PRESENTATION OF "HERE & NOW" IS
MADE POSSIBLE BY THE ANIMAL
DENTAL CENTER OF MILWAUKEE AND
OSHKOSH, VETERINARY SPECIALISTS
WORKING WITH PET OWNERS AND
FAMILY VETERINARIANS THROUGHOUT
WISCONSIN, PROVIDING CARE FOR
ORAL DISEASE AND DENTAL PROBLEMS
FOR SMALL COMPANION ANIMALS.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR "HERE &
NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE LE
PHILLIPS FAMILY FOUNDATION.
>> AND TODAY, HEALTH INSURANCE
REFORM IS THE LAW OF THE LAND.
ALL ACROSS AMERICA.
>> PRESIDENT OBAMA RALLIES HIS
HEALTH CARE REFORM SUPPORTERS IN
IOWA.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
IN A MOMENT, WE'LL TALK WITH TWO
WISCONSIN HOUSE MEMBERS ABOUT
THEIR YES AND NO VOTES ON THE
BILL.
LATER, THE STATE SECRETARY OF
HEALTH WITH A PRESCRIPTION ON
HOW THE NEW LAW WILL AFFECT
BADGERCARE PARTICIPANTS.
WISCONSIN'S ATTORNEY GENERAL
TELLS US WHY HE'S READY TO
CHALLENGE THE BILL IN COURT.
AND A WISCONSIN HEALTH CARE AND
INSURANCE FIRM WEIGHS IN ON THE
PROS AND CONS OF THE BILL.
THE WISCONSIN CONGRESSIONAL
DELEGATION VOTED ALONG PARTY
LINES ON THE HEALTH CARE BILL.
IN A FEW MINUTES, WE'LL HEAR
FROM A WISCONSIN HOUSE DEMOCRAT
WHO VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE BILL,
BUT FIRST, A REPUBLICAN WHO
VOTED AGAINST THE BILL FOR
REPUBLICANS LARGELY TIED TO HIS
CONCERNS OVER HOW THE MEASURE IS
FINANCED.
EARLIER TODAY I SPOKE WITH SIXTH
DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN TOM PETRI
WHO JOINED US FROM WASHINGTON.
>> WELL, SO CONGRESS GOT ANOTHER
KICK AT THE CAT AND YOU VOTED NO
AGAIN.
WHY.
>> WELL, I THINK THIS BILL IS
FLAWED, BOTH IN ITS CONCEPTION
AND IN ITS EXECUTION.
THERE WAS A RECENT STUDY BY THE
RAND CORPORATION WHICH IS NOT
PARTISAN AT ALL, IT'S
AUTHORITATIVE IN THE SENSE THAT
IN A LOT OF DOMESTIC POLICY
ISSUES THAT SAYS IT IS A RESULT
OF THE PASSAGE OF THIS
LEGISLATION, HEALTH CARE COSTS
WILL TAKE UP 2% MORE OF OUR
NATIONAL ECONOMY THAN THE --
THAN IF THE LEGISLATION WERE NOT
PASSED.
THAT MEANS NOT 17%, BUT 19%,
20%, 22% OF OUR NATIONAL ECONOMY
WILL BE DEVOTED TO HEALTH CARE.
THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE PAID
FOR AND THAT MEANS SPENDING LESS
ON EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE WOULD
LIKE TO CONSUME, WHETHER IT'S
EDUCATION OR DEFENSE OR HOUSING.
AND THE LIKE.
BECAUSE YOU ONLY GET UP TO 100%.
IT WILL INVOLVE INCREASED COSTS
FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE PURCHASING
INSURANCE AND SO ON.
I THINK THERE'S A MISSED
OPPORTUNITY, FRANKLY.
WE SHOULD HAVE WORKED HARDER TO
BUILD ON WHAT HAS BEEN DONE IN
WISCONSIN WITH OUR NETWORK CARE
AND THAT IS TO TRY TO MODERNIZE
THE DELIVERY SYSTEM, CHANGE THE
INCENTIVE, SO PEOPLE HAVE AN
INCENTIVE TO REDUCE THE NUMBER
OF INSTANCES OF TREATMENT AND DO
A BETTER JOB OF MANAGING
WELLNESS, AND THERE'S SOME OF
THAT IN STUDIES AND SO ON IN
THIS, BUT PEOPLE WHO I RESPECT
WHO HAVE LOOKED AT IT FEEL WE
COULD HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT
MORE.
>> SO IN TERMS OF THE COST,
WHICH I KNOW WAS A BIG BARRIER
FOR REPUBLICANS, THE
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE
PROJECTION THAT IT WOULD
REDUCE -- IT WOULD REDUCE THE
DEFICIT, YOU JUST DON'T BUY
THAT?
>> I -- IT'S NOT ME.
IT'S THE RAND CORPORATION, AND
OTHER EXPERTS WHO HAVE LOOKED AT
IT.
THERE WERE A LOT OF GIMMICKS IN
THE WAY THIS THING WAS PUT
TOGETHER, BUT PEOPLE STOOD BACK
AND WHO ARE RESPECTED AND WHO
HAVE LOOKED AT THE OVERALL
FIGURES SAY IT WILL BEND THE
COST CURVE, BUT IT WILL BEND IT
UP, NOT DOWN.
>> NOW CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG,
BUT THERE WAS A PROVISION IN
THIS WHOLE HEALTH CARE REFORM
BILL THAT YOU APPROVED OF, THAT
BEING THE DIRECT FEDERAL STUDENT
LOAN, SOMETHING YOU'VE BEEN
FIGHTING FOR FOR 30 YEARS.
HOW WILL THESE DIRECT LOANS,
THAT IS, CUTTING OUT KIND OF THE
MIDDLEMAN, PRIVATE LENDERS,
BENEFIT PEOPLE IN WISCONSIN?
>> WELL, THE DIRECT LOAN PROGRAM
IS SOMETHING I ACTUALLY
INTRODUCED AS A JUNIOR MEMBER OF
CONGRESS AT THE SUGGESTION OF
THE HEAD OF THE WISCONSIN HIGHER
EDUCATION BOARD YEARS AGO.
IT FIRST WAS EXPERIMENTED WITH
AT MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY.
EVERYONE SAYS, WELL WE SHOULD BE
ELIMINATING DOCUMENT DID A OF
TIFFED RALLY -- DUPLICATIVE
FEDERAL PROGRAMS AND SAVING
TAXPAYER MONEY AND HERE WE HAVE
TWO FEDERAL PROGRAMS HERE THAT
ARE GOING TO BE CONSOLIDATED
INTO ONE, THE GUARANTEE PROGRAM,
AND THE DIRECT PROGRAM AND BY
CUTTING OUT THE MIDDLEMAN, WE'LL
SAVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
THE COST TO THE STUDENTS AND
PARENTS WILL BE UNAFFECTED, BUT
THE COST TO THE TAXPAYER WILL BE
RADICALLY LOWERED AND THAT WILL
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES,
BOTH FOR DEFICIT REDUCTION AND
FOR INCREASING PELL GRANTS,
WHICH PROVIDE CORE ASSISTANCE TO
LOWER INCOME INDIVIDUALS TO HELP
PAY FOR VOCATIONAL AND COLLEGE
EDUCATION, SO PEOPLE IN
WISCONSIN AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY
WILL HAVE BETTER ACCESS TO
HIGHER EDUCATION AND I THINK THE
TAXPAYER WILL BENEFIT AS WELL.
>> WAS IT HARD IN ESSENCE TO
CAST A NO VOTE AGAINST THE
STUDENT LOAN PROVISION?
>> WELL, THE FACT IS, THAT THE
GUARANTEE PROGRAM HAS NOT BEEN
WORKING VERY WELL LATELY,
BECAUSE OF DISRUPTIONS IN THE
FINANCIAL MARKET.
AND LAST YEAR, WE WERE
CONFRONTED WITH THE REALLY KIND
OF ALMOST RIDICULOUS SITUATION
OF THE -- SOME OF THE FINANCIAL
INSTITUTIONS MAKING LOANS WITH
SUBSIDIES FROM THE TREASURY AND
THEN THE TREASURY BUYING BACK
THE LOANS THAT THE INSTITUTIONS
MADE.
LAST YEAR, SECRETARY DUNCAN SENT
A LETTER TO ALL THE COLLEGES IN
THE COUNTRY TELLING THEM THAT
THEY WEREN'T GOING TO DO THAT
AGAIN, THEY SHOULD PREPARE OR
SWITCH OVER TO THE DIRECT
PROGRAM, AND ENORMOUS NUMBERS OF
COLLEGES HAVE DONE THAT ALREADY.
AND WHETHER THIS LEGISLATION
PASSED OR NOT, WE WERE SEEING
THE GUARANTEE PROGRAM WITHERING
ON THE VINE.
2% OR 3% OF COLLEGES IN THE
COUNTRY HAD NOT TAKEN SOME STEP
TOWARD THE DIRECT LOAN PROGRAM.
>> I WANT TO JUMP BACK INTO
HEALTH CARE.
ONE OF THE REFORM MEASURES WOULD
MAKE IT SO INSURANCE COMPANIES
CANNOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST A
PERSON FOR PREEXISTING
CONDITIONS.
DO YOU FIND FAULT WITH THAT
PROVISION?
>> I THINK THAT IS A GREAT
THING, BUT IT'S REALLY NOT
INSURANCE.
I MEAN, INSURANCE IS SUPPOSED TO
ASSESS RISKS, AND YOU -- IF
YOU'RE HIGHER RISK, IF YOU'RE A
YOUNG DRIVER, YOU PAY A HIGHER
PREMIUM.
IF YOU'RE A YOUNG PERSON BUYING
HEALTH INSURANCE, YOU'D PAY A
LOWER PREMIUM.
THAT IS BEING CHANGED, SO YOUNG
PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO PAY MORE FOR
HEALTH INSURANCE THAN THEY
OTHERWISE WOULD AND BE FORCED TO
BUY IT DOWN THE ROAD.
BUT THE IDEA OF TRYING TO HELP
PEOPLE WITH PREEXISTING
CONDITIONS OR DIFFICULT
SITUATIONS HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH
CARE IS CERTAINLY A VERY GOOD
ONE.
I FAVOR BUILDING ON THE HIGH
RISK POOL THAT WE ALREADY HAVE
IN WISCONSIN, AND A NUMBER OF
OTHER STATES, AND AS WE
REALIZED, SAVINGS IN THE --
THROUGH EFFICIENCIES IN THE
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, USING SOME
OF THOSE SAVINGS TO HELP LOWER
THE COST OF HEALTH INSURANCE FOR
PEOPLE.
IT'S AVAILABLE NOW, FOR
EVERYONE, THROUGH THE HIGH RISK
POOL, BUT IT'S JUST TOO
EXPENSIVE AND WE NEED TO LOWER
THE COST, BUT NOT IN A WAY THAT
RAISES IT FOR EVERYONES, WHICH
I'M AFRAID IS GOING TO HAPPEN
UNDER THIS APPROACH.
>> CONGRESSMAN, VERY BRIEFLY,
WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO HOUSE
DEMOCRATIC LEADERS BLAMING
REPUBLICANS FOR INCITING THREATS
AND VANDALISM HOVER THIS HEALTH
CARE LEGISLATION.
WHY DO YOU THINK THIS ISSUE JUST
BECOMES SO HEATED?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THERE'S AN
AWFUL LOT OF EMOTION IN A
SITUATION LIKE THIS.
I WAS TALKING TO MY COLLEAGUE,
JIM SENSENBRENNER, AND HE
POINTED OUT THAT WHEN HE WAS
LEADING THE FIGHT SOME YEARS
AGO, UNDER THE CONTROVERSIAL
IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS AGAINST
PRESIDENT CLINTON, HE WAS ONE OF
THE HOUSE PEOPLE BRINGING THE
CASE OVER IN THE SENATE.
THERE WERE THREATS AGAINST
HIMSELF, HIS WIFE AND HIS
FAMILY, SO UNFORTUNATELY, THIS
IS NOTHING NEW, BUT IT CLEARLY
IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE
CONDEMNED AND HAS BEEN CONDEMNED
BY RESPONSIBLE LEADERS IN BOTH
PARTIES.
>> ALL RIGHT.
CONGRESSMAN PETRI, THANKS AGAIN
VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US FROM
WASHINGTON.
>> I SPOKE WITH CONGRESSMAN
PETRI EARLIER TODAY, AS WE
REPORTED AT THE TOP OF THE
PROGRAM, VOTES ON THE HEALTH
BILL, AMONG THE WISCONSIN
DELEGATION WERE SPLIT ALONG
PARTY LINES.
DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSWOMAN TAMMY
BALDWIN VOTED IN FAVOR.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE
NOW.
>> IT'S A PLEASURE.
>> IN RESPONDING TO THE PASSAGE
IN THE HOUSE EARLIER THIS WEEK,
YOU REMARKED ON YOUR PRIDE
HAVING WORKED YOUR ENTIRE CAREER
TO ACHIEVE HEALTH CARE FOR ALL,
AND YET, THIS LEGISLATION DOES
NOT INCLUDE THE SO-CALLED PUBLIC
OPTION.
WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THIS?
>> FIRST OF ALL, I THINK IT'S A
VERY IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD, THE
LEGISLATION WE PASSED THIS WEEK,
BUT IT'S NOT PERFECT.
NO LEGISLATION IS.
AND WE'RE GOING TO KEEP ON
WORKING TO IMPROVE IT, AS WE
MOVE ON.
I WAS VERY STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF
HAVING A PUBLIC OPTION.
I WILL CERTAINLY BE SUPPORTING
EFFORTS TO ADD A PUBLIC OPTION
AS WE MOVE ON.
BUT GETTING BACK TO THE PRIDE IN
THE BILLS THAT DID PASS.
WE WILL OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS
OFFER AFFORDABLE INSURANCE
COVERAGE TO 32 MILLION AMERICANS
WHO TODAY HAVE NONE, WE WILL
REIN IN SOME OF THE ABUSIVE
PRACTICES THAT INSURANCE
COMPANIES HAVE HAD OVER THE PAST
YEARS, INCLUDING IMMEDIATELY
MAKING SURE THAT NO CHILD CAN BE
DENIED INSURANCE COVERAGE,
BECAUSE THEY HAVE SOME SORT OF
PREEXISTING HEALTH CONDITION.
AND THAT INSURANCE COMPANIES
CAN'T SIMPLY DROP YOU, DROP YOUR
INSURANCE COVERAGE BECAUSE YOU
BECOME ILL.
>> WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO
REALLY VERY MUCH WANTED THAT
PUBLIC OPTION?
>> -- OPTION?
>> THAT WE'RE GOING TO KEEP ON
WORKING TOGETHER AND TRY TO GET
IT INTO THE BILL.
I BELIEVE IF IT HASN'T ALREADY
OCCURRED, IT WILL, WHEN WE
RETURN FROM THIS SPRING RECESS,
THERE WILL BE A BILL OFFERED BY
ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES.
I'M ALREADY -- I'VE ALREADY
INDICATED TO HIM THAT I WANT TO
BE A CAMPAIGN COMPANION IN THAT
EFFORT AND -- COMPANION IN THAT
EFFORT AND WE'LL KEEP A KEY BAIT
ABOUT A PUBLIC OPTION ALIVE --
DEBATE ABOUT A PUBLIC OPTION
ALIVE AND MOVE IT FORWARD.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE REPUBLICANS
WHO VOTED AGAINST THIS ON THE
BASIS OF COST AN MANDATES.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT
PERSUASION?
>> THE NON-PARTISAN
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE IS A
VERY CREDIBLE ORGANIZATION.
WE REGARD THEIR WORK USUALLY AS
BEING CONSERVATIVE.
IN OTHER WORDS, IF THEY SUGGEST
THAT THERE WILL BE SAVINGS, IT'S
OFTENTIMES MORE THAN THEY
INDICATE, BUT THEIR CALCULATION
IS THAT HOVER THE FIRST 10 YEARS
OF THE LIFE OF THIS LEGISLATION,
WE WILL SAVE COLLECTIVELY
$138 BILLION FOR REDUCING THE
DEFICIT AND OVER THE SECOND 10
YEARS OF THIS MEASURE, WE WILL
SAVE $1.3 TRILLION.
JUST UNDER $1.3 TRILLION.
AND THAT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT,
AND WE DO THAT, WE RECOGNIZE, I
THINK TODAY, THAT OUR HEALTH
CARE SYSTEM IS OUT OF CONTROL
AND THAT COSTS ARE INCREASING
WELL BEYOND THE RATE OF
INFLATION, AND WELL BEYOND WHAT
WISCONSIN FAMILIES CAN AFFORD.
AND SO BY DECREASING THAT RATE
OF MEDICAL INFLATION, REINING IN
COSTS, WE ARE ALSO SAVING A LOT
FOR AMERICAN FAMILIES AS THEY
MOVE FORWARD.
>> NOW, AS YOU WELL KNOW, PEOPLE
LIKE PAUL RYAN SUGGEST THAT THAT
CBO REPORT WAS FULL OF KIND OF
ACCOUNTING TRICKS.
>> WELL, I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO
RELY ON THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET
OFFICE, WHICH IS NOT A PARTISAN
ORGANIZATION.
THEY ARE VERY CAREFUL.
A LOT OF THIS WORK TOOK WEEKS TO
CALCULATE AND WE'VE RELIED ON
THEM HISTORICALLY AND THEY HAVE
BEEN PRETTY DARN ACCURATE AND
USUALLY CONSERVATIVE AS I SAID
BEFORE.
>> SOME POINT OUT THAT THEY FEEL
THAT THE BILL DOESN'T GO FAR
ENOUGH IN ACTUALLY CONTAINING
COSTS FOR HEALTH CARE ITSELF AND
THAT ALSO PARTICULARLY THEY
DON'T PEOPLE THERE'S ENOUGH
WELLNESS PRONGS IN IT.
>> WELL, I WOULD AGREE THAT WE
CAN DO MORE ON COST CONTAINMENT.
THERE'S A HOT A LOT OF GOOD FIRST
STARTS IN THIS BILL.
THINGS LIKE PROMOTING
ACCOUNTABLE CARE ORGANIZATIONS,
WHERE YOU HAVE PATIENT-CENTERED
MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC CONDITIONS
AND WE PAY FOR QUALITY RATHER
THAN JUST QUANTITY OF MEDICAL
SERVICE.
BUT THESE ARE JUST STARTS,
THEY'RE PILOT PROGRAMS AND
DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS AND WE
KNOW WE HAVE TO EXPORT BEST
PRACTICES MUCH MORE WIDELY, AND
WE CAN DO THAT AND MUST DO THAT
IN THE FUTURE.
SO I THINK IT'S A GOOD START,
BUT I WOULD AGREE THAT WE CAN DO
MORE ON THE COST CONTAINMENT
FRONT.
>> WHAT DO YOU WANT YOUR
CONSTITUENTS HERE IN WISCONSIN
TO UNDERSTAND MOST ABOUT THIS
HISTORIC LEGISLATION?
>> WELL, UP KNOW, IN MY TIME IN
THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS, I'VE
HEARD FROM OVER 70,000 OF MY
CONSTITUENTS, SHARING WITH ME
THEIR HARDSHIPS IN THE CURRENT
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR HOME
THROUGH MEDICAL-RELATED
BANKRUPTCIES, MOMS AND DADS WHO
CAN'T FIND INSURANCE FOR THEIR
CHILD BECAUSE THEIR CHILD HAS
SOME SORT OF CHRONIC CONDITION.
WHAT I WANT WISCONSIN FAMILIES
TO KNOW IS THAT THESE PRACTICES
WILL COME TO AN END BECAUSE OF
THE PASSAGE OF THIS BILL.
WE WON'T HAVE FAMILIES IN THE
FUTURE WHEN THIS BILL IS FULLY
IMPLEMENTED NEEDING TO DECLARE
BANKRUPTCY BECAUSE OF A MEDICAL
CONDITION.
WE WON'T HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE
FORECLOSED FROM ANY INSURANCE
OPTION BECAUSE THEY WERE SICK
SOME TEAM IN THE PAST.
-- SOME TIME IN THE PAST.
AND I THINK OF ALL THE HARDSHIP
THAT I HAVE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S
BEEN SUFFERED BY PEOPLE IN
WISCONSIN, PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME
WITH TEARS IN THEIR EYES TO ME
TO TELL ME ABOUT THEIR STRUGGLES
IN THIS BROKEN SYSTEM, THIS IS
THE FIRST STEP TO FIXING THAT
AND ADDRESSING THAT AND THAT'S
WHAT I WANT WISCONSIN FAMILIES
TO KNOW.
>> WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THE
PARTISAN VITRIOH STIR TO ALL OF
THIS, INCLUDING THREATS AGAINST
OUR OWN REPRESENTATIVES KAGAN
AND OBEY?
>> YOU KNOW, FROM THE VERY
BEGINNING, IT WAS VERY CHEER
THAT POWERFUL, POWERFUL
INTERESTS WANTED TO SEE HEALTH
CARE REFORM DOOMED AND THEY HAVE
OPINION VOCAL IN ALL SORTS OF
WAYS, AND IT IS -- OBVIOUSLY,
THIS IS A BIG AND HISTORIC
THING.
BUT OF EVE BEEN DISAPPOINTED
WITH -- I'VE BEEN DISAPPOINTED
WITH THE RHETORIC AND I HAVE
BEEN SADLY DISAPPOINTED BY
THREATS OF VIOLENCE AND SOME OF
THE CONDUCT THAT I SAW DURING
THE LAST DAYS OF THE DEBATE IN
WASHINGTON.
AND I THINK THAT ALL LEADERS
SHOULD SAY THAT THAT IS
INAPPROPRIATE, AND CALL ON
PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE, BUT DO SO
IN WAYS LIKE ORGANIZING,
REGISTERING TO VOTE, VOTING, AND
WAYS IN WHICH CIVIL SOCIETY
OUGHT TO OPERATE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
CONGRESSWOMAN TAMMY BALDWIN,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE FOCUS IN EVEN MORE ON THE
HEALTH BILL NOW WITH A LOOK AT
THE BILL'S IMPACT ON THE
PREEXISTING STATE HEALTH
COVERAGE PROGRAM CALLED
BadgerCARE.
THE NEW FEDERAL PLAN COULD HAVE
AN IMPACT ON PEOPLE ENROLLED IN
BadgerCARE AND THOSE ON ITS
WAITING LIST.
STATE SECRETARY OF HEALTH
SERVICE, KAREN TIMBERLAKE,
OVERSEES BadgerCARE AND JOINS
US NOW.
THANKS A LOT FOR DOING SO.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> WHAT SPECIFICALLY WILL THE
NEW FEDERAL HEALTH CARE
LEGISLATION MEAN IN WISCONSIN TO
OUR STATE-RUN PROGRAM?
>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR
PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE
ARE MANY PARTS OF THIS BILL THAT
TAKE EFFECT THIS YEAR AND THERE
ARE OTHERS PHASED IN OVER TIME,
SO THE CHANGES THAT WILL AFFECT
THE BadgerCARE PLUS PROGRAM OR
THE MEDICAID PROGRAM REALLY ARE
MORE THE ONES THAT HAPPEN IN
2014, WHERE WE RECEIVE SOME
ENHANCED FEDERAL FUNDING FOR OUR
COVERAGE OF ALL CHILDREN,
GOVERNOR DOYLE HAS MADE A
COMMITMENT TO EXPANDING ACCESS
TO HEALTH CARE OVER TIME TO
HEALTH CARE AND WE'RE A LEADER
IN THAT RESPECT.
WE ALSO WILL RECEIVE MORE
FLEXIBILITY TO COVER LOW INCOME
ADULTS WITHOUT DEPENDENT
CHILDREN AND IN WISCONSIN,
PEOPLE WHO MAKE ABOUT $21,000 A
YEAR AS A SINGLE PERSON OR
$29,000 A YEAR AS A MARRIED
PERSON WHO MAY WORK IF A SMALL
BISSETTING, WHERE SMALL
BUSINESSES HAVE A HARD TIME
OFFERING HEALTH INSURANCE, THOSE
ARE SOME OF THE FOLKS WE'VE HAD
THE HARDEST TIME EXTENDING
AFFORDABLE HEALTH INSURANCE TO,
SO WE DO THAT THROUGH THE
BadgerCARE CORE PLUS PROGRAM,
BUT IT HAS A LIMIT SET BY THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WE'VE EX
SEATED IT.
WE NEED MORE HELP FOR THOSE
PEOPLE AND NATIONAL HEALTH CARE
REFORM WILL REALLY HELP US
EXPAND THAT COVERAGE.
>> HOW SOON COULD THAT EXPANSION
HAPPEN?
>> IT REALLY WILL TAKE EFFECT IN
2014, THOSE CHANGES WILL TAKE
EFFECT IN 2014.
IN THE MEANTIME, WE HAVE ANOTHER
OPTION THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH,
THE STATE LEGISLATURE ON, WHICH
IS BadgerCARE PLUS BASIC, AND
THAT WOULD BE 100% PARTICIPANT
FUNDED OR PREMIUM FUNDED BUY-IN
PROGRAM THAT WOULD HELP PEOPLE
ON THAT WAITING LIST BUY
THEMSELVES INTO COVERAGE, SORT
OF AS A TRANSITION TO HEALTH
CARE REFORM.
>> WHAT'S THE LIKELIHOOD THOUGH
OF THAT BadgerCARE PLUS BASIC
PASSING THIS SESSION AND GETTING
TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK?
>> WE'RE OPTIMISTIC THAT IT IS
GOING TO PASS.
IT'S ALREADY PASSED THE STATE
SENATE, IT WILL BE TAKEN UP IN
THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE NEXT WEEK
AN WE HOPE BY THE FULL ASSEMBLY
NEXT APRIL.
WHAT MEMBERS OUR LEGISLATURE
UNDERSTAND IS THAT IN WISCONSIN
UNDER GOVERNOR DOYLE'S
LEADERSHIP, WE'VE HAD THIS
TRADITION OF TAKING STEP BY
STEP, DOING WHAT WE CAN DO,
BUILDING ON OUR EXISTING
PROGRAMS TO EXTEND COVERAGE TO
AS MANY PEOPLE IN HOUR STATE AS
POSSIBLE.
WE ALSO HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE VAST
MAJORITY OF OUR STATE, ABOUT 56%
OF PEOPLE GET THEIR HEALTH
INSURANCE THROUGH THEIR EMPLOYER
AND NATIONAL HEALTH CARE REFORM
IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THEM
BECAUSE IT WILL BEGIN TO MAKE
THAT COVERAGE MORE AFFORDABLE.
SO RIGHT AWAY THIS YEAR, SMALL
BUSINESSES WILL BE ABLE TO GET
TAX CREDITS WORTH ABOUT 35% OF
THE PREMIUMS THEY PAY FOR THEIR
EMPLOYEE HEALTH INSURANCE.
THAT'S CRITICAL TO HELPING THEM
MAINTAIN COVERAGE AND ADD IT
BACK IF THEY HAVE HAD TO DROP
IT.
>> IN TERMS OF THE EXTRA
MEDICAID DOLLARS COMING FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO WISCONSIN,
DO YOU HAVE A FIGURE YET AS TO
HOW MUCH MORE THAT WOULD BE?
>> WE'RE BEGINNING TO DO THAT
MATH.
WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT WE WILL
COME OUT TO THE GOOD.
CERTAINLY THERE WILL BE MORE
FEDERAL PARTICIPATION IN
WISCONSIN'S MEDICAID PROGRAM
THAN THERE IS TODAY, BOTH FOR
KIDS AND MORE LOW INCOME ADULTS
WITHOUT DEPENDENT CHILDREN, BUT
I WOULD SAY THE INK IS NOT QUITE
DRY ON THAT SPREADSHEET SO WE
COME OUT TO THE GOOD.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE INSURANCE
EXCHANGES, WHERE IS WISCONSIN ON
THAT?
>> WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS
OPPORTUNITY, SO GOVERNOR DOYLE
HAD US WORKING ON THIS ABOUT TWO
YEARS AGO NOW, BECAUSE
PURCHASING EXCHANGES ARE REALLY
A WAY TO HELP BOTH SMALL
BUSINESSES PURCHASE MORE
AFFORDABLE COVERAGE AS WELL AS
PEOPLE WHO ARE BUYING INSURANCE
IN THE INDIVIDUAL MARKET.
SO THE SELF-EMPLOYED OR PEOPLE
WHO ARE WORKING FOR AN EMPLOYER
WHO DOESN'T OFFER HEALTH
INSURANCE, AND REALLY, IT'S THE
VERY SIMPLE.
CONCEPT THAT WHEN YOU BUY IN
VOLUME, YOU GET BETTER BETTER -- BETTER
VALUE, SO INSTEAD OF YOU WITH
YOUR FIVE EMPLOYEES AND ME WITH
MY 10 EMPLOYEES GOING OUT AND
BUYING INSURANCE ON OUR OWN, WE
POOL THE RESOURCES ACROSS OUR
STATE, WE ASK INSURANCE
COMPANIES TO COME TO THAT
VIRTUAL MARKETPLACE, THAT
EXCHANGE, PUT IN THEIR BEST BID,
KNOWING THAT IF THEY CUT THEIR
PRICES, THEY'LL MAKE IT UP ON
VOLUME, BECAUSE NOW THEY HAVE
MORE CUSTOMERS, AND THAT REALLY
CREATES A WONDERFUL WAY FOR US
TO GET MORE AFFORDABILITY IN
PRIVATE SECTOR HEALTH INSURANCE.
>> AND SO WE'VE REALLY KIND OF
HIT THE GROUND RUNNING WITH
THIS, BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY OF
THESE PROGRAMS IN PLACE AND IN
THE WORKS ALREADY?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WISCONSIN IS VERY WELL
POSITIONED TO IMPLEMENT ALL OF
NATIONAL HEALTH CARE REFORM.
SO MUCH OF IT BUILDS OFF OF WHAT
WE'VE DONE ALREADY IN THIS
STATE.
WE ALREADY COVER LOTS OF PEOPLE
THROUGH BadgerCARE PLUS AND WE
CAN MAKE THAT KIND OF SEAMLESS
TRANSITION TO THE MEDICAID
CHANGES.
WE ALREADY HAVE DONE THE
GROUNDWORK ON HEALTH INSURANCE
PURCHASING EXCHANGE, WE CAN NOW
ADD TO THAT AND BUILD ON IT AND
BE READY WHEN 2014 COMES.
>> ALL RIGHT.
SECRETARY TIMBERLAKE, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> WITHIN 24 HOURS OF THE
ORIGINAL HOUSE PASSAGE OF THE
HEALTH CARE BILL THIS WEEK, 13
STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL FILED
COURT CHALLENGES AGAINST THE
MEASURE.
YESTERDAY, WISCONSIN STATE
ATTORNEY GENERAL J.B. VAN HOLLEN
ASKED GOVERNOR DOYLE AND THE
LEGISLATURE TO AUTHORIZE HIM TO
FILE A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE BILL.
VAN HOLLEN SAYS THE NEW LAW
VIOLATES WISCONSIN'S STATE
SOVEREIGNTY.
>> THERE'S A SPECIFIC PART OF
THE LAW THAT WE'RE SAYING HARMS
US AND THAT IS THE MANDATE ON
INDIVIDUALS TO BUY HEALTH CARE
INSURANCE.
THAT SPECIFIC MANDATE IS
JUSTIFIED BY CONGRESS AND THE
PRESIDENT UNDER THE COMMERCE
CLAUSE.
NEVER BEFORE HAVE WE BEEN ABLE
TO FIND THAT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT HAS MANDATED THAT AN
INDIVIDUAL, JUST BY VIRTUE
EXISTING, HAS TO BUY SOMETHING.
>>
>> VAN HOLLEN NEEDED THE
APPROVAL OF GOVERNOR DOYLE ORAL
AT LEAST ONE -- OR AT LEAST ONE
HOUSE OF THE LEGISLATURE TO
FILE.
BOTH HOUSES TOLD HIM KNOW.
WE TRAVEL NOW TO LACROSSE TO
TALK TO SOMEONE WHO WILL
INTERACT WITH THE NEW LAW AS THE
RUBBER HITS THE ROAD AS A HEALTH
CARE PROVIDER AND INSURER.
DR. JEFF THOMPSON IS THE C.E.O.
OF GUNDERSEN LUTHERAN IN
LACROSSE AND DOCTOR, THANKS A
LOT FOR BEING HERE.
>> YOU'RE MOST WELCOME.
THANKS FOR GIVING ME A CALL.
>> WELL, WE WANTED TO ASK,
REALLY RIGHT OFF THE BAT, WHAT
YOUR REACTION IS TO THIS NEW
HEALTH CARE LEGISLATION.
>> I THINK IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT
TO PASS SOME LEGISLATION,
THEY'VE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD,
THERE WAS A LOT OF NOISE ABOUT
IT, BUT HAD SOMETHING NOT
PASSED, THEN PEOPLE OF WOULD
HAVE STAYED AWAY FROM IT FOR A
LONG TIME AND WE CERTAINLY NEED
CHANGES.
THE INITIAL PART OF COURSE IS
MOSTLY INSURANCE REFORM.
AND THERE ARE MANY OTHER THINGS
THAT NEED TO BE DONE.
I WORRY ABOUT THE COST THAT IT
COULD ADD TO THE OVERALL
ECONOMY, BUT COVERING MORE
INDIVIDUALS, IMPROVING
AVAILABILITY, COVERING PEOPLE
THAT HAVE PREEXISTING
CONDITIONS, THESE ARE ALL GOOD
THINGS THAT OUR SOCIETY NEEDS TO
DO.
>> WHAT'S NOT SO GOOD ABOUT IT,
OTHER THAN THE COST, ARE THERE
OTHER PIECES IN IT THAT YOU WISH
WERE NOT?
>> I THINK THERE ARE A COUPLE
BIG ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO
REALLY ADDRESS.
ONE IS I BELIEVE ADDING MORE
PEOPLE WITHOUT FUNDAMENTALLY
CHANGING HOW WE PAY FOR OUR CARE
IT A BIG CONCERN.
NOW, IN THE RECONCILIATION
PACKAGE, THERE ARE SOME PILOTS
AND SOME VERY GOOD LANGUAGE.
THE BEST WE'VE EVER HAD TOWARDS
MOVING TOWARDS PAYING FOR
QUALITY.
AND SAM.
PAYING FOR OUTCOMES RATHER THAN
JUST THE FEE FOR SERVICE SYSTEM
THAT WE HAVE.
SO THAT IS GREAT PROGRESS.
HOWEVER, UNTIL THAT'S
IMPLEMENTED, THE COST OF HEALTH
COMPARE IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO
RISE VERY RAPIDLY.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHAT WE
REALLY NEED TO DO, THE PUBLIC,
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, THE
GOVERNMENT, NEEDS TO FOCUS ON
THE HEALTH OF THE POPULATION
BEYOND JUST THE DELIVERY OF CARE
ONCE YOU'RE SICK.
>> NOW, ON THE FIRST PEELS,
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT GUNDERSEN
LUTHERAN KNOWS SOMETHING ABOUT.
DESCRIBE HOW YOUR HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM HAS WORKED TOWARD BOTH
THE COST CONTAINMENT AND THE
OUTCOMES.
>> WE HAVE FELT ALL ALONG THAT
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO
DEMONSTRATE THAT IT IS NOT A
CHOICE BETWEEN HIGH QUALITY OR
LOW COST.
BUT YOU OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO DO
BOTH AT THE SAME TIME.
AND WE HAVE DEDICATED OURSELVES
TO DO THAT, WE HAVE A STAFF THAT
DO THAT.
WE HAVE A VERY EXTENSIVE QUALITY
PROGRAM.
WE WORKED WITH MANY OF THE
PROVIDERS AROUND THE STATE
SETTING UP THE WISCONSIN
COLLABORATIVE, WORKING ON THAT,
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE
LEAN ENGINEERS IN HOUR
ORGANIZATION THAT HELP THE
CLINICAL PEOPLE TO TRY TO
IMPROVE THEIR PROCESSES TO LOWER
THE COST, TO DECREASE OUR HEIRS
TO DO THAT.
CAN YOU DO BOTH, YOU JUST HAVE
TO REALIZE, THAT'S YOUR GOAL AS
A COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION.
>> AND SO YOU FEEL AS THOUGH
THIS LEGISLATION DOES NOT HAVE
ENOUGH INCENTIVES IN IT THAT
WOULD ACTUALLY REWARD GUNDERSEN
LUTHERAN, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR
OPERATING THAT WAY?
>> WELL, WE HAVE WORKED WITH A
COALITION ACROSS THE WHOLE UPPER
MIDWEST AND FROM INTERMOUNTAIN
HEALTH TO TRY TO GET INTO THIS
LEGISLATION LANGUAGE ABOUT
PAYING FOR VALUE AND WE BELIEVE
THAT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THE
COUNTRY IS GOING TO BE BETTER
OFF IF WE START PAYING FOR
VALUE, AND BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN
FOCUSING ON THIS FOR SOME TIME,
WE BELIEVE THAT OUR REGION WOULD
GET PAID MORE FAIRLY IF WE ARE
PAID FOR OUTCOMES, BUT WE DON'T
WANT ANY SPECIAL TREATMENT.
ALL WE WANT IS EVERYBODY TO
BE -- GET PAID FOR OUTCOMES, NOT
JUST DOING THINGS.
>> VERY BRIEFLY, WE JUST HAVE 30
SECONDS LEFT, WHAT IS YOUR
REACTION TO CUTS IN MEDICARE,
INCLUDING PLANS LUKE -- LIKE THE
MED COMPARE ADVANTAGE PLAN THAT
I KNOW YOUR HEALTH SYSTEM
OFFERS?
>> YES, THAT IS A PROBLEM FOR
US.
THERE ARE PLACES IN THE COUNTRY
WHERE THE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE HAS
MADE A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY.
IN HOUR STATE, NO ONE CAN BREAK
EVEN ON THE MEDICARE PAYMENTS
THAT ARE GIVEN, SO A CUT IN OUR
ADVANTAGE PROGRAM PUSHES THAT
REIMBURSEMENT DOWN AND WE EITHER
HAVE TO GET MORE EFFICIENT MORE
QUICKLY OR MORE OF THE COST GETS
SHIFTED ON TO EMPLOYERS, WHICH
IS A REAL PROBLEM AND SOMETHING
THAT WE DO, BUT WE TRY AND
MINIMIZE AS MANY AS POSSIBLE.
>> I WISH WE HAD MORE TIME BUT
WE DO NOT.
THANK FOR JOINING US FROM
LACROSSE.
FINALLY TONIGHT A FOLLOWUP TO A
STORY THAT WE'VE BEEN COVERING
ON "HERE & NOW."
WE TOOK THIS WAY TOO FAR, THAT
WORDS FROM A LEGISLATOR
LAMONTING A NEW LAW MEANT TO
STAMP OUT GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIZED
PROGRAM, GOVERNMENT SHARE.
WITH SIMILAR SENTIMENTS,
MILWAUKEE DEMOCRATIC GRIGSBY HAS
AUTHORED A BILL TO COVER WHAT
SHE CALLS UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES OF THE NEW LAW THAT
BARS PEOPLE FROM WORKING IN THE
GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIZED CHILD CARE
IF THEY HAVE CERTAIN CRIMES IN
THEIR BACKGROUNDS.
THE LAW BARS PEOPLE WITH EVEN
MISDEMEANOR FOOD STAMP OR
WELFARE VIOLATIONS FROM DECADES
AGO, EVEN IF THEY NEVER
COMMITTED ANOTHER CRIME.
SCORES OF WISCONSIN SHARES CHILD
CARE PROVIDERS HAD LICENSES
REVOKED OVER SUCH VIOLATIONS,
LOSING BUSINESSES, PUTTING
EMPLOYEES OUT OF WORK, AND
SENDING FAMILIES LOOKING FOR
ALTERNATE CARE.
>> I CERTAINLY NEVER INTENDED
FOR IMAGINED THAT THE TERM
"PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FRAUD" WOULD
INCLUDE FOR EXAMPLE, INDIVIDUALS
WHO HAD RECEIVED A $20
OVERPAYMENT FOR FOOD STAMPS SOME
20 YEARS PRIOR.
SOMEONE RECEIVING PUBLIC
BENEFITS WHO RECEIVED A USED CAR
AS A GIFT 24 YEARS AGO, AND
DIDN'T REPORT THAT GIVE AS
INCOME.
SOMEONE WHO RECEIVED LESS THAN
$50 IN FOOD STAMPS, THEY WERE
NOT ENTITLED TO MORE THAN 30
YEARS AGO.
>> GRIGSBY SAYS HER COMMITTEE
AND THE LEGISLATURE WORKED HARD
TO ADDRESS FRAUD IN WISCONSIN
SHARES, BUT NOW SAYS PERHAPS
THEY MADE A MISTAKE, WITH THE
SUPER STRICT BACKGROUND
REQUIREMENTS AGAINST FINANCIAL
CRIMES.
HER BILL WOULD ALLOW A PERSON
BARRED FROM CHILD CARE TO SHOW
THEY HAVE BEEN REHABILITATED,
AND BE ABLE TO GET THE LICENSE
BACK.
>> SUCH A FIX WOULD COME NONE
TOO SOON FOR SEVERAL PROVIDERS
AND EVEN EMPLOYEES, SHUT OUT OF
THE BUSINESS BY THE NEW LAW.
LAKEESHA SKULL SAYS SHE LOST HER
LICENSE TO CARE FOR 32 CHILDREN
FOR A CONVICTION OF FORGING A
SIGNATURE ON A CHECK DECADES
AGO.
SHE SAYS SHE HAS NOT HAD EVEN A
JAY WALKING TICKET SINCE.
>> I WAS HOMELESS AT THE TIME,
AND I HAD ONE KID, SO -- AND I'M
NOT CONDONING IT, YOU KNOW,
AGAIN AND THAT'S THE ONLY THING
THAT I EVER DID.
>> REPRESENTATIVE GRIGSBY MAY
HAVE AN UPHILL CLIMB BEFORE THE
FULL LEGISLATURE.
MANY MEMBERS ARE CONTENT WITH
THE STRICT STANDARDS.
SEVERAL LAWSUITS HOWEVER HAVE
BEEN FILED ON BEHALF OF
PROVIDERS ACROSS THE STATE.
THAT IS ALL FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> PRESENTATION OF "HERE & NOW"
IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE ANIMAL
DENTAL CENTER OF MILWAUKEE AND
OSHKOSH, VETERINARY SPECIALISTS
WORKING WITH PET OWNERS AND
FAMILY VETERINARIANS THROUGHOUT
WISCONSIN, PROVIDING CARE FOR
ORAL DISEASE AND DENTAL PROBLEMS
FOR SMALL COMPANION ANIMALS.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR "HERE &
NOW" IS PROVIDE BY THE LE
PHILLIPS FAMILY FOUNDATION.