Nearly 3 in 4 Wisconsinites say they can’t afford their health care
The PayMedix survey found that 73% of respondents say their out-of-pocket costs are not affordable while 67% believe that their deductibles are not affordable.
Health Care
UnityPoint Health to charge some patients for contacting doctors virtually
Use of the online MyUnityPoint Portal platform has more than doubled since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
State Supreme Court won’t review UW Health nurses’ union case
The nurses’ union was asking the state’s high court to weigh in on whether UW Health can voluntarily recognize the union.
Epic approved for new HHS-sponsored nationwide interoperability framework
In 2008, Epic’s provider community began using Care Everywhere, the first interoperability platform of its kind.
Wisconsinites can now get 10 free COVID-19 test kits per month
More than 1.6 million test kit orders have already been placed, with orders being delivered to every Wisconsin county.
Carbone Cancer Center part of breast cancer vaccine clinical trial
The Carbone Cancer Center at UW–Madison is one of three institutions in the U.S. participating in a clinical trial for a vaccine designed to prevent the recurrence of triple-negative breast cancer.
American Red Cross seeks local heroes
Four individuals from Southwest Wisconsin who have shown courage, dedication, and unselfish character by their acts of heroism will be recognized and share their inspiring stories.
New service to help medical professionals manage continuing education requirements
The service is free to the state and to license holders, although individual users can upgrade to fee-based subscription options that offer more customized and personal service.
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.
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.
