Earlier this month, Gov. Tony Evers announced his appointment of Kirsten Johnson as the next secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS). Johnson, who begins her new role on Feb. 27, will replace former Secretary Karen Timberlake’s who left the state agency at the end of 2022. 

According to a press release issued by the governor’s office, Johnson has over 20 years of experience as a public health leader in local, state, national, and international organizations. Most recently, she served as the health commissioner for the city of Milwaukee following her appointment in January 2021. Prior to serving the city of Milwaukee, Johnson led the Washington-Ozaukee Public Health Department for more than a decade as the director and health officer. Johnson also served as a health policy fellow and advisor for U.S. Congressman Ron Kind and helped develop policy for the House Committee on Ways and Means.

“Over the past 20 years of my career in public health, I have worked to address the challenges and health disparities facing Wisconsin’s rural, urban, and suburban communities alike—disparities that were laid bare by the pandemic,” said Johnson. “I am excited and honored to join Gov. Evers’ administration to lead DHS, where I look forward to using my expertise and knowledge to continue this important work.” 

Johnson has her master’s degree in public health from Tulane University of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and holds certifications as a public health professional and certified education specialist.

In the closely watched Feb. 21 primary for the Wisconsin Supreme Court – which centered on the issue of abortion after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022 – liberal-leaning Milwaukee County Judge Janet Protasiewicz and conservative former Supreme Court Justice Daniel Kelly captured the most votes in the four-way race and will face-off in the April 4 general election. Protasiewicz took 46% of total votes cast, with Kelly coming in a distant second, capturing 24% of the votes. The winner of the general election will decide the ideological direction of the 7-seat high court, which is currently controlled 4-3 by conservative-leaning justices.

The other high-profile primary race saw Republican state Rep. Dan Knodl (R-Germantown) defeat fellow state Rep. Janel Brandtjen in the GOP primary for the 8th WI Senate District. Knodl will face Democrat Jodi Habush Sinykin in the April 4 spring election for the chance to replace former Republican Sen. Alberta Darling, who left office in Dec. 2022 after holding the senate seat for three decades. If Knodl ultimately wins the seat, Republicans will hold a veto-proof majority in the senate.

Grassroots advocacy is the most powerful tool WiAHC has at its disposal to shape public policy – and building relationships with lawmakers is the most important aspect of grassroots advocacy. In effort to capitalize on our greatest advocacy resource – our membership – WiAHC has established our Coffee Conversations with Legislators advocacy program.

The initiative is designed  to help connect members with their local legislators. Under the program, the WiAHC Government Affairs Team will set-up in-district meetings between WiAHC members and state lawmakers who represent them in the Legislature. These meetings, which can be located at your facility, or a local coffee shop provide a tremendous opportunity for WiAHC members to build or strengthen their relationships with local legislators and to educate them on home health care and on policy issues important to home health care professionals and their patients.

Again, WiAHC encourages all members to participate in this critical grassroots advocacy program. If you’re interested in participating, please contact the WiAHC office at wiahc@badgerbay.co.

On January 2, 2023, Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) Secretary-designee Karen Timberlake resigned her position.  She was appointed to this position after the 2021 resignation of then-DHS Secretary-designee Andrea Palm, who resigned her position to join the Biden Administration in Washington, DC.  Karen Timberlake also served as the DHS Deputy Secretary and Secretary under former Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle’s (D) administration in the mid-to-late 2000s. 

Governor Evers has publicly stated that he will announce a new DHS Secretary-designee in the coming weeks.  As such, DHS Deputy Secretary Deb Standridge is the most senior official at this state agency at this time.  Once the Governor announces a new DHS Secretary-designee, we will share that in a future newsletter. 

On January 17, 2023, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced that it is looking for qualified applicants for two advisory councils addressing long-term care matters – the Long-Term Care Advisory Council (LTCAC) and the IRIS Advisory Committee (IAC).  This could be a great opportunity to have a WiHPCA member on one or both councils, particularly the LTCAC.  Applications are due to DHS by Friday, February 3, 2023.  

According to the DHS website, LTCAC “Members give advice and make recommendations to the DHS Secretary about long-term care policy, programs, and services.”  For more information about the council or to apply, go to the LTCAC page on the DHS website. 

The DHS website states that “The IAC advises DHS about the IRIS (Include, Respect, I Self-Direct) program. IRIS is a self-directed program for adults with disabilities and elderly people. IAC members have knowledge, experience, expertise, and community relationships relevant to this area. They give ideas, opinions, or facts to improve the IRIS program.”  For more information about the IRIS Advisory Committee, go to the IAC page on the DHS website.  If you are interested in applying, go to the DHS website. 

On January 3, statewide constitutional officers – including governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state and treasurer – and newly-elected state legislators were sworn in.  In addition, the 2023-2024 session of the Wisconsin State Legislature began.  Republicans will continue to have majorities in both the Assembly and Senate. 

In December, Assembly and Senate leadership announced the members of the various legislative committees.  The following is a list of the legislators who are now members of the health-focused committees for the 2023-2024 legislative session: 

Assembly Health, Aging and Long-Term Care Committee

• Rep. Clint Moses (R-Menomonie), Chair
• Rep. Donna Rozar (R-Marshfield), Vice-Chair
• Rep. Rob Brooks (R-Saukville)
• Rep. Barbara Dittrich (R-Oconomowoc)
• Rep. Rick Gundrum (R-Slinger)
• Rep. Gae Magnafici (R-Dresser)
• Rep. Dave Murphy (R-Greenville)
• Rep. Angie Sapik (R-Lake Nebagamon)
• Rep. Ellen Schutt (R-Clinton)
• Rep. Rob Summerfield (R-Bloomer)
• Rep. Nancy VanderMeer (R-Tomah)
• Rep. Lisa Subeck (D-Madison), Ranking Democratic Member
• Rep. Daniel Riemer (D-Milwaukee)
• Rep. Jimmy Anderson (D-Fitchburg)
• Rep. Robyn Vining (D-Wauwatosa)
• Rep. Dora Drake (D-Milwaukee)

Senate Committee on Health

• Sen. Rachael Cabral-Guevara (R-Appleton), Chair
• Sen. Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point), Vice Chair
• Sen. Mary Felzkowski (R-Tomahawk)
• Sen. André Jacque (R-DePere)
• Sen. Dianne Hesselbein (D-Middleton), Ranking Democratic Member
• Sen. Tim Carpenter (D-Milwaukee)

·         Legislative Session

Both the State Senate and the State Assembly were on the floor this month, but only dealt with limited calendars. Both houses adopted an amendment to the constitution relating to bail imposed on defendants awaiting trial, as well as a resolution to create an advisory referendum to be held at the April non-partisan election on the issue of whether individuals receiving public assistance should be subject to a work requirement. The proposed constitutional amendment will also go before voters (to approve or deny) in April.

·         Protasiewicz with Early Supreme Court Fundraising Lead

The first campaign finance reports for WI Supreme Court candidates were due earlier this month, and Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Janet Protasiewicz reported raising $756,000 in the last 6 months of last year, more than doubling her next closest competitors.  Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Jennifer Dorow raised $306,000, former Supreme Court Justice Dan Kelly raised $312,000 and Dane County Circuit Court Judge Everett Mitchell raised $115,000.  The four face off in a primary in February, with the top two vote getters moving on to the April General Election.  While the Supreme Court is nonpartisan, its members do loosely line up along ideological lines, with Conservatives holding a 4-3 advantage. For Conservatives to maintain their majority, either Dorow or Kelly would need to win the April Election.

·         Legislative Republicans circulate Tax Proposals

Legislative Republicans have proposed two bills early this session focusing on tax cuts, fulfilling campaign promises from last fall.  Earlier this month, Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu circulated a bill that would phase in a flat tax over the next four years.  The State currently has four income tax brackets, and if this bill were to pass, everyone in Wisconsin would be paying a rate of 3.25%, down from 7.65%, which is what taxpayers in the upper bracket are currently paying.  Governor Evers has said he does not support this proposal, although he is likely to introduce his own income tax relief proposal in his budget bill.

Republicans have also re-introduced legislation to eliminate the personal property tax in Wisconsin.  While Evers vetoed a bill to repeal the personal property tax last session, Republicans hope a compromise on the issue can be reached this session.

WiAHC Legislative Outreach Program

Grassroots advocacy is the most powerful tool WiAHC has at its disposal to shape public policy – and building relationships with lawmakers is the most important aspect of grassroots advocacy. In effort to capitalize on our greatest advocacy resource – our membership – WiAHC has established our Coffee Conversations with Legislators advocacy program.

The initiative is designed  to help connect members with their local legislators. Under the program, the WiAHC Government Affairs Team will set-up in-district meetings between WiAHC members and state lawmakers who represent them in the Legislature. These meetings, which can be located at your facility, or a local coffee shop provide a tremendous opportunity for WiAHC members to build or strengthen their relationships with local legislators and to educate them on home health care and on policy issues important to home health care professionals and their patients.

Again, WiAHC encourages all members to participate in this critical grassroots advocacy program. If you’re interested in participating, please contact the WiAHC office at wiahc@badgerbay.co.