBS providers’ ongoing workforce challenges and more than $128 million will go toward enhancing services for older adults.

As of Oct. 21, two dozen states had received approval to use increased FMAP funds to increase HCBS provider payment rates. Another 20 or so used it to offer special bonus payments to workers.

“Florida will invest the enhanced funding to allow Florida health care providers to recruit and retain staff to care for the most vulnerable and bolster the ability of Floridians to receive care in a community-based setting,” a statement from the state’s Agency Health Care Administration (AHCA) read. “HCBS programs serve the state’s aging population, as well as individuals with physical, intellectual and developmental disabilities.”

On November 3, Marquette Law School released a new poll that surveyed Wisconsin registered voters on their opinions of various national and statewide elected officials, as well as views related to the coronavirus pandemic.

In this poll, statewide elected officials had fairly low approval ratings. Among statewide elected officials, Governor Tony Evers has the highest favorable rating of 42%. However, he also had an unfavorable rating of 45%, while 13% didn’t know enough about him or don’t have an opinion. Notably, 53% approve of Governor Evers’ handling of the pandemic, while 40% disapprove.

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D) has the next-highest approval rating, with 38% of Wisconsin registered voters approving of her performance, 39% disapproving, and 22% did not have an opinion. Wisconsin’s other U.S. Senator – Republican Ron Johnson, had a 36% approval rating, a 42% disapproval rating, and 22% of surveyed voters didn’t know enough about him or didn’t not have an opinion.

The poll also asked several questions regarding the coronavirus pandemic. Here are the results:

• Overall, 55% support school mask mandates, while 40% oppose them.
• 48% support the federal mandate that require employees of larger businesses (100 or more employees) to either get vaccinated or face weekly testing. 48% of respondents opposed it.
• 74% of Wisconsin registered voters said they have received at least one dose of a vaccine, 23% said that they have not been vaccinated, and 3% declined to answer.
• 62% of respondents claimed they are fully vaccinated, although CDC data shows that 66% of Wisconsinites are fully vaccinated.
• Out of those surveyed who are unvaccinated, 56% said they will not get the vaccine and 18% said they will probably not get it.

DHS supports the FDA authorization, CDC recommendations

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) supports the recommendation that anyone 18 and older receive a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after having received their second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech (Pfizer) or Moderna vaccine. All adults are now eligible to receive booster doses, and booster doses are strongly recommended for everyone 50 and older, who are at the greatest risk for severe disease.

A recent decision by the CDC extends eligibility for a booster dose to everyone 18 and up at least 6 months after they received their second dose of Pfizer or Moderna. People who got the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine are also eligible for a booster dose of any of the available COVID-19 vaccines. For the people who got the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, booster shots are recommended by the CDC for those who are 18 and older and who were vaccinated two or more months ago.

The CDC’s recommendations now also allow for mix-and-match dosing for booster doses. Some people may have a preference for the vaccine type that they originally received, and others may prefer to get a different booster.

“Getting everyone vaccinated continues to be our top priority for preventing serious illness and death from COVID-19,” said Dr. Ryan Westergaard, Chief Medical Officer and State Epidemiologist for DHS. “Too many of us remain unprotected going into the winter season. Getting a booster dose when it’s time to do so, and continuing to get our children 5 and older vaccinated will slow the spread of the virus and save lives.”

Getting vaccinated is about protection. Given that evidence suggests immunity is waning over time for some people who were initially well-protected by the vaccine, the booster dose can strengthen and extend their protection against infection, serious illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19.

With the high-level of disease transmission in Wisconsin, DHS continues to urge everyone who is not vaccinated to get the COVID-19 vaccine, and for all people to add additional layers of protection including masking up indoors, staying home when feeling sick, and avoiding large indoor gatherings.

DHS has also updated the COVID-19 vaccine administration dashboard on the COVID-19 vaccine data webpage. The expanded dashboard displays new data on additional and booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine. The administration tab now includes a section showing the cumulative number of additional and booster COVID-19 vaccine doses administered and reported to the Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR) by Wisconsin vaccine providers.

For up-to-date information about Wisconsin’s COVID-19 response, visit the DHS COVID-19 webpage.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has released ForwardHealth Update 2021-40, “Electronic Visit Verification Soft Launch Has Been Extended.” This update communicates that DHS required hard launch consequences will not go into effect January 1, 2022.

ForwardHealth Update 2021-26, "Electronic Visit Verification Hard Launch Preparation" and ForwardHealth Update 2021-23, "Electronic Visit Verification Policy and Hard Launch Timeline" have been revised to reflect this extension.

With the soft launch extension:

• EVV is still required f or Medicaid-covered personal care and applicable supportive home care services and has been since November 2, 2020.
• Provider agencies that are not currently using EVV are out of compliance with current DHS policy.
• Fee-for-service claims without EVV data will be paid.
• DHS has encouraged health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and managed care organizations (MCOs) to continue to pay claims without EVV data until the new hard launch date. This will provide consistency and coordination f or provider agencies within the EVV program.
• Services without EVV data will be included in future capitation rate setting development for HMOs and MCOs.
• IRIS (Include, Respect, I Self -Direct) fiscal employer agencies will not deny payment for provider agency claims until the new hard launch date.
• The IRIS non-compliant participant disenrollment process will be delayed. Participants are out of compliance with current DHS policy if their participant-hired workers are not using an EVV system during the soft launch phase.
• Provider agencies choosing to use an alternate EVV system that is not certified should complete the certification process as soon as possible. They are out of compliance with current DHS policy if they are not using an EVV system during soft launch phase.
• In fee-for-service, the Sandata EVV system is not a replacement f or Record of Care timesheets until the new hard launch date.

DHS will continue to monitor the status of EVV and will be taking additional actions to further promote EVV usage and provider compliance during the extension.

Payers, provider agencies, and workers should use this extension to become more efficient with EVV, streamline processes, and take additional training as needed.

If you have questions or comments about EVV, please contact Wisconsin EVV Customer Care via phone at 833-931-2035. Customer Care hours are Monday–Friday, 7 a.m.–6 p.m. CT.

Earlier this month, the WI Department of Health Services’ Division of Quality Assurance (DQA) issued the following information to all DQA regulated providers regarding the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Interim Final Rule (released on Nov. 4, 2021), which requires COVID-19 vaccination for most healthcare workers at certain healthcare facilities certified by CMS:

On November 4, 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a new emergency rule related to COVID-19 vaccination requirements for Medicare and Medicaid-certified health care providers and suppliers. Specifically, it requires all health care providers and suppliers that participate in a federally certified Medicare and Medicaid program under Conditions of Participation (COP) to develop a plan/process to vaccinate all staff with a first dose or single dose of COVID-19 vaccine by December 6, 2021. All eligible staff must be fully vaccinated by January 4, 2022.

The Emergency regulations apply to the following Medicare and Medicaid-certified providers/suppliers:

• Ambulatory Surgery Centers
• Community Mental Health Centers
• Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facilities
• Critical Access Hospitals
• End-Stage Renal 2 Dialysis Facilities
• Home Health Agencies
• Home Infusion Therapy Suppliers
• Hospices
• Hospitals
• Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities
• Clinics
• Rehabilitation Agencies, and Public Health Agencies as Providers of Outpatient Physical Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology Services
• Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTFs)
• Programs for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly Organizations (PACE)
• Rural Health Clinics/Federally Qualified Health Centers
• Long Term Care Facilities

The regulation does not apply to:

• Assisted Living Facilities; however, the mandate would apply to large, assisted living facilities with more than 100 employees under the OSHA mandate.
• Home and Community-Based Services
• Physician’s offices

The vaccination requirement applies to eligible staff working at a facility that participates in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, regardless of clinical responsibility or patient contact. This includes:

• Facility employees
• Licensed practitioners
• Students
• Trainees
• Volunteers
• Individuals who provide care, treatment, or other services for the facility and/or its patients under contract or other arrangements

CMS has provided additional information about the COVID-19 Health Care Staff Vaccination Interim Final Rule in a FAQ document.

DQA Review:

CMS expects state survey agencies to conduct onsite compliance reviews of these requirements during recertification surveys and complaint surveys. Surveyors will check to determine if a facility has met the three basic requirements:

• Having a process or plan for vaccinating all eligible staff
• Having a process or plan for providing exemptions and accommodations for those who are exempt
• Having a process or plan for tracking and documenting staff vaccinations.
• Surveyors will review the facility’s vaccine policies, the number of resident and staff COVID-19 cases over the last 4 weeks and list of staff and their vaccination status. This information will be used to determine the compliance of the provider or supplier with these requirements.

Numerous states have files lawsuit against CMS and the Biden Administration challenging the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers. However, the Final Interim Rule currently remains in place.

By State Representative Tony Kurtz (R-Wonewoc)

Senator Alberta Darling and I recently introduced Koreen's Law (Assembly Bill 718) a critical legislative proposal to help ensure patients have access to life-saving medication. It is named after a patient, Koreen, who went through a traumatic experience while undergoing chemotherapy.

Seven months into her treatment, Koreen and her husband were told their insurance company would no longer cover the cost of her medication, which was vital to her treatment, because the company implemented a new “white bagging” policy that dictated where -- and from which provider – she could obtain her medication.

More specifically, white bagging is a practice by insurance companies that requires patients to obtain their clinician-administered drugs by a specialty pharmacy selected by the insurance company, rather than the patient’s local care provider. While their care provider and local pharmacy remain in-network for most things, an insurance company picks and chooses certain drugs that will then become out-of-network resulting in patients experiencing more confusion, cost, and disrupted care. For patients to keep their providers, they would be required to pay the costs associated with receiving out-of-network care.

On behalf of Koreen, her husband Nate, her family, and many other patients across Wisconsin, I am happy to author Koreen’s Law to prohibit health insurance companies from mandating the practice of white bagging. To better understand the impacts of white bagging on Wisconsin patients and providers, please visit www.PatientsFirstWI.com.