Governor Signs Health Care Modernization Act
MADISON, Wis. (March 16, 2010) – Governor Jim Doyle signed the first substantive changes to Wisconsin’s cooperative health care law since the law’s enactment in 1947. Wisconsin’s law is unique among the states and is the reason why Wisconsin is home to more health care cooperatives than any other state in the nation. Governor Doyle signed the bill into law at a Monday signing ceremony in the Governor’s office attended by Cooperative Network President and CEO Bill Oemichen, Group Health of South Central Wisconsin Executive Director Larry Zanoni and members of the GHC Board of Directors.
Health care cooperatives such as Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin and Group Health Cooperative of Eau Claire are recognized national leaders in providing health care because they have made significant investments in disease management, wellness initiatives, complementary medicine, and preventive care services. Together, these two cooperatives alone serve more than 129,000 citizens of our state.
The need for modernization of the state law has become even clearer due to serious consideration by members of Congress to include health care cooperatives as a substantial part of health care reform. In thanking Governor Doyle for his support, Cooperative Network President and CEO Bill Oemichen said, “This is an opportunity to improve access to quality, affordable health care to the citizens of Wisconsin and could position Wisconsin to be a national health care delivery model. It will ensure that cooperative health care plans’ investment in preventive medicine, wellness and education programs continue to serve their members.”
The bill, authored by Senate Health Committee Chair Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton) and Assembly Health Committee Chair Jon Richards (D-Milwaukee) changes language that refers to “sickness care plans” to more accurately call them Health Care Plans, it allows provision of services to non-members, and allows payment to nonparticipating providers whether or not they are out of the association’s normal territory.
This major effort led by Cooperative Network member Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin was co-sponsored by fifteen legislators from both parties. It passed both houses of the legislature with unanimous votes. |
