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Next week on our program reporters act Schultz looks at one more item
You may see on your spring ballot whether to raise your property tax levy to help your local school district pay for
operating expenses
Turning to health news two hospitals of the hospital sister's health system in the Eau Claire area have officially shut their doors
As of today one whole month ahead of the already abrupt timeline
Originally announced in January an additional 19 purveyah health clinics will close in April and honor walk was held yesterday
In front of Sacred Heart Hospital to commemorate those in the community losing their jobs
We turn to Democratic State Senator Jeff Smith of Brunswick for what happens now and Senator. Thanks very much for being here. I
Appreciate the opportunity. So first the shock of the announcement then the anxious anticipation of the hospital closures now the reality
What's this reality like in the community?
It has been shocking it need to when that occurred
People were really taken by surprise
That's one of the things that we're really concerned about that a hospital system could close without warning
or any any seeming any
Opportunities to try to help prevent that from happening and it came as quite a shock
So from your understanding how big of a job was it to transfer patients elsewhere and have EMS or ambulances diverted and all that pertains
to patient care
Well, you know, in only two months time
1,600 employees are out of a job over 40,000 patients have had their health care upended
Health care workers are up to 13 percent of what Claire's entire employment. So this is really a big deal
We have a
A male system is also in all Claire, but that's they can't quite cover all of that and neither can marshfield is also here
Yeah, we've been in conversations with all of them to try to understand and figure out what they can do to
To expand some services, but we still haven't come up with that long-term solution of where everyone's going to be absorbed
What have you heard from your constituents about their experiences with all of this?
What's interesting criteria we have from the very beginning gotten pleased from people. Why can't you stop this?
There's there's simply a misunderstanding that
hospitals are under some sort of
responsibility of the state or
some sort of regulations that can prevent this from happening and
That's the thing that I think really really hurt people that this couldn't be stopped. It is a corporate decision
and and and they have to make their decisions based on the losses that they've been taking
How have provisions for
Doctors and staff for example in terms of severance or job placement been going to your understanding
From my understanding one of the reasons for instance when they
I'll start with when they first made the announcement they made the announcement giving everybody the impression it would be 90 days
Meaning from january 22nd to april 21st that we would expect them to close but they've already closed as of today
March 22nd and
partly because during that course of time
Doctors and nurses have already been
Finding other positions and other areas and that's really a big
Concern that we may be losing that talent and and skill
Outside of the area. So they've already been finding their places. I think that there's been of course as we all know
um a great
Calling for more doctors and nurses in
Throughout this country. So it's probably not that difficult for them to find their position
But we sure don't want to lose them from western, wisconsin
Has there been anything specifically done at the state level to help in this situation as some of your people have been asking
Yeah, there certainly has been
First of all, I've had conversations with all of the health providers over the course of time trying to behind the scenes to
To figure out what we can do as a state to help them to absorb the losses, but also the obvious public
Um thing that everyone is aware of is that there were 15 million dollars set aside a few years ago for this hospital
They never did um get into that money. So we have made the right decision
Very bipartisan decision to move that money back to the general funds and let hopefully let department of health actually
Secure that money so that they can grant that money to help make this happen
But unfortunately the republican majority has been dragging their feet
We've had a month now since we passed that legislation
In the in the senate and the assembly and signed by the governor and yet
We still are waiting to see if they will release that money at all. It's it's unfortunate that we're still waiting for that
What would that 15 million dollars go toward?
So
Well, originally the republicans had only
Suggested and this is where we come into the political problem. We have they suggested it should only go towards
Emergency capital improvements
But the as I said, I've spoken to all of our providers and they've been asking for money to
For instance expand urgent care um to expand um
Obstetrics because there was 900 expected 900 births can happen a second at hospital this next year
So other places need to expand that that um service
But also more importantly as we have already touched on being able to secure the staff
And to hire the staff needed the money as
As indicated by the republicans would not have been able to be used by that
And that's why the governor had to veto that part of the bill
And uh open up the possibilities for our providers to be able to use that money as they see
The needs that are that are presented to us
All right, uh, we leave it there senator jeff smith. Thanks very much
Well, thank you
Thank you, sir. Yeah, sure. It sure sounds harsh. I I can't quite imagine uh, the the shock of it
Yeah, well, I you know
You know short interview like this. I mean there's so much that needs to be addressed
Um, this isn't the this is the first one of a major hospital closing, but it may not be the last if we don't take some steps
um, that's ensure that that uh
regulations are put into place or
Procedure well, even not I didn't even touch on medicaid expansion. Yeah, we've all heard about right. Yeah possibility of that. So yeah
Yeah
Oh, I have a question. We were just talking about this in our little news office the other day
And I should know this right, but I don't and I know you do so i'll ask you
Um, if you expand medicaid does that increase reimbursements
That is a really good question
So of course we know it would draw in the 89 to 90 000 people that are
Sitting out there without coverage right now
that's the
That's the purpose to start with, but the hospitals have been actually
Um lobbying for this for years because they do believe it would also
Um, do what you what you're suggesting and that is increase those reimbursements so that they um, start stop bleeding
Um medicaid as
Reimbursements as it is right now. Okay. Good. Thank you. Appreciate it. Yeah, take a closer look at that
Okay, sir, expect expectations anyway. Yeah. Well, thank you. Thank you. Good luck with good luck with the incoming weather
Yeah, yeah, well, we'll all manage all right. Thank you