The cost of healthcare continues to rise, while timely access to care is a challenge for many Wisconsinites. That is why I am fighting to lower healthcare costs and increase the availability of healthcare in the State Senate.

Like most issues, there is not a one-size-fits-all solution to solve this problem. That is why during the most recent legislative session, we took a multifaceted approach to address healthcare access and affordability. We made progress, but there is more work to be done. Here is a summary of some of our work.

Investments in Wisconsin’s Hospitals

Wisconsin’s hospitals are integral to our healthcare system. In the budget, we approved nearly $1 billion annually in new resources for Wisconsin’s hospitals. Much of this funding came through an existing state program that we used to secure additional federal matching money for our hospitals. This program was recently approved and Wisconsin’s hospitals will begin seeing the benefit of this increased investment. Hospitals in the 17th Senate District are set to receive about $14 million more each year under this program.

Wisconsin Healthcare Stability Plan

Wisconsin has the 11th lowest uninsured rate (5.4%) in the country. One reason for this is that Wisconsin has no health insurance coverage gap. Another reason is the Wisconsin Healthcare Stability Plan. Created by 2017 Wisconsin Act 138, the Healthcare Stability Plan helps lower the cost of insurance premiums on the individual marketplace and encourages insurers to stay on the individual marketplace, providing consumers with more choice.

Although healthcare premiums are still rising, this program has helped stabilize the marketplace. Thanks to the Healthcare Stability Plan, health insurance premiums on the individual marketplace are 10%-15% lower than they otherwise would be. In the most recent state budget, we invested an additional $35 million into this program to help with healthcare affordability.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Modernization Act

After more than a decade of work, I was thrilled to see the APRN Modernization Act signed into law. I have been a strong supporter of this bill for many years, which will allow qualified registered nurses to practice to their full scope of practice. The law allows APRNs to practice independently and will improve access to healthcare across Wisconsin, especially in rural and underserved communities.

Hospital Price Transparency

Under current federal law, Wisconsin hospitals must follow strict price transparency requirements. These regulations require hospitals to publicly post pricing information with the goal of ensuring consumers know what they will pay for healthcare services. In the event that the federal guidelines are repealed, we passed legislation to ensure hospital price transparency remains in effect in Wisconsin so consumers know what they are going to pay for care.

Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Reform
I was proud to cosponsor “Cole’s Act”, authored by Rep. Todd Novak (R-Dodgeville), which would lower prescription drug prices and protect rural pharmacies by targeting the predatory practices commonly used by PBMs that increase costs. For example, the bill would require PBMs to reimburse local pharmacies at a fair rate and prohibit sudden mid-year changes in drug coverage. While this legislation did not become law, I will continue to advocate for this legislation in the future. This legislation will help patients, reduce drug costs, and protect our local, rural pharmacies.

In addition to these initiatives, we also increased healthcare access for new moms through the extension of Medicaid post-partum coverage for one year after birth, ensured coverage of supplemental breast cancer screenings for high-risk women, supported our long-term care workforce, and more.

While I am proud of what we have accomplished so far, there is still more to do. I will continue to advocate to make healthcare more accessible and affordable.