Senior living CEO indicted for fraud
The indictment alleges defendants diverted funds from the skilled nursing facilities to guaranteed payments to owners totaling $37 million.
Health Care
Surgeons reply to SSM Health Dean lawsuit
Two orthopedic surgeons who have been sued by SSM Health Dean Medical Group are denying they violated their employment contracts when they left Dean to start their own independent practice.
More young adult lives lost in Wisconsin, even as death rates down for older adults
Over the last two decades, Wisconsin and the nation have seen marked declines in three leading causes of mortality: heart disease, cancer, and stroke.
UW study focuses on making Alzheimer’s research more inclusive
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Black Americans are twice as likely as white Americans to develop Alzheimer’s disease. However, they are often severely underrepresented in research.
Middleton health care startup expands to La Crosse
Founded in late 2020, Pivotal Health delivers health care when and where patients need it with clinician house calls.
Madison company aims to transform school safety with acquisition
Singlewire Software has acquired Visitor Aware, which provides schools and other organizations the tools to screen visitors so they can identify threats before unwanted guests gain access to sensitive areas.
Wisconsin residents say health care is not affordable
Fifty-nine percent of people surveyed said they’d had at least one financial burden related to health care in the past year, and 39% reported that they’d drained savings or worse to pay a health care bill.
Quartz aims to help populations needing extra support
The plans will allow members to retain Medicaid coverage while gaining additional benefits like dental coverage and a quarterly over-the-counter allowance at no additional cost
Feds expect to collect $4.7B in insurance fraud penalties
The Department of Health and Human Services said it will begin collecting payments from insurers when an audit turns up that they charged for diagnoses that are not reflected in the patient’s medical records.
State seeks ideas for $8M in opioid settlement funds
While data for 2022 has yet to be finalized, 2021 data shows there were 1,427 opioid overdose deaths in Wisconsin.
Gov. Evers announces workforce, economic development plans
The governor is proposing a more than $50 million investment in Wisconsin’s health care workforce, as well as nearly $10 million for expanding clean energy job training and reemployment.
American Family Children’s Hospital seeking comfort dogs
The program is for volunteers and their dogs to make bedside visits and provide a calming influence for young patients and their families.
UW Health sees dramatic increase in pediatric suicide-related ER visits
uicide is the second leading cause of death of children ages 10 to 14 years old.
UW–Madison participating in Red Cross blood challenge
Universities across the Big Ten conference will compete to see who can collect the most lifesaving blood between Jan. 20–Feb. 28.
Cannabis Industry and Policy Summit to be held in Milwaukee Feb. 15–16
The summit will bring together cannabis and hemp experts, Indigenous leaders, and non-Native partners for panel discussions, educational seminars, and networking to discuss the state of the Wisconsin cannabis industry
Exact Sciences preliminary Q4 revenues rise 16%
For the full-year of 2022, Exact Sciences expects revenue between $2.082–$2.084 billion, an increase of 18% year-over-year, or 25% excluding COVID-19 testing.
Madison telehealth startup DotCom Therapy names new CEO
New CEO Dr. Omar Dawood brings a unique perspective as a teenage stage IV cancer survivor, health care provider, and digital health pioneer.
Madison doctor opens abortion clinic across state border
Doctor expects to treat patients from southern Wisconsin who no longer have access to abortion services due to lingering questions about whether the state’s 1849 abortion law is enforceable.
Verona dental practices combine into one
The new practice is owned by husband and wife dentists Matt Hostetler and Kelsey Patton.
Wisconsin GOP edges closer to legalizing medical marijuana
Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu says a bill to create a medical marijuana program in the state could be passed this legislative session.
