The Lighthouse Center for Vital Living in Duluth offers in-home Low Vision Occupational Therapy to residents of Northwestern Wisconsin. Upon request, low vision occupational therapy evaluations can be provided in eyecare clinics. At its center in Duluth, the Lighthouse offers the full spectrum of vision rehabilitation services for people who are blind or visually impaired – including orientation and mobility training, braille instruction, technology training, daily living skills training and more.
Lighthouse services also include general occupational therapy services as well as assistive technology assessments and training – addressing functional challenges related to any disability or condition, not just vision loss. Our new Center in Duluth offers a large assistive technology demonstration and loan library.
The Lighthouse goal is to help people retain and improve their functional independence, safety, and quality of life. For information call 218-624-4828 or fill out a referral form at LCFVL.org/referral
Services in NW Wisconsin are funded with grants from the Miller-Dwan Foundation and Bader Philanthropies.
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Initial June data shows renewals initiated by members
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) recently launched a new webpage showing statewide data in BadgerCare Plus and Wisconsin Medicaid enrollment following the end of the federal continuous coverage requirement that had kept members enrolled during the COVID-19 pandemic. Between June 2023 and May 2024, more than 1.6 million, or about 1 in 4, Wisconsinites will need to renew to see if they can stay covered under their current state program.
“We want to be transparent about the unprecedented changes happening with Medicaid this year, and the data we post each month will always be a snapshot in time as we will see the numbers change over time,” said DHS Secretary-designee Kirsten Johnson. “Our preliminary figures begin to paint a picture of what we’re seeing so far. We've seen at least 60% of Medicaid members who were scheduled to renew their coverage in June take action to start the process.”
The data on the new webpage show that in June 2023, 99,037 members of Wisconsin’s health care programs were due to renew their coverage and 61,057 members took some action to initiate the renewal process (this figure does not reflect current processing status or outcome). Some of those who did not initiate the renewal process may already have other coverage or may have known they were above the income limit for their program. Members who missed their renewal window can still submit their information up to three months past their renewal month to see if they are still eligible for coverage and get it reinstated.
“We are committed, as are our local and tribal agencies, health plans, and partner organizations, to continue to help people through this process, even after their renewal month has passed,” said Wisconsin Medicaid Director Jamie Kuhn. “Our priority is ensuring Wisconsinites continue to have health care coverage – whether through our state programs, an employer, or a plan purchased through HealthCare.gov.”
Additional data on the webpage show enrollment in BadgerCare Plus, Medicaid, and other state-funded programs and subprograms that provide health insurance coverage. These data help illustrate the impact of Medicaid in Wisconsin. DHS plans to update this page by the third Thursday of each month to reflect renewal activity in the previous month. DHS will be reviewing the data snapshot each month to learn and to improve our processes and messaging.
With work on the 2023-25 state budget bill – the state’s two-year spending plan – wrapped-up, state lawmakers have turned their attention to hundreds of pending stand-alone bills, some of which could impact WAO members and the patients they serve across Wisconsin. Fortunately, the WAO Government Affairs Team – headed by Gregg Hubbard and AJ Wilson from HWZ Consulting – closely monitor and lobby on legislative proposals important to WAO.
However, you can also track the bills and issues WAO is lobbying on during the 2023-24 legislative session. Please CLICK HERE to review WAO’s legislative activity on the state of Wisconsin’s Eye on Lobbying website.
According to a recent report from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, the state’s Medicaid program finished the 2021-23 budget biennium, which ended on June 30, with a projected $875.5 million surplus. The projected surplus is $79.1 million more than what DHS projected earlier this year and is due to numerous factors, including lower costs for prescription drugs and long-term health care. After the exact amount of the surplus is confirmed at the of this month, the additional funds will be transferred to the state’s general fund.
Earlier this month, Gov. Tony Evers signed the $99 billion state budget bill sent to him by the GOP-controlled Legislature, but not before using his powerful veto pen to make 51 vetoes to the two-year spending plan for the state.
One of the Governor’s vetoes eliminated $3.3 billion in income tax cuts approved by lawmakers. Primarily because of this veto, the state of Wisconsin is projected to have a balance of more than $4 billion at the end of the 2024-25 fiscal year. Prior to Evers vetoes, the projected balance was $588 million.
Republican lawmakers are expected to send another tax cut to the Governor via a stand-alone bill prior to the end of the 2023-24 legislative session.
Republican Paul Melotik (R-Grafton) defeated Democrat Bob Tatterson (D-Mequon) in a special election held on July 18 to fill the vacant 24th Assembly District –which includes portions of Ozaukee, Washington, and Waukesha Counties.
Melotik won the historically Republican-leaning district with 53.7% of the vote, compared to Tatterson’s 46.3% vote total. The Melotik victory gives the GOP a 64-35 majority in the 99-member Assembly.
Melotik, an accountant, small business owner, and former local official who has served on the Ozaukee County Board and Town of Grafton Board, will replace Dan Knodl (R-Germantown) in the Assembly. Knodl was elected to the state Senate (8th Senate District) in an April 4 special election.
On July 13, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2024 proposed payment rule for Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASC) and hospital outpatient departments (HOPD), which aims to update Medicare payment rates and policies under the Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and ASC Payment System.
In the proposed Rule, CMS recommends updating the OPPS conversion factor by 2.8 percent, which includes a market basket increase of 3.0 percent and a productivity adjustment of negative 0.2 percent. CMS also proposes applying the 2.8 percent update to ASC payments in 2024. However, it is important to note that CMS does not consider sequestration in its proposed rule. This statutory 2.0 percent reduction remains in effect unless Congress acts.
CMS also issued the proposed 2024 update to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. Under the proposed rule, clinicians would see a 3.36% decrease to the physician conversion factor. The proposed conversion factor for 2024 is $32.75, which is a reduction compared to the 2023 conversion factor of $33.89.
WAO Action Alert - Contact NGS Today and Tell them Not to Restrict Access to Sight-Saving Glaucoma Surgeries
Action Requested by August 5 Recently, National Government Services (NGS) published a proposed local coverage determination policy on micro-invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) that considers some procedures, including adult goniotomy and canaloplasty, to be “investigational.” Medicare typically does not pay for investigational or experimental treatments.
The Wisconsin Academy of Ophthalmology is concerned that NGS’ proposed policy states that the MIGS procedures below are considered investigational in patients over age 18 for glaucoma management:
WAO is submitting comments to NGS, and also invites members to submit personal comments directly to NGS. Comments should be sent to NGSDraftLCDComments@anthem.com by August 5, 2023. Be sure to include “Public Comment for Proposed LCD - Micro-Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) (DL37244)” in the subject line. Please note, that due to online security requirements, NGS is unable to accept encrypted emails, compressed attachments, and links. Comment letters are accepted as MS Word and/or Adobe PDF attachments.
Key points that you may choose to include are:
WAO Letter
Consistent and focused advocacy is critical to the long-term viability of ophthalmology and the delivery of quality medical eye care in Wisconsin. And the WAO is an active force in the State Capitol working on health care issues that impact the practice of ophthalmology. Our comprehensive advocacy program aims to:
Of course, our most effective advocacy efforts actively engage WAO members in their strategy and execution – aiming to capitalize on the expertise of our physician members. Member participation in WAO’s advocacy programs is increasingly important, as we are facing two highly concerning policy challenges in the 2023-24 legislative session: 1.) The APRN bill currently is under consideration by lawmakers that would authorize broad independent nursing practices in Wisconsin; and 2.) Efforts by optometrists to expand their permissible scope of services to include laser surgeries.
Thankfully, WAO is well-positioned to act on these issues. In addition to our direct lobbying efforts through our professional lobbying firm (HZW), we have several grassroots advocacy programs in place to influence public policy at the state level. If are not already involved, WAO encourages you to participate in the following two key programs to strengthen our influence in the Wisconsin Legislature and ultimately help us meet our legislative/regulatory goals:
In WAO’s ongoing effort to raise the profile of ophthalmology and our organization in the State Capitol, we have established our Capitol Connection program to encourage WAO members to invite their local legislators to visit their clinics and facilities.
The program is designed to help WAO members build and strengthen working relationships with legislators and offers a unique face-to-face opportunity to educate them about the importance of ophthalmology and medical eye care. Through the Capitol Connection program, lawmakers can learn firsthand what is important to the ophthalmology community. In many cases, just a single meeting or contact can have a significant impact on a legislator's view or position on a legislative issue.
To date, we have held multiple successful legislative tours and have several more being planned for the near future. Hosting a legislator at your site is easy, enjoyable, and can make a significant advocacy impact, so we would encourage all WAO members to participate in this highly effective advocacy program.
If you would like to host a legislative tour at your site, please contact the WAO office at wao@badgerbay.co. We will work with you and your legislators to coordinate the meetings and will provide participating members with full support, including legislator bios, advocacy tips, issue briefings, and supporting documents.
One of the most effective advocacy tools the WAO has as its disposal is the Ophthalmologists for Better Government Political Action Committee (PAC). The PAC allows WAO to collect contributions from members into a single account to support candidates for state legislative office who understand and support issues important to ophthalmologists, the practice of ophthalmology, and Wisconsin’s House of Medicine.
As mentioned above, the WAO PAC is funded through contributions from ophthalmologists across the state and is only effective as a political tool if members participate in the program. With that in mind, please take a few moments and contribute online TODAY to the Ophthalmologists for Better Government PAC. Every dollar helps, as the risk of non-involvement in the political process is getting too high to ignore.
Health Care in the News
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos: Medicaid expansion will never happen, but medical marijuana might
Wisconsin Public Radio - By Anya van Wagtendonk
Medicaid expansion will never happen under the leadership of Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, but a Republican proposal on medical marijuana could be unveiled later this summer, the lawmaker pledged on Tuesday.
Vos, R-Rochester, made the remarks at a luncheon hosted by Wisconsin Health News at the Madison Club. He spoke about his health care priorities, including his overarching philosophy that American health care is accessible and high-quality — and therefore costs more.
"That is the challenge that I think we have, because it can't simply be a role of state government to subsidize the system. But I think it can make sure that we have access for those who are the most poor in partnership with the federal government," he said.
Wisconsin Academy of Ophthalmology
563 Carter Court, Suite BKimberly, WI 54136Ph: 920-560-5645 • WAO@badgerbay.co
