THE VALUED VOICE

Vol 6

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IN THIS ISSUEWHA Board Continues Commitment to Advocacy, LeadershipJohn Russell named 2020 chair-elect

Prairie Ridge Health President and CEO John Russell was named chair-elect for 2020 at the Oct. 17 WHA Board of Directors meeting in Madison. Active in WHA councils and taskforces since 2009 and on the Board since 2015, Russell chairs the Audit and Investment Committee and serves as a member of the Network Adequacy Council, the Council on Finance and Payment, and the Council on Rural Health.

Russell was named CEO of then-Columbus Community Hospital in 2011 after serving as administrator with Boscobel Area Health Care. He is a Certified Public Accountant and earned his MBA in 2012. His diverse health care career includes 12 years in public accounting working on a wide variety of health care audits and consulting engagements. He was also the CFO and partner in a start-up health care company that owned and operated rural hospitals in the southern U.S. He and his wife have three children, four dogs, and enjoy college athletics and camping.

WHA Board Continues Commitment to Advocacy, Leadership ..........................1

Marketplace Premiums Drop for Key Demographic ...........................................1

Senate Committee Unanimously Backs WHA-Supported Telehealth Legislation ...2

Assembly Health Committee Hears Legislation Removing Barriers to Team-Based Care .....................................3

Alert: State Immunization Registry Outage on Oct. 21 ...................................4

Wisconsin Hospitals PAC & Conduit Update .....................................................4

Judge Rules Again Against CMS Site-Neutral Cuts .....................................4

Federal Legislation Aims to Make it Easier for Rural Hospitals to Form ACOs ........................................................5

Pandl of HSHS-Eastern WI wins 2019 WHA Distinguished Service Award ...................5

WHA Physician Leaders Council Provides Input on Key Advocacy Issues ..................6

AHRQ Safety Program for Improving Surgical Care and Recovery Event............7

Marketplace Premiums Drop for Key DemographicOn Oct. 22, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a report comparing 2020 marketplace premium rates and insurer participation across the country. Once again, Wisconsin compares favorably to other states and is experiencing positive developments in the exchange market.

The average cost of a “benchmark plan” for a Wisconsin 27-year-old will decrease 9% for 2020. Only six states will experience a larger decrease for this group.

Wisconsin is one of 15 states that will have more insurers participating in the exchange market in 2020, and one of 28 states that will have counties with more insurers.

As reported in last week’s Valued Voice, this is the latest in a series of positive advances for the individual insurance market in Wisconsin. The optimistic recent trends are often attributed to the bipartisan Wisconsin Healthcare Stability Plan

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EDUCATIONAL EVENTS

October 24, 2019

October 30, 2019Data Collection and Quality Reporting ConferenceWisconsin Dells

November 21, 2019Preparing the Chargemaster for 2020Wisconsin Dells

MonthlyHealth Care Workforce ResilienceFree Member Webinar Series

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John Russell

SAVE THE

DATE!

ADVOCACY DAYMARCH 18, 2020

Watch for registration information

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(WIHSP), which created a reinsurance pool to cover a portion of high-cost claims and has helped to stabilize the individual market. WHA was a leading supporter behind the enactment of the WIHSP.

“The evidence keeps building that Wisconsin found an effective way to strengthen our state’s marketplace,” said Eric Borgerding, WHA president and CEO. “This latest report is exciting news in terms of keeping the market affordable for younger populations and attracting insurers to Wisconsin.”

Open enrollment starts Nov. 1. An interactive map of health insurers available by county can be found here.

For more information about this topic, contact WHA Vice President of Public Policy Lisa Ellinger.

Senate Committee Unanimously Backs WHA-Supported Telehealth LegislationVote clears the way for a vote in the full Senate

The State Senate Committee on Health and Human Services voted unanimously on Oct. 23 to advance Senate Bill 380, telehealth modernization legislation supported by WHA. Prior to the vote, Sen. Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield), who authored the legislation, described how he believes it will lower health care costs by increasing competition among providers – a sentiment echoed in many studies which suggest telehealth can increase quality and reduce costs by allowing providers to treat patients more efficiently.

The legislation is the culmination of three years of work by WHA’s Telemedicine Work Group, and includes the four following recommendations for how Wisconsin’s Medicaid program should cover telehealth services:

• Reimburse telehealth the same as in-person care when the quality of the care provided is functionally equivalent.• Catch up to Medicare in the number of telehealth-related services that are covered.• Cover in-home or community telehealth services.• Increase access to behavioral health via telehealth.

WHA sent out a HEAT alert in advance of the vote urging WHA grassroots members to contact their Senator in support of the bill.

With the bill out of the Senate Committee, attention turns to the Assembly Committee on Medicaid Reform and Oversight, which may vote on the Assembly version of this legislation as early as next week. After that, the Senate and Assembly are expected to be on the floor in early November, and WHA is urging leaders in the Assembly and Senate to schedule this important legislation for a vote as soon as possible.

Contact WHA Director of State and Federal Relations Jon Hoelter or WHA General Counsel Matthew Stanford with questions.

(Marketplace Premiums Drop for Key Demographic . . . Continued from page 1)

Senate Committee on Health and Human Services Executive Session on SB 380

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Assembly Health Committee Hears Legislation Removing Barriers to Team-Based CareWHA-supported bill allows APCs, alongside physicians, to activate patient advance directives

“I was sitting in my office getting a number of phone calls from numerous hospitals and clinics in our system – providers in our system who were expressing a great sense of frustration that despite the fact we had individuals who had prepared the health care power of attorney, who had had their discussions with their family members – they couldn’t get those activated.” So began powerful testimony from Paul David, assistant general counsel at Aspirus Health System, regarding Assembly Bill 287 in the Assembly Committee on Health Oct. 16. “They couldn’t get into place the very thing we had hoped would be there to help in those situations,” David said.

State Assembly Rep. Pat Snyder (R-Schofield) and a host of physicians, advanced practice clinicians and health care attorneys testified in support of legislation that would allow advanced practice clinicians to be one of two health care providers required to make a determination of incapacity or make a diagnosis of terminal condition or persistent vegetative state in order to carry out a patient’s wishes through their previously-established medical power of attorney or living will documents. Snyder is the lead Republican legislative author in the Assembly, joined by Rep. Steve Doyle (D-Onalaska). Sens. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) and Janis Ringhand (D-Evansville) are lead authors in the Senate.

“Patients in rural communities are having their hospice care delayed because they can’t get two physicians to make a determination of incapacity,” David said. “Not only is there a delay; a decline in the medical condition of this patient can result in an ambulance coming to the patient’s house, taking them to an emergency department, admitting the patient into a hospital and resulting in health care services being provided that the patient has already told their family they do not want.

“We will be taking a significant step in allowing people to have what they have decided for themselves, to be implemented,” David said. “This is the greatest, most efficient tool for doing that.”

David was one of several individuals testifying in support of the bill. Hilary Bingol, MD, Mayo Clinic Health System medical director of Hospice and Southwest Wisconsin Chair of the Department of Palliative Medicine, said the legislation brings Wisconsin in line with our neighboring states and will reduce the administrative burden placed on physician providers while improving care for patients.

“It is my strongest recommendation that this bill pass expeditiously so that we are able to come in line with our neighboring states, provide the best and most comprehensive care to our patients and continue to support the decrease in administrative burden on our care teams so that we may instead dedicate this time to direct patient care,” Dr. Bingol said.

Testifying on behalf of and with WHA included WHA General Counsel Matthew Stanford; Fort Healthcare’s Emergency Department Director and former Board of Nursing Chair, Sheryl Krause, CNS; and Jamie Silkey, PA-C from Froedtert. Stanford reminded the committee about current law requirements as well as provisions in the proposed legislation ensuring that only individuals who have appropriate training, education and experience would be allowed to make decisions to enable an individual’s advance directive.

“In inpatient and outpatient settings, these situations play out every single day,” Krause said. “What occurs in daily practice is that you have advanced practice clinicians on the medical unit who know those patients very well, they have studied their history, they have spoken with their families, they have examined those patients, they are intimately familiar with the patient’s wishes, the family dynamics, the medical condition and have already made all of those assessments. But now, they are forced to step back and are not able to make the determination that they are very capable of making.”

Jamie Silkey, PA-C, outlined core training competencies and experiences for all physician assistants practicing in Wisconsin and spent time discussing the rigorous facility credentialing processes that are currently in place, ensuring that providers of all types with appropriate credentials, training and competency can deliver care to patients – including decisions regarding capacity and diagnoses that include terminal illness or persistent vegetative state.

Having received a public hearing, Assembly Bill 287 is scheduled for a committee vote Oct. 30, and if approved will be eligible for a full Assembly vote later this session.

Contact Matthew Stanford or WHA Senior Vice President of Government Relations Kyle O’Brien for more information.

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Alert: State Immunization Registry Outage on Oct. 21Earlier this week a data center housing various state government systems, including the Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR), suffered a broad outage on Monday, Oct. 21 from 9:43 a.m. to 1:13 p.m. While the state says that no data already in the WIR were lost, any client/immunization data sent during the outage period to the WIR via the exchange were not accepted and will need to be resent.

The state’s Department of Health Services sent an alert about the outage on Oct. 21 to the health care contacts it has on file. Knowing that those lists can become out-of-date, DHS has requested that all hospitals and systems check their WIR user accounts to ensure alerts are being received.

Contact the WIR help desk with any questions.

Wisconsin Hospitals PAC & Conduit UpdateSee full contributor list

To date, the Wisconsin Hospitals State PAC & Conduit 2019 campaign has raised $261,474. That is 82% of its aggressive goal of raising $320,000 for 2019. So far, 247 individuals have participated this year with an average personal contribution of $1,058.

Take a look at the 2019 contributor list on pages 10-11 to see who made the list.

The Wisconsin Hospitals PAC & Conduit are bipartisan, supporting candidates who value hospitals and health systems, regardless of their political affiliation. More than 90% of individuals who participate in the program contribute via the Wisconsin Hospitals Conduit where funds are disbursed to candidates or committees of the donors’ choosing. The Wisconsin Hospitals PAC pools together individuals’ contributions and contributes to candidates and committees at the discretion of the Wisconsin Hospitals PAC.

To ensure your name is on future contributor lists, make your personal contribution today at www.whconduit.com or by contacting WHA’s Kari Hofer at 608-268-1816 or Nora Statsick at 608-239-4535.

Judge Rules Again Against CMS Site-Neutral CutsFederal Judge Rosemary Collyer has rejected the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) recent motion asking her to reconsider her September ruling that found CMS illegally cut payments to off-campus hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) in the CMS 2019 outpatient payment rule. CMS had asked the court for either another chance to craft the cuts in a legal manner or issue a 60-day stay to give CMS time to appeal.

Judge Collyer ruled against both CMS requests. In her Oct. 21 ruling, Collyer reasoned that no new information would change the fact that CMS had issued reimbursement cuts contrary to statute, saying “. . . CMS put forth an impermissible interpretation of the statutory scheme; no amount of new data or reasoning on remand can save its interpretation.”

The ruling is another victory for hospitals impacted by CMS’ original cuts. However, CMS is still expected to appeal the original ruling from September, meaning there could still be lengthy additional litigation before the issue is decided. CMS is also expected to issue its final 2020 outpatient rule, which contained the same cuts, by Nov. 1.

WHA is continuing to keep a close watch on this issue and will provide updates as needed. For questions, contact WHA Director of Federal and State Relations Jon Hoelter.

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Federal Legislation Aims to Make it Easier for Rural Hospitals to Form ACOsBipartisan legislation would increase reimbursements for rural ACOs

U.S. Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) have introduced legislation aiming to spur more value-based payments for rural health care providers. Their legislation, introduced Oct. 22, would increase payments for rural Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) by changing how the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) formulates shared savings.

Per CMS, ACOs are groups of health care providers (including doctors, hospitals, and other providers) who voluntarily come together to give coordinated high-quality care to Medicare patients. ACOs share in the savings they create by providing more cost-effective health care as calculated by CMS. The current calculation includes the cost of an ACO’s beneficiaries when comparing per-patient ACO spending to the overall spending of the region where an ACO is located. That means as an ACO reduces costs for its own beneficiaries, it also reduces the region’s average cost, thereby deflating its potential shared savings. This is less problematic in urban areas with a high number of patients outside of an ACO compared to rural areas where a patient mix may be dominated by an ACO.

The Rural ACO Improvement Act introduced by Cortez Masto and Roberts would improve payments for ACOs by strictly comparing an ACO’s per-patient cost to the non-ACO per-patient cost within its same region. While the change will benefit all ACOs, it is designed to particularly aid rural areas with a patient mix that has a high level of ACO participation.

With Wisconsin’s long track record of nation-leading health care quality coupled with its below average Medicare reimbursement, WHA has long advocated for finding ways to allow Medicare to better reward Wisconsin providers for high-value, high-quality health care. WHA is currently analyzing this legislation to determine its impact on Wisconsin and encourages members to contact Jon Hoelter or WHA Vice President of Policy Development Laura Rose with any feedback or questions.

Pandl of HSHS-Eastern WI wins 2019 WHA Distinguished Service AwardCited as one who “embodies the spirit of this award,” HSHS-Eastern Wisconsin Division President and CEO Therese Pandl was recently awarded a WHA 2019 Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes senior executives who have made an exemplary commitment to WHA and the communities they serve. Pandl received the award from WHA President and CEO Eric Borgerding at an HSHS senior leadership meeting earlier this month (pictured).

“For more than 60 years WHA has recognized those who are dedicated to leadership and participation not only in WHA but in their home communities,” Borgerding said when presenting the award. “I’m very proud to be able to present this award to someone I’ve known a long time and have seen how much she cares about her community and WHA.”

The HSHS-Eastern District of Wisconsin includes HSHS St. Vincent Hospital (Green Bay), HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center (Green Bay), HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital (Oconto Falls) and HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital (Sheboygan).

In their nomination letter for the award, the executive leadership team for HSHS-Eastern Wisconsin Division lauded Therese’s thorough commitment to ensuring her facilities are embedded in local community efforts. “Therese has been involved in the Green Bay Community through her work with St. Norbert College Students, St. John’s Homeless Shelter meals, Habitat for Humanity builds, and numerous hospital-based initiatives to improve the quality of life for the people of this area,” the letter said. “She leads with the best interest of others in mind, supports all efforts to promote health and wellness in our region, and is particularly committed to the care of children as evidenced by her leadership in developing HSHS St. Vincent Children’s Hospital as a local leading provider for families in our area.”

While Therese is a leader on current health care policy efforts, she is also committed to mentoring future leaders to ensure Wisconsin’s progress can maintain momentum. She is active in Vistage III, a peer-mentoring organization, with other area business leaders and CEOs and is a regular mentor to seven St. Norbert College business students.

“We also recognize Therese’s commitment to encouraging more women to take leadership roles,” Borgerding said, referring to her habit of reaching out to female business leaders new to the area, offering her advice and knowledge of the region. “That’s the kind of person Therese is and why she’s so deserving of this award.”

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Eric Borgerding, Therese Pandl

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Therese has served on WHA’s Board of Directors since 2012, including as board chair in 2015-16. She has done deep dives into WHA’s efforts by serving on various councils, work groups and committees – including both the Advocacy and Budget Committees – and has regularly attended Advocacy Day and annual board planning sessions. She is also on the American Hospital Association’s Regional Policy Board and makes the time to engage in federal lobbying efforts.

WHA congratulates Therese for her dedication to health care in Wisconsin and truly values her involvement in WHA. We will make a $250 donation to the charity of Therese’s choice as a recipient of the 2019 WHA Distinguished Service Award.

(Therese Pandl of HSHS-Eastern WI wins 2019 WHA Distinguished Service Award . . . Continued from page 5)

WHA Physician Leaders Council (PLC) Provides Input on Key Advocacy Issues and WHA’s Future Physician-Focused InitiativesWHA advocacy to reduce regulatory barriers impacting physician and clinical practice, and WHA physician engagement efforts were key discussions at the Oct. 14 meeting of the WHA Physician Leaders Council.

The Council discussed several ongoing advocacy efforts impacting WHA members’ physician workforce and regulatory burden, including:

• WHA-proposed changes enacted in the state budget providing for sustainability and flexibility in the state graduate medical education grant program;

• A WHA proposal to the Wisconsin Medical Examining Board to establish licensure processing metrics and other changes to address medical licensure delays;

• WHA-developed legislation removing regulatory barriers in the Medicaid program that limit the provision of telehealth services;

• WHA-developed legislation to address delays in transitions of care and fulfill patient advanced directives by enabling advanced practice clinicians with sufficient education, training, and experience to activate advanced directives with a concurrence by a physician;

• WHA support for better aligning physician assistant supervision requirements under state law with CMS oversight requirements for physician assistants;

• WHA’s opposition to legislation that would deviate from CMS requirements for nurse practitioners and remove physician collaboration requirements for nurse midwives that deliver babies outside of a hospital setting;

• WHA’s opposition to legislation that would create unnecessary, redundant and burdensome new hospital discharge planning requirements;

• WHA-proposed legislative amendments to provide enhanced criminal penalties for individuals that assault any health care worker; and

• WHA-developed legislation to continue Wisconsin’s participation in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact.

Council members particularly noted the work on addressing violence against caregivers and WHA’s efforts to propose metrics and process-based reforms to address the increasing delays physicians and hospitals are experiencing in the processing of Wisconsin physician licensure applications.

Physician leaders also provided valuable insights and perspective regarding WHA’s past, current and future physician engagement efforts. WHA Chief Medical Officer Mark Kaufman, MD, highlighted some of WHA’s 2019 physician engagement efforts, including PLC membership growth, enhanced outreach to physician leaders throughout the state, work to reduce the EHR burden on caregivers including an ongoing collaboration with Epic, creating a Senior Physician Leaders track at the annual Kohler Physician Leadership Development Conference, and cosponsoring, with the Wisconsin Medical Society, a Health Care Workforce Resiliency monthly webinar series through the Duke University School of Medicine.

Going forward, PLC members endorsed four pillars for WHA’s physician engagement efforts:

1. Physician leader development2. Education and learning3. Physician Leaders Council evolution 4. Advocacy

More specifically, PLC members were enthusiastic about an enhanced focus on rural physician leaders, providing greater support for emerging physician leaders, and expanding efforts in the physician burnout and wellness space beyond the current and

(continued on page 7)

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future work planned to reduce the EHR burden on physicians and other care team members. Physician leaders agreed that the planned update to WHA’s 2017 Physician and Engagement Toolkit should include a new section on “Maximizing Physician Wellness,” including a set of self-assessment questions and resources from the medical literature. Council members also discussed the opportunity to reduce redundant annual physician compliance training requirements when individual physicians care for patients at multiple hospitals and must take the same training at each hospital.

The PLC discussed and recommended some changes to its meeting format, including rotating at least one meeting outside of Madison, shortening the meeting length, and piloting a “learning session” in 2020.

Physician leaders interested in learning more about the WHA Physician Leaders Council should contact Mark Kaufman, MD, at 608-843-6046.

AHRQ Safety Program for Improving Surgical Care and Recovery EventThe Great Lakes Partners for Patients Hospital Improvement Innovation Network (GLPP HIIN), in partnership with the Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ), is currently inviting hospitals to participate in the Safety Program for Improving Surgical Care and Recovery (ISCR) Workshop. The event will be held Nov. 11, 2019, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. CST at the Illinois Health & Hospital Association in Naperville, IL.

The conference agenda has been finalized and is now available. Participants will hear from speakers on a range of topics, including how to engage patient and families in ISCR pathways, a panel discussion with current ISCR participating hospitals and simulation exercises related to pathway implementation and overcoming common challenges.

Those interested in attending should bring a small team of two to three staff, including nurses, quality improvement specialists and surgeons to provide the best opportunity for brainstorming and interactive discussions throughout the day. For additional event information, please review the event flyer.

Registration is free. You will need to create an account for the Michigan Health & Hospital Association Community website if you do not already have one.

We look forward to seeing you Nov. 11 in Naperville! Contact WHA Clinical Quality Improvement Advisor Anne Allen for more information.

(WHA Board Continues Commitment to Advocacy, Leadership . . . continued from page 1)

Election of At-Large Directors

The following individuals were elected as At-Large Directors:

New At-Large Director (filling unexpired term)

• Lisa Schnedler, President/CEO, Upland Hills Health, Inc.

Reappointed At-Large Directors, to serve three-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 2020

• David Hartberg, CEO, Gundersen Boscobel Area Hospital and Clinics (2nd term)• Bernie Sherry, Senior VP, Ascension Health/Wisconsin Ministry Market Executive (2nd term) • Susan Turney, MD, CEO, Marshfield Clinic Health System (1st term, was filling unexpired term)• Mark Thompson, MD, President, Medical Groups - SSM Health WI Region (2nd term)

(WHA Physician Leaders Council (PLC) Provides Input on Key Advocacy Issues. . . Continued from page 6)

(continued on page 8)Lisa Schnedler David Hartberg Bernie Sherry Susan Turney, MD Mark Thompson, MD

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(WHA Board Continues Commitment to Advocacy, Leadership . . . continued from page 7)

Quarterly meeting includes finalizing updated strategic plan; a report on advocacy goals attained or still in progress; health care economic impact report from UW expert

The Board meeting saw hospital and health system leaders from around the state discussing the latest WHA internal developments and external activities.

2019 Initiatives on TrackWHA President and CEO Eric Borgerding started the meeting by sharing the significant progress made on 2019 goals in a variety of impact areas, including successful navigation of the challenging political environment in both Madison and Washington, D.C. Borgerding highlighted WHA’s vigorous efforts during the state’s 2019-21 biennial budget debate as an example of WHA’s bipartisan approach to advancing sound public policy.

Borgerding discussed the importance of maintaining WHA’s PAC and Conduit political giving accounts as the strongest among state organizations. Several Board members agreed, pointing out the wide array of positives associated with strong bipartisan fundraising and distribution. (See the current PAC/Conduit update on page 4.)

Staff UpdateBorgerding introduced two new members of the WHA staff leadership team: Leigh Ann Larson, vice president of education and marketing, joined WHA in August after spending seven years as Group Health Cooperative’s learning and development manager. Mark Grapentine is the new vice president of communications, coming from a 16-year stint at the Wisconsin Medical Society – most recently as senior vice president of government relations.

BudgetThe Board approved the WHA 2020 budget as presented. This year’s budget includes a 3% increase in member dues – only the second dues increase in the last four years. During the discussion, WHA Senior Vice President of Finance/Chief Operating Officer Brian Potter recounted the in-depth dues analysis WHA staff presented to the Board in 2016. Notable among the findings was that WHA’s dues level is in the lowest third compared to all other state hospital associations.

Strategic PlanAt its August retreat, the Board strategized on an update to the organization’s strategic plan, including modifications to WHA’s mission and vision statements and setting goals for 2020-2022. A Strategic Planning subcommittee worked into the fall to fine-tune the recommendations and presented that report to the Board. Lisa Ellinger, WHA vice president of public policy, shared the subcommittee’s recommendations for the Board’s review.

The Board unanimously approved those recommendations and included the addition of values to accompany updated mission and vision statements. Borgerding lauded the Board’s efforts on these updates, stating that the new language fits with WHA’s mission as an influential, trusted and unifying voice in health care policy. The new language is now posted on WHA’s website.

Economic Impact of WI Hospitals and Health Systems: UW Analysis

University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics Professor Steven Deller addressed the Board on a report he has authored documenting the impressive impact hospitals and health care systems have on Wisconsin’s economy. The Report serves as a basis for a forthcoming WHA Economic Impact report scheduled for release before the end of 2019.

Reporting on the most recently available data (from 2016), Deller shared that health care is one of the fastest-growing sectors in both Wisconsin and the U.S. While total employment in Wisconsin grew by 12.3% from 1998 to 2017, Wisconsin health care employment grew by a robust 29.6%. That growth helped dampen the overall negative impact of the Great Recession, where non-health sectors saw slower growth.

From an employment perspective, Wisconsin’s health care footprint is significant. Studying employment figures from hospitals specifically and then the health care system generally, Deller reported that more than 15% of all jobs in Wisconsin relate to health care: 571,900 in all. Labor income totaled $32.7 billion – 17.1% of the state’s total – and total income is $45.2 billion, or 14.4% of the state’s total.

Steven Deller

(continued on page 9)

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(WHA Board Continues Commitment to Advocacy, Leadership . . . continued from page 8)

Deller noted that health care jobs tend to pay more than those outside the sector: while the typical wage/salary job in Wisconsin paid $38,848 in 2017, the typical health care position paid $52,788. Health care wage growth has also outpaced other jobs since 1998 – health care wages have increased 82.3% while non-health care wages are up by 61.8%.

The dominant occupation in the health care sector is nursing, with almost 32% of all sector jobs falling into that category. The second-most popular profession is nursing assistants at 7.1%; all other professions are each less than 3% of the overall total. Deller noted that the diversity of jobs utilized by health care is an important benefit to a community’s residents, as the sector requires a wide breadth of quality jobs creating opportunities for a wide range of educational experience – from a high school diploma to the most advanced degrees.

Public Policy Discussion

The meeting concluded with a rapid-fire state and federal advocacy discussion, with Senior Vice President of Government Relations Kyle O’Brien whisking the Board through health care policy efforts in Madison and Washington, D.C. Echoing some of the Borgerding comments earlier in the meeting, O’Brien shared the bipartisan nature of the state budget’s health care improvements while mentioning that his team is already considering how best to navigate the challenges and likely tension in the 2021-23 biennial budget debate next legislative session.

O’Brien also described WHA’s proactive efforts in pending legislation related to health care workforce, telehealth, and workplace safety, as well as opposing legislation that would add unnecessary regulations or interfere with innovative health care practices by requiring one-size-fits-all procedures.

The Board’s next meeting is scheduled for December 12 in Madison.

WHA Board of Directors meeting, Oct. 17, 2019

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Political Action Fundraising Campaign Contributors

Hafeman, Paula HSHS - Eastern Wisconsin DivisionHeisler, John Aspirus, Inc.Hoelter, Jon Wisconsin Hospital AssociationKaufman, Mark Wisconsin Hospital AssociationLeitch, Laura Wisconsin Hospital AssociationLevin, Jeremy Rural Wisconsin Health CooperativeLindberg, Steve Mayo Clinic Health System - Red CedarMarquardt, Amy Froedtert & The Medical College of WisconsinMueller, Jennifer WHA Information CenterPollard, Dennis Froedtert HealthRogers, Joyce Advocate Aurora HealthRohrbach, Dan Southwest Health Rose, Laura Wisconsin Hospital AssociationRozenfeld, Jonathan SSM Health - St. Mary’s HospitalSexton, William Crossing Rivers Health Medical CenterTector, Leslie Turner, Scott Children’s WisconsinVan Meeteren, Bob Reedsburg Area Medical CenterVandenhouten, Peter Bellin Health

Contributors $1,000 to $1,499

Andrabi, Imran ThedaCareBergmann, Michael Aurora Medical Center - SummitBrady, Kevin Advocate Aurora HealthDeGroot, Dan SSM Stoughton Hospital AssociationEdwards, Gordon Marshfield ClinicGarcia-Thomas, Cristy Advocate Aurora HealthGisi, Dale ThedaCareHilt, Monica Ascension St. Elizabeth HospitalJacobson, Terry Essentia Health St. Mary’s Hospital - SuperiorKadlec, Mark SSM HealthKeddington, Richard Watertown Regional Medical CenterKulick, Steven Marshfield Clinic Health SystemLevin, Jeremy Rural Wisconsin Health CooperativeLund, Maggie ThedaCare Regional Medical Center- AppletonMcLean, Hal ThedaCareNakis, Dominic Advocate Aurora HealthPowder, Scott Advocate Aurora HealthPunzenberger, Lindsay Children’s WisconsinRobaidek, Jay UW HealthSanders, Michael SSM Health - MadisonSchafer, Michael Spooner Health SystemSchnedler, Lisa Upland Hills HealthThompson, Mark L. ThedaCare Regional Medical Center - AppletonVitello, Jodilynn UW Health

Contributors $500 to $999

Aulik, Juli UW HealthBender Schwich, Rev. Kathie Advocate Aurora HealthBoese, Jennifer CliftonLarsonAllen, LLPBolt, Elizabeth UW HealthBrabant, Christopher HSHS - Eastern Wisconsin DivisionBrenton, Andrew Wisconsin Hospital AssociationBudd, Aaron SSM - St. Mary’s Hospital - JanesvilleCharlier, Brian HSHS Eastern Wisconsin DivisionChilders, David UnityPoint Health MeriterClevidence, Derek UnityPoint Health MeriterCollins, Sherry Wisconsin Hospital AssociationCollins, Susan Froedtert HealthCox, Sharon Beloit Health SystemCurran-Meuli, Jane Holy Family Memorial, Inc.Dexter, Donn Mayo Clinic Health System - Eau ClaireFrank, Jennifer Wisconsin Hospital AssociationGille, Larry HSHS Eastern Wisconsin DivisionGolanowski, Marie Aurora St. Luke’s Medical CenterHartberg, David Gundersen - Boscobel Area Hospital and Clinics

Contributors $10,000+ - Leaders Circle

Borgerding, Eric & Dana Wisconsin Hospital AssociationTyre, Scott Capitol Navigators, Inc.

Contributors $5,000 to $7,499 - Leaders Circle

Boatwright, Damond SSM Health WisconsinKammer, Peter The Kammer GroupMeyer, Daniel Aurora BayCare Medical Center - Green BaySize, Tim & Pat Rural Wisconsin Health CooperativeSkogsbergh, Jim Advocate Aurora HealthTroy, Peggy Children’s WisconsinTurkal, Nick Advocate Aurora HealthTurney, Susan Marshfield Clinic Health SystemWoleske, Chris Bellin Health System

Contributors $3,000 to $4,999 - Platinum Club

Duncan, Robert Children’s WisconsinEllinger, Lisa Wisconsin Hospital AssociationHarding, Ed Bay Area Medical CenterHeywood, Matthew Aspirus, Inc.Jacobson, Catherine Froedtert & The Medical College of WisconsinKachelski, Joe Wisconsin Statewide Health Information NetworkKaplan, Dr. Alan UW HealthMettner, Michelle Children’s WisconsinO’Brien, Kyle Wisconsin Hospital AssociationOlson, David & Joanne Alig Froedtert & The Medical College of WisconsinPandl, Therese HSHS - Eastern Wisconsin DivisionPotter, Brian Wisconsin Hospital AssociationSherry, Bernie Ascension WisconsinStandridge, Debra Ascension WisconsinStanford, Matthew Wisconsin Hospital AssociationStarmann-Harrison, Mary Hospital Sisters Health SystemTeigen, Seth Ascension WisconsinWallace, Michael Fort HealthCare

Contributors $2,000 to $2,999 - Gold Club

Brenton, Stephen Wisconsin Hospital AssociationHanus, Andrew Advocate Aurora HealthHofer, Kari Wisconsin Hospital AssociationLewis, Gordon Burnett Medical CenterMcKevett, Timothy Beloit Health SystemNatzke, Ryan Marshfield Clinic Health SystemNewson, Reggie Ascension WisconsinRussell, John SSM - Columbus Community HospitalSantulli, William Advocate Aurora HealthSchulze, Connie UW HealthWhite-Jacobs, Mary Beth Black River Memorial HospitalZenk, Ann Wisconsin Hospital Association

Contributors $1,500 to $1,999 - Gold Club

Anderson, Sandy Ascension Howard Young Medical CenterBagnall, Andrew HSHS - Western Wisconsin DivisionBakkum, Kyle Vernon Memorial HealthcareBasilotto, Steve Froedtert HealthBeirl, Luke Hayward Area Memorial Hospital & Water’s EdgeBloch, Jodi Children’s WisconsinBrussow, Julie Marshfield Clinic Health SystemCarlson, Peter Aurora Psychiatric HospitalDibbert, Beth Wisconsin Hospital AssociationDietsche, James Bellin HospitalDouglas, Jason Memorial Medical Center - AshlandEricson, Allen Froedtert & MCW St. Joseph’s Hospital CampusErickson, Susan UnityPoint Health MeriterFrancisco, Margo SSM Health WisconsinGrapentine, Mark Wisconsin Hospital AssociationGustafson, Andrew & Sara SSM Health - Madison

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(Political Action Fundraising Campaign Contributors . . . continued from page 10)

Horvath, Joanne ThedaCareHustedt, Dale Aspirus Medford Hospital & ClinicsJensema, Christine HSHS - Eastern Wisconsin DivisionKerk, Julie Froedtert HealthLarson, Leigh Ann Wisconsin Hospital AssociationLarson, Margaret Ascension Mercy HospitalLayman, Ben SSM - St. Mary’s Hospital - JanesvilleLentz, Darrell Aspirus Wausau HospitalLogemann, Cari Aspirus, Inc.Lux, Teresa Froedtert & MCW Community Memorial Hospital CampusMarquis, Stephanie Wisconsin Hospital AssociationMcDonald, Mary Beth Ascension WisconsinMcGrail, Michael Aspirus, Inc.McNally, Maureen Froedtert & The Medical College of WisconsinNelson, James Fort HealthCareNorell, Brett Holy Family Memorial, Inc.Peterson, Doug AdventHealth DurandRedman-Schell, Jennifer Aspirus, Inc.Richardson, Todd Aspirus, Inc.Roesler, Bruce The Richland HospitalSczygelski, Sidney Aspirus, Inc.Selle, Justin HSHS - St. Nicholas HospitalShorter, Tom Godfrey & Kahn, SCSprecher, Lon ConsultantStatsick, Nora Wisconsin Hospital AssociationStuart, Philip Tomah HealthStulac Motzel, Wendy Froedtert HealthThompson, Mark SSM HealthTischer, Jesse Aspirus, Inc.Voelker, Thomas Aspirus Riverview Hospital & ClinicsWaala, Shelly Froedtert HealthWaldoch, Timothy Ascension WisconsinWilliams, Janice WHA Information Center

Contributors $1 to $499

Abey, Michelle Stoughton Hospital AssociationAlbin, James ThedaCareAnderson, Eric Aspirus, Inc.Arnett, James UnityPoint Health MeriterBalzer, John Froedtert & The Medical College of WisconsinBarakeh, Romeo Ascension St. Michael’s HospitalBauer, Jessica Aurora Sinai Medical CenterBayer, Tom HSHS St. Vincent HospitalBengtson, Carolyn Mercyhealth Hospital & Medical Center - WalworthBenning, Joanna Mercyhealth Hospital & Medical Center - WalworthBorchert, Barry Reedsburg Area Medical CenterBrenner, Holly SSM Health - St. Agnes HospitalBrice, Kaitlin Prevea HealthBusch, Rebecca Spooner Health SystemByrne, Frank SSM - St. Mary’s HospitalCliffe, Elizabeth Ascension WisconsinCompetente, Brian WHA Information CenterCopas, Roberta Marshfield Medical Center - LadysmithCulotta, Jennifer SSM - St. Clare Hospital & Health ServicesDecker, Michael Divine Savior HealthcareDettman, Amy Bellin HospitalDresang, Andrew Froedtert HealthDunphy-Alexander, Shannon MercyhealthDux, Larry Froedtert & MCW Community Memorial Hospital CampusFleuette, Laurie Wisconsin Hospital Association

Franzen, Kimberly HSHS - St. Vincent HospitalFreiberg, Kerry Froedtert HealthFroemming, Lisa Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital - MilwaukeeGansemer, Sheila Wheaton Franciscan HealthcareGaribaldi, Isabelle Watertown Regional Medical CenterGoelzer, Mark Mercyhealth Hospital & Trauma Center - JanesvilleHall, Jennifer Mercyhealth Hospital & Trauma Center - JanesvilleHallatt, Jennifer Mercyhealth Hospital & Medical Center - WalworthHarris, Kathleen Mercyhealth Hospital & Trauma Center - JanesvilleHermel, Cindy Aspirus Wausau HospitalHerzog, Sarah Ascension WisconsinJensen, Tom Mercyhealth Hospital & Medical Center - WalworthJohnson, Kimberly Aspirus Riverview Hospital & ClinicsKelsey Foley, Kathy Aspirus, Inc.Kocourek, Cathie Advocate Aurora HealthKoebke, Troy Bellin HealthLally, David HSHS St. Clare Memorial HospitalLauer, Karen Ascension WisconsinLee, Don Ascension WisconsinLindfors, Teresa Stoughton Hospital AssociationLippert, Michele Mercyhealth Hospital & Trauma Center - JanesvilleLoy, Michael North Central Health CareLuehring, Sally HSHS - St. Vincent HospitalLuskin, Ronald SSM - St. Mary’s HospitalLynch, Sue Mayo Clinic Health System - Franciscan HealthcareMarkgraf, Janelle Aspirus, Inc.Mays, Laura Stoughton Hospital AssociationMcCawley, Thomas Beloit Health SystemMolaska, Jan Aspirus Wausau HospitalNemeth, James MercyhealthNeve, Randy Marshfield ClinicNevers, Rick Aspirus, Inc.Ordinans, Karen Children’s WisconsinPage, Alison Western Wisconsin HealthPeiffer, Susan HSHS Sacred Heart HospitalPeirick, Marcie Watertown Regional Medical CenterPempek, Kalynn Aspirus, Inc.Potempa, Debra Mercyhealth Hospital & Trauma Center - JanesvillePrah, Joel Mercyhealth Hospital & Medical Center - WalworthRisley-Gray, Ruth Aspirus, Inc.Roundy, Ann Columbus Community HospitalRude, Nels The Kammer GroupSchrieber, Sue Mercyhealth Hospital & Trauma Center - JanesvilleSelvick, Carl Fort HealthCareShrader, Jay Marshfield Medical CenterSkibba, Lisa Aspirus, Inc.Smith, Robert Aspirus Wausau HospitalStamas, Peter Ascension St. Clare’s HospitalStelzer, Jason SSM - St. Clare Hospital & Health ServicesStephens, Brian HSHS - Door County Medical CenterStrasser, Kathy River Valley BankTapper, Joy Milwaukee Health Care PartnershipThornton, Eric SSM Health - St. Mary’s Hospital - JanesvilleTincher, Pat Aspirus, Inc.Udy, Ladd MercyhealthWalker, Troy SSM - St. Clare Hospital & Health ServicesWalters, Robert Mercyhealth Hospital & Medical Center - WalworthWilson, Lynn HSHS - St. Mary’s Hospital Medical CenterWirkus, Jaclyn HSHS - Eastern Wisconsin DivisionWysocki, Scott SSM - St. Clare Hospital & Health ServicesYarbrough, Ruth Mercyhealth Hospital & Medical Center - Walworth