>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN PARTY
HAS DECLARED THE EVENTS OF
JANUARY 6 AT THE U.S. CAPITOL A,
QUOTE, LEGITIMATE POLITICAL
DISCOURSE.
AND AN IMMIGRANT RIGHTS GROUP IN
WISCONSIN FIGHTS A BROAD
SUBPOENA FOR RECORDS IN THE
REPUBLICAN ELECTION PROBE.
AND THE OMICRON SURGERY VERSES
COURSE, AS CASES PLUMMET TO
LEVELS MORE CLOSELY RESEMBLING
LAST FALL.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW,"
FORMER GOP WISCONSIN CONGRESSMAN
REID RIBBLE SPEAKS OUT ON RECENT
ACTIONS FROM HIS PARTY.
STATE EPIDEMIOLOGIST DR. JASMINE
ZAPATA PROVIDES SOME PERSPECTIVE
ON THE LATEST TWISTS AND TURNS
OF THE PANDEMIC.
AND A COMMUNITY HEALTH LEADER
EXPLAINS HOW CARE PROGRAMS FOR
PREGNANT MOTHERS AND BABIES
BECAME MILLION-DOLLAR
ENTERPRISES SUPPORTED BY
MEDICAID DOLLARS.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR FEBRUAR.
FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> IN THE LAST WEEK, THE
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE
CALLED THE EVENTS AT THE U.S.
CAPITOL ON JANUARY 6, QUOTE,
LEGITIMATE POLITICAL DISCOURSE,
LATER WALKING THAT BACK SOME TO
SAY THEY DIDN'T MEAN THE
RIOTERS.
THE RNC ALSO CENSURED TWO OF
THEIR COLLEAGUES FOR
PARTICIPATING IN A CONGRESSIONAL
COMMITTEE INVESTIGATING
JANUARY 6.
THIS DREW CONDEMNATION AND A
JOINT STATEMENT FROM MORE THAN
100 REPUBLICANS, INCLUDING
LEADERS AND FORMER OFFICIALS WHO
SAID, QUOTE, THERE CAN BE NO
JUSTIFYING THE HORRIFIC ATTACK
THAT DAY, AND WE CONDEMN THE
COMMITTEE FOR EXCUSING THE
ACTIONS OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO
BATTERED POLICE OFFICERS,
RANSACKED OUR NATION'S CAPITOL,
CALLING FOR HANGING THE VICE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,
AND SOUTH TO OVERTURN A FREE AND
FAIR ELECTION.
WISCONSIN'S OWN FORMER
REPUBLICAN U.S. REPRESENTATIVE,
REID RIBBLE, WHO SERVED THE 8TH
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, WAS
AMONG THOSE WHO SIGNED THE
LETTER.
HE JOINS ME NOW FROM HIS HOME IN
TENNESSEE.
AND MR. RIBBLE, VERY NICE TO SEE
YOU AGAIN.
>> IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> SO WERE THE TWO MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS CENSURED KIND OF THE
LAST STRAW FOR YOU HERE?
>> I'VE BEEN FAIRLY OUTSPOKEN
ABOUT IT, AND A NUMBER OF THE
MEDIA CASES AS WELL AS ON MY OWN
TWITTER ACCOUNT, ABOUT
JANUARY 6TH.
THE CENSURE HAD A TENDENCY TO
RUB ME THE WRONG WAY BECAUSE A,
THE RNC DOESN'T GET INVOLVED
MUCH WITH CONGRESSIONAL -- AND
B, THE LANGUAGE OF THE CENSURE
WHERE THEY ACT LIKE IT WAS
NORMAL POLITICAL DISCOURSE WAS
JUST OFFENSIVE TO ME.
THAT'S NOT WHAT POLITICAL
DISCOURSE LOOKS LIKE IN THIS
COUNTRY.
I SERVED SIX YEARS IN THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES AND NOT A
SINGLE PERSON EVER CAME IN AND
TRIED TO BEAT DOWN MY DOOR OR
THREATEN ME WHEN I WAS IN
CONGRESS.
THAT'S WHAT REAL DISCOURSE LOOKS
LIKE, WHEN VOTERS COME IN AND
THEY TALK WITH THEIR ELECTED
OFFICIALS ABOUT WHAT CONCERNS
THEM AND TRY TO ADDRESS ANY
GRIEVANCE THEY MIGHT HAVE.
BREAKING WINDOWS, INJURING
POLICE OFFICERS, VIOLENTLY
ATTACKING PEOPLE, THERE'S NO
PLACE FOR THAT IN OUR COUNTRY.
>> THE LETTER THAT YOU SIGNED
OFF ON DESCRIBED THE RNC OF
CEDING CONTROL TO, QUOTE,
GRIFTERS AND EXTREMISTS.
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE PARTY
HAS TURNED TO THAT?
>> WELL, THERE ARE CERTAIN
ELEMENTS OF IT FOR SURE.
I MEAN, I WOULD SAY THAT FORMER
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS LEADING THE
PACK IN THAT REGARD.
I DON'T THINK THAT LANGUAGE WAS
TOO SUBTLE.
AND THIS SENSE OF IF WE KEEP UP
THE VICTIMHOOD AND MAKING PEOPLE
FEEL LIKE THEY'VE BEEN
VICTIMIZED HERE, THEY'LL KEEP
SENDING IN THEIR MONEY, IT'S
PRETTY OBVIOUS THAT'S A STRATEGY
THAT'S BEEN GOING ON.
>> SO THE RNC STATEMENT THAT THE
JANUARY 6 ATTACK WAS LEGITIMATE
POLITICAL DISCOURSE SPARKED
OUTRAGE, AS YOU JUST MENTIONED,
BULL WHAT ABOUT THE FACT THAT
THEY WALKED THAT BACK THEN AND
SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY
WEREN'T TALKING ABOUT THE KINDS
OF PEOPLE WHO BROKE WINDOWS OR
INJURED POLICE OFFICERS?
>> I CAN'T HELP BUT THAT --
EVERY SINGLE TIME YOU MAKE A
STATEMENT, WALKING IT BACK IS
ALWAYS LESS COVERED THAN THE
ACTUAL STATEMENT ITSELF.
AND WHAT THEY REALIZED, AND I
THINK WHAT MCDANIEL REALIZED IS
THEY KIND OF STEPPED IN IT WITH
THAT STATEMENT, AND THEY WANTED
TO DISTRACT AWAY FROM WHAT THEY
SAID THE JANUARY 6TH COMMITTEE
WAS DOING, WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY
SHINING THIS BRIGHT SPOTLIGHT ON
IT FOR POLITICAL -- FOR PEOPLE
WHO LIVE IN THE POLITICAL WORLD,
THAT WAS PRACTICALLY POLITICAL
MALPRACTICE.
>> SHOULD ORDINARY CITIZENS AND
VOTERS JUST ACCEPT THAT THIS IS
THE KIND OF THE NEW OR AT LEAST
FACTION OF THE NEW REPUBLICAN
PARTY?
>> IT SURE FEELS LIKE THAT TO
ME.
AND EVEN AS I'M OUT AND ABOUT
AND I TALK WITH A LOT OF FOLKS,
THERE'S KIND OF A HO-HUM
ATTITUDE ABOUT THE EXTREMES ON
BOTH SIDES OF THE PARTY.
WHETHER IT'S THE AOC-BERNIE SAND
DERS WING WANTING TO SPEND
$6 TRILLION THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS
IS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN, OR THE
HARD RIGHT WING, YOU KNOW, IN
FRAMING UP PASSIONS THE WAY THEY
DID THAT CAUSED JANUARY 6 AND
SAYING THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN.
MOST AMERICANS, THEY WANT
PROFESSIONALS TO DEAL WITH THIS
STUFF AND BE CIVIL ONE TOWARD
ANOTHER, AND IT'S THIS SMALL
FRINGE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
PARTIES THAT MAKE THE MOST
NOISE.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE.
>> AND THERE IS A LOT OF NOISE.
SO WHAT WOULD YOU TELL YOUR
FORMER CONSTITUENTS HERE IN
WISCONSIN WHO MAY NOW FOLLOW AND
SUPPORT THE WORDS AND DEEDS OF
REPUBLICAN LEADERS WHO MAY
DISREGARD THE VIOLENCE AND THE
OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION IN
FEALTY TO DONALD TRUMP, WHAT
WOULD YOU TELL YOUR FORMER
CONSTITUENTS?
>> I WOULD TELL THEM THAT THEY
NEED TO LOOK AT THE FACTS.
PRESIDENT TRUMP CHALLENGED THIS
ELECTION 60 TIMES IN THE COURTS.
HE LOST.
HE CHALLENGED IT WITH NUMEROUS
RECOUNTS.
HE LOST.
HE'S CHALLENGED IT WITH SEVERAL
AUDITS.
HE'S LOST.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, THERE
WAS NOT SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH FRAUD
IN THIS ELECTION TO HAVE A
DIFFERENT RESULT.
AND WHETHER THEY LIKE IT OR NOT,
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IS THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
AND THEIR BEST CHANCE OF
CHANGING THE DISCUSSION WOULD BE
AT THE POLLS IN NOVEMBER TO GIVE
THE CONGRESS TO THEIR PREFERRED
CANDIDATES SO THAT THE POLICIES
THAT THEY'RE HOPING TO SEE
ACHIEVED GET DONE THROUGH A
NORMAL POLITICAL MEANS IN THIS
COUNTRY, BUT NOT THROUGH
VIOLENCE OR THREATS OF
INTIMIDATION.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S HOW
AMERICANS SHOULD OPERATE.
>> WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE OR
REACTION TO THE ONGOING
INVESTIGATION INTO THE 2020
ELECTION HERE IN WISCONSIN?
>> I THINK THEY OUGHT TO PUT TO
BED.
I MEAN, THE FACT OF THE MATTER
IS, PRESIDENT BIDEN WON THE
ELECTION BECAUSE TOO MANY
REPUBLICANS DECIDED TO SPLIT
THEIR VOTE.
THEY VOTED FOR THEIR REPUBLICAN
STATE ASSEMBLYMEMBER, THEY VOTED
FOR THEIR REPUBLICAN SENATORS IN
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN, THEY
VOTED FOR REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS, AND THEN THEY VOTED
FOR SOMEBODY ELSE BUT DIDN'T
VOTE FOR PRESIDENT.
THERE WERE ENOUGH OF THOSE
PEOPLE THAT SPLIT THEIR VOTES
THAT CAUSED PRESIDENT TRUMP TO
LOSE THE ELECTION.
AND THE COUNT'S BEEN DONE, IT'S
BEEN CERTIFIED, IT'S BEEN
RECOUNTED.
IF THEY HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT
ELECTION INTEGRITY, THEY SHOULD
DEAL WITH THAT FROM A LEGAL
STANDPOINT, BUT HANGING ON TO
WHAT HAPPENED THERE AND TRYING
TO SAY IT WAS FRAUDULENT DOESN'T
HELP ANYBODY.
DOESN'T CHANGE ANYTHING.
>> WE LEAVE IT THERE, FORMER
CONGRESSMAN REID RIBBLE.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
THANK YOU, FREDERICA.
>> IN THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE
2020 ELECTION IN WISCONSIN,
FORMER SUPREME COURT JUSTICE
MICHAEL GABLEMAN ISSUED A FLURRY
OF SUBPOENAS SEEKING DOCUMENTS
AND TESTIMONY.
THE ORDERS WENT OUT TO MAYORS,
ELECTION OFFICIALS, THE EVERS
ADMINISTRATION AND AN IMMIGRANT
RIGHTS GROUP.
THAT GROUP, VOCES DE LA
FRONTERA, IS NOW SUING OVER THE
SUBPOENA.
VOCES JOINED ATTORNEY GENERAL
JOSH KAUL LAWSUIT ON BEHALF OF
THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE
WISCONSIN ELECTIONS COMMISSION.
HOW DID THE IMMIGRANTS RIGHT
GROUP GET SWEPT UP IN ALL THIS?
WE ASKED CHRISTINE
NEUMANN-ORTIZ, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF VOCES DE LA FRONTERA
ACTION.
CHRISTINE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU, IT'S MY PLEASURE.
>> HOW SURPRISED WERE YOU THAT
YOUR ORGANIZATION WAS SERVED
WITH THIS SUBPOENA?
>> IN A CERTAIN WAY, IT'S
FLATTERING.
FLATTERING IN THAT THERE'S A
RECOGNITION THAT VOCES DE LA
FRONTERA ACTION, WHICH IS THE
ARM OF VOCES DE LA FRONTERA THAT
THEY WERE SEEKING TO ALL OF OUR
DOCUMENTS, ANY EMAILS RELATED TO
2020 ELECTIONS AND FUTURE
ELECTIONS AS WELL FROM A
NON-GOVERNMENTAL BODY, WHICH IS
COMPLETELY OUTSIDE OF EVEN WHAT
THE REALM OF THIS SHAM REVIEW IS
SUPPOSED TO PURSUE, TO ME IT'S A
TESTAMENT THAT OUR HARD WORK HAS
REALLY PAID OFF.
VOCES DE LA FRONTERA ACTION HAS
BEEN ORGANIZING THE LATINX VOTE
SINCE 2004, HAD A HUGE IMPACT,
ESPECIALLY THROUGH A PROGRAM --
RELATIONAL VOTING PROGRAM WHERE
IT'S BASICALLY FRIENDS AND
FAMILY YOU KNOW THAT WE BUILT UP
IN A SIGNIFICANT WAY IN 2018 AND
2020, AND IT'S A RECOGNITION
THAT LATINOS HERE IN WISCONSIN
AND MULTI-RACIAL YOUTH AS WELL,
THAT WE'VE HAD AN IMPACT IN
ELECTIONS, BECAUSE THIS WHOLE
SHAM REVIEW IS REALLY A
CONTINUATION FROM JANUARY 6,
THIS BASELESS ALLEGATION THAT'S
INTENDED TO UNDERMINE THE WILL
OF THE PEOPLE TO REALLY DISTRACT
FROM THEIR OWN RECORD, WHICH HAS
BEEN TO BLOCK PAID SICK DAYS
THAT WE NEED DURING A PANDEMIC,
BLOCK IMMIGRATION REFORM, BLOCK
DRIVER'S LICENSES, ALL OF THIS
STUFF.
SO IT REALLY IS A RECOGNITION OF
THE GOOD WORK THAT WE'RE DOING.
WE DECIDED TO SUE, THOUGH,
BECAUSE WE THINK THAT WE
SHOULDN'T TAKE THIS STUFF
LIGHTLY, AND THAT THEY'RE GOING
TO START WITH US, THEY'RE GOING
TO GO WITH OTHERS, AND SO THIS
SHAM REVIEW IS LIKE THIS LITTLE
MCCARTHYITE POLITICAL THEATER,
BUT IT'S DANGEROUS TO OUR
DEMOCRACY, AND WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE WE STAND UP FOR IT.
>> SO YOU DESCRIBED IT OUT OF
THE CHUTES AS FLATTERING,
BECAUSE IT RECOGNIZES YOUR WORK,
BUT IS IT BURDENSOME?
>> NOT -- NO, I MEAN, I THINK
IT'S BASELESS, S DEFINITELY, AND
IT'S PART OF THIS TOTAL, YOU
KNOW, POLITICAL THEATER AND SHAM
REVIEW WHERE THEY'RE TRYING TO
FRAME A MESSAGE TO CONTINUE TO
ASSERT THAT FALSE NARRATIVE, TO
REALLY DENY THE FACT THAT'S BEEN
PROVEN OVER AN OVER AND OVER
AGAIN THAT, YOU KNOW, BIDEN WON
WISCONSIN, HE WON IT FAIRLY AND
SQUARELY, BUT, YOU KNOW,
SIMULTANEOUS TO THIS FRAME THAT
THEY'RE DOING, THERE'S ALSO ALL
THESE ATTACKS GOING ON ON
PEOPLE'S ABLE TO VOTE.
>> SPECIFIC TO THE SUBPOENA THAT
WAS ISSUED TO VOCES DE LA
FRONTERA, I MEAN, DID YOU BEND
OR BREAK ELECTION LAWS AS YOU
WORKED TO TURN OUT VOTERS IN THE
2020 LUCKTIO
2020 ELECTION?
>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.
WE HAVE DEFINITELY NOT DONE SO
SINCE WE STARTED DOING ELECTIONS
IN 2004, WE HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED
IN THE PAST BY FAR RIGHT GROUPS,
FOR EXAMPLE, A GROUP THAT'S --
IT'S A WHITE SUPREMACIST
ORGANIZATION DEFINED BY SOUTHERN
POVERTY LAW CENTER, YOU KNOW,
WHO HAVE TRIED TO -- OR HAVE
SOME RADIO DJs MAKE RACIST
ALLEGATIONS ABOUT LATINX VOTERS.
PEOPLE KNOW WHO CAN VOTE AND WHO
CAN'T VOTE.
WE ARE ABOUT PROTECTING PEOPLE.
SO WE DEFINITELY DON'T WANT
PEOPLE WHO CAN'T VOTE TO -- WE
DEFINITELY WANT TO MAKE SURE --
AND THEY KNOW, BUT THE MAIN
THING IS, IS MAKING SURE THAT
PEOPLE WHO ARE U.S. CITIZENS,
THEY'RE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE, THEY
HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION THEY
NEED AND TO MAKE SURE THEY CAST
THEIR BALLOT.
SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT --
WE'VE NEVER HAD ISSUES.
WE HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED IN THE
PAST, AND TO ME, THIS IS JUST --
YOU KNOW, IT'S A STATEMENT THAT
LATINOS ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE
IN WISCONSIN.
>> CHRISTINE NEUMANN-ORTIZ,
THANKS VERY MUCH, THANKS FOR
YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> AT THE CAPITOL, REPUBLICANS
RELEASED A SLATE OF BILLS AIMED
AT TYING UP LOOSE ENDS IN THE
STATE'S ELECTION LAW.
LOOSE ENDS THAT CHALLENGED THE
LAW'S INTENT IN NEW WAYS AS THE
2020 ELECTIONS WERE HELD DURING
THE UNFOLDING PANDEMIC.
AMONG THE ISSUES ADDRESSED IN
THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION WERE
INDEFINITELY CONFINED VOTER,
OUTSIDE FUNDING TO HELP
ADMINISTER ELECTIONS AND
INFORMATION THAT CLERKS ARE
REQUIRED TO REPORT.
ADVOCATES FROM THE DISABILITY
COMMUNITY VOICED CONCERNS THAT
SOME OF THE BILLS WOULD LIMIT
VOTER ACCESS.
>> AS A DISABLED VOTER, I'M
CONCERNED WITH THE CONTINUED
EFFORTS TO RESTRICT THE
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF THE
DISABLED COMMUNITY TO VOTE.
I'M GRAVELY DISAPPOINTED WITH
THE REINTRODUCTION OF SEVERAL
BILLS THAT I BELIEVE ARE
PRESENTED UNDER THE GUISE OF
ELECTION INTEGRITY AT THE COST
OF EQUITABLE ACCESS.
>> THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT
DISABILITIES THAT CAN CAUSE
MISTAKES, AND PEOPLE SHOULD NOT
BE PUNISHED IF THEY MAKE A
SIGNIFICANT ERROR.
AND WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT
THIS AND OTHER BILLS THAT HAVE
BEEN INTRODUCED IN THE PAST THAT
MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR THOSE
POPULATIONS TO GET TO VOTE.
>> IN THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR IN
WISCONSIN, A REPUBLICAN STATE
REPRESENTATIVE AND DONALD TRUMP
SUPPORTER THROWS HIS HAT INTO
THE RING.
TIMOTHY RAN THUMB FILED
THURSDAY.
REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP
DISCIPLINED REPRESENTATIVE RAN
THUMB LAST MONTH OVER HIS FALSE
ELECTION CLAIMS.
ON THE COVID FRONT, IT'S LIKE A
CASE OF WHIPLASH.
WISCONSIN'S 7-DAY AVERAGE CASE
NUMBER HAS HIT THE LOWEST POINT
THIS YEAR AND IS ON THE WAY
DOWN.
THAT AFTER OMICRON SENT CASE
NUMBERS SKY HIGH JUST WEEKS AGO.
AS OF TODAY, THE 7-DAY AVERAGE
OF NEW CASES IN WISCONSIN IS
BELOW 2500.
COMPARED TO NEARLY 19,000 NEW
DAILY CASES AT THE PEAK OF THE
OMICRON SURGE.
GREAT NEWS BUT A LITTLE
CONFUSING TOO.
IS IT OVER?
HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND?
WE TURN TO CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER
AND STATE EPIDEMIOLOGIST FOR
COMMUNITY HEALTH AT THE
WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
SERVICES, DR. JASMINE ZAPATA.
DOCTOR, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR
BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO CASE NUMBERS SEEM TO BE
DECLINING ALMOST AS FAST AS THEY
SURGED, BUT STILL MORE THAN 50
COUNTIES REMAIN IN THE
CRITICALLY HIGH CATEGORY.
DOES THIS MEAN, THOUGH, THAT THE
COAST IS CLEAR?
>> THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE
COAST IS CLEAR.
WE ARE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC, WE
ARE HOPEFUL, AND WE'RE THANKFUL
THAT WE ARE STARTING TO SEE THE
NUMBERS GO DOWN, BUT WE ARE
STILL IN CRISIS.
WE ARE STILL IN A GLOBAL
PANDEMIC AND EVERYONE NEEDS TO
CONTINUE TO STAY VIGILANT.
THE WAYS THAT PEOPLE CAN DO
THAT, CONTINUE WITH GOOD HAND
WASHING, CONTINUE TO AVOID VERY
LARGE GATHERINGS, CONTINUE TO
ENCOURAGE OTHERS AROUND YOU WHO
HAVE NOT ALREADY GOTTEN
VACCINATED OR RECEIVED THE
BOOSTERS TO DO SO.
INDIVIDUALS SHOULD DO THAT AS
WELL.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO STAY
VIGILANT SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE
TO SEE THESE NUMBERS GO DOWN.
>> SO DOES THAT INCLUDE THINGS
LIKE RAPID TESTING AND
ISOLATING, YOU KNOW HOW PEOPLE
WERE DOING THAT AND MADLY
LOOKING FOR THESE TESTS AND
COULDN'T FIND THEM THEN AND NOW
WE HAVE STOCKS OF THEM, BUT DOES
IT INCLUDE THAT KIND OF
VIGILANCE?
>> YES, IT DOES.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT.
I APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT IF YOU ARE
FEELING SICK TO STAY AWAY FROM
OTHERS TO GET TESTED SO THAT YOU
CAN KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING
ON.
SO WE STILL DO RECOMMEND
FOLLOWING ALL LOCAL PUBLIC
HEALTH GUIDELINES AS IT RELATES
TO TESTING.
AND YOU CAN DO IN-HOME TESTING,
WHICH IS A GREAT TOOL IN OUR
TOOLBOX, AND YOU CAN ALSO GO TO
YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER, GO TO
LOCAL PHARMACIES AND OTHER
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
AND SITES THAT DELIVER TESTING.
SO YES, THAT'S STILL A VERY
IMPORTANT THING.
>> IT DOES SEEM CONFUSING,
THOUGH, BECAUSE SOME STATES ARE
DOING AWAY WITH MASKING IN
SCHOOLS.
SO WE'VE GOT THIS EXTRA
VIGILANCE STILL UPON US AND
OTHER STATES SAYING NO, WE DON'T
NEED TO MASK KIDS IN SCHOOL.
WHERE DO PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS
IN WISCONSIN STAND ON MASKING IN
SCHOOLS?
>> YES.
I APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION, AND
WE STAND WITH THE -- WE STAND
WITH THE POSITION OF CONTINUING
TO USE MASKS IN SCHOOLS.
WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF A KEEPING
KIDS SAFE AND IN SCHOOL CAMPAIGN
WHERE WE KNOW THAT IT'S
IMPORTANT FOR KIDS TO STAY IN
SCHOOL FOR THEIR LEARNING, BUT
ALSO THEIR SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL
DEVELOPMENT.
WE WANT TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN AND
OUR EDUCATORS VERY SAFE, AND ONE
OF THE BEST WAYS TO DO THAT IS
TO CONTINUE TO USE MASKS.
WE DO NOT WANT TO HAVE OUR KIDS
MISSING SCHOOL.
WE WANT THEM TO BE THERE
LEARNING, WE WANT THEM TO BE
THERE SAFE, AND AGAIN, HAVING
MASKS IS STILL DEFINITELY OUR
POSITION, OUR STRONG POSITION.
>> AS TO INFECTION RATES AND
VACCINATION RATES FOR MINORITY
POPULATIONS, HOW PERSISTENT ARE
THOSE DISPARITIES?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
WE STILL DO SEE DISPARITIES IN
OUR VACCINATION RATES,
PARTICULARLY SOME OF THE BIGGEST
INEQUITIES THAT WE SEE IS AMONG
BLACK CITIZENS AS WELL AS
HISPANIC CITIZENS IN OUR STATE,
AND WE ARE SEEING THAT THOSE
DISPARITIES ARE STILL IN EFFECT,
BUT SINCE LAST SUMMER OF 2021,
UNTIL NOW, WE HAVE SEEN SOME
SLIGHT IMPROVEMENTS.
THERE ARE OVERALL DISPARITIES
WHERE THERE'S -- BLACK
WISCONSINITES ARE ABOUT 33% LESS
LIKELY TO BE VACCINATED,
HISPANIC WISCONSINITES, ABOUT 13
TO 15% LESS LIKELY TO BE
VACCINATED, WHICH IS STILL A
DISPARITY BUT WE HAVE SEEN A
LITTLE IMPROVEMENT OVER THE LAST
SEVERAL MONTHS.
SO I'M THANKFUL FOR THAT,
GRATEFUL FOR THAT, BUT WE STILL
NEED TO CONTINUE HAVING
CONVERSATIONS.
AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT
INDIVIDUAL CHOICE OR DECISIONS.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO THINK
ABOUT WHY WE ARE SEEING SOME OF
THOSE DISPARITIES IN THE FIRST
PLACE, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE
SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH,
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ISSUES WITH
ACCESS, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE
ISSUES WITH TRUST WITH MEDICINE
AND PUBLIC HEALTH THAT WE NEED
TO GET TO ROOT CAUSE OF AS WELL.
SO CONTINUED CONVERSATIONS AND
CONTINUED VIGILANCE IN THAT AREA
IS NEEDED AS WELL.
>> CONTINUED WORK, YES.
DR. JASMINE ZAPATA, THANKS VERY
MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
SERVICES IS CRACKING DOWN ON
PRENATAL PROGRAMS PAID FOR BY
MEDICAID, AND NOW CITY AND STATE
ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE CALLING
FOR ACCOUNTABILITY.
THE MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENT NIL L
BROKE THE STORY OF MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS BEING BILLED TO MEDICAID
ON THE PART OF PROGRAMS DESIGNED
TO IMPROVE BIRTH OUTCOMES FOR
LOW INCOME PREGNANT WOMEN.
WISCONSIN HAS THE HIGHEST BLACK
INFANT MORTALITY RATE IN THE
NATION, AND NARROWING
DISPARITIES IS A PRIORITY OF
HEALTH OFFICIALS.
ACCORDING TO ITS REPORTING, THE
NEWSPAPER FOUND WISCONSIN HAS
SEEN A 400% INCREASE IN NEW
APPLICATIONS TO OPEN PRENATAL
CARE COORDINATION COMPANIES IN
RECENT YEARS, BILLING MEDICAID
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS PER CLIENT
AND MAKING NEWLY MINTED
MILLIONAIRES OUT OF COMPANY
OWNERS.
THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
SERVICES REPORTS IT HAS REFERRED
FOUR COMPANIES TO THE STATE
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT FOR CRIMINAL
INVESTIGATION.
OUR NEXT GUEST SAYS SHE'S BEEN
TRYING TO SOUND THE ALARM ON
CORRUPTION IN THE PRENATAL
INDUSTRY FOR YEARS.
BRIA GRANT JOINS US NOW.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR DOING SO.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> I WANT TO POINT OUT YOU'RE
THE EXECUTIVE OF DIRECTOR OF AN
ORGANIZATION THAT TRAINS
COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS AND
HAVE WORKED IN PRENATAL CARE AS
WELL INCLUDING ON A STATE-WIDE
LEVEL TO IMPROVE SUCH CARE.
WHY HAVE YOU BEEN SOUNDING THE
ALARM ON THIS BURGEONING
INDUSTRY?
>> WELL, LET ME JUST BE CLEAR,
NOT JUST PRENATAL CARE BUT
CHRONIC CONDITION, OUR WORK IS
ADDRESSING SOCIAL DISPARITIES,
WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO POOR HEALTH
OUTCOMES.
AND SO ESSENTIALLY THAT IS WHAT
WE WANT TO IMPROVE IN OUR STATE.
OUR STATE LEADS IN POOR HEALTH
OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN OF COLOR,
AS WELL AS CHRONIC CONDITIONS
FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
WHILE WE ARE SPENDING THE
DOLLARS, WHICH WE WANT TO HAVE
THE INVESTMENT, BUT THE
INVESTMENT SHOULD CORRELATE WITH
IMPROVEMENT OF BIRTH OUTCOMES.
>> BUT YOU SAW THIS HAPPENING,
THEREBY TRYING TO SOUND THE
ALARM ON FRAUD?
>> SO ONE OF THE THINGS I WILL
SAY, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES PEOPLE
JUST DON'T KNOW, RIGHT?
SO THERE ARE NO CHECKS AND
BALANCE AS FOR ENSURING WHO ARE
FACILITATING PROCESSES
APPROPRIATELY, YOU JUST CONTINUE
TO DO THE THINGS YOU'VE BEEN
ALLOWED TO DO.
OUR GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT THERE
IS A PROCESS OF ACCOUNTABILITY
FOR BOTH THE STATE LEVEL AND THE
COMMUNITY LEVEL, WHERE SERVICES
ARE BEING DELIVERED, SO THAT WE
CAN SEE THAT IMPROVED OUTCOME IN
BIRTH OUTCOMES.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
CAN YOU GIVE US AN EXAMPLE OF
HOW FRAUD MIGHT BE PERPETRATED
IN THIS PRENATAL CARE INDUSTRY?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU
HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHO DON'T HAVE
A METHOD OF IDENTIFYING IF A
CLIENT IS WORKING WITH SOMEONE
ELSE, AND SO THEY MAY ENGAGE
THEM IN SERVICES AS WELL AND
BILL FOR SERVICES THAT ARE ALSO
BEING PROVIDED IN AND BILLED
THROUGH ANOTHER AGENCY.
SOMETIMES IT'S KNOWN, SOMETIMES
IT'S NOT KNOWN.
ADDITIONALLY, INDIVIDUALS MAY
PROVIDE CARE TO MULTIPLE
FAMILIES, DOCUMENTING SOMETIMES
THE SAME TIME THAT THEY'RE
DELIVERING THIS CARE, WHERE IF
WE HAD A PROCESS THAT HELPED TO
BE ABLE TO BETTER TRACK THAT
ENGAGEMENT WITH FAMILIES, WE
SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE SOME OF
THAT DUPLICATION OF WORK.
>> SO FO FOUR MILWAUKEE COMPANIS
HAVE NOW HAD THEIR MEDICAID
REIMBURSEMENTS CUT OFF.
IN YO UR MIND, IS YOUR MIND, ISF
TOO LONG IN COMING?
>> WELL, ABSOLUTELY, RIGHT,
BECAUSE IT JUST TOOK SO LONG TO
GET HERE BEFORE IT WAS
RECOGNIZED THAT THESE MOMS
WEREN'T BEING SERVED.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE LARGER
ISSUE.
WHILE OF COURSE WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE WE'RE SPENDING OUR DOLLARS
RESPONSIBLY, THERE ARE FAMILIES
THAT ARE NOT RECEIVING THE
SERVICES THAT'S BEING REPORTED
TO HAVE BEEN RECEIVED.
AND SO THAT DEFINITELY IS ANISH
YOU'LL WHEN WE THINK OF INFANT
MORTALITY, THE DISPARITY BETWEEN
BLACK AND WHITES IS JUST
DISHEARTENING.
IN MILWAUKEE, WHILE THERE'S BEEN
AN OVERALL DECLINE IN INFANT
MORTALITY, FOR BLACKS, IT'S 14.9
AND FOR WHITES, IT'S 4.6.
SO TO HAVE THAT GAP IS A HUGE
ISSUE, AND TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE
THE DOLLARS FOR THE INVESTMENT
TO IMPROVE ON THAT AND THAT IT'S
NOT COMING TOGETHER IS REALLY
WHAT WE WANT TO ADDRESS.
>> BECAUSE ALSO, THERE ARE
LEGITIMATE PRENATAL CARE
COMPANIES DOING GOOD WORK IN
THIS WAY.
CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE KIND
OF WORK THAT THOSE COMPANIES ARE
DOING?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WE TRAIN A PLETHORA OF COMMUNITY
COORDINATORS, COMMUNITY HEALTH
WORKERS, AGENCIES USE US AS A
GO-TO FOR FORMALIZED TRAINING.
THE MODEL THAT WE FACILITATE HAS
BEEN SHOWN TO IMPROVE BIRTH
OUTCOMES SIGNIFICANTLY AND HAVE
A COST SAVINGS ASSOCIATED WITH
IT, AND AGAIN, THIS IS NOT JUST
IN BIRTH OUTCOMES, WE KNOW THAT
A LARGE NUMBER OF OUR MOMS
EXPERIENCE HYPERTENSION DURING
THEIR PREGNANCY, SO BEING ABLE
TO ADDRESS THAT SO THAT WE CAN
HAVE A HEALTHY BIRTH WEIGHT, AS
WELL AS TAKE MOMS TO FULL TERM
IS A PART OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE
DOING.
>> WITH LESS THAN A MINUTE LEFT,
WHAT GOES IN TO ASSURING THESE
GOOD HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR BABIES
AND MOTHERS?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT OUR
HEALTH, 20% IS IN THE FOUR WALLS
OF THE CLINIC, PHYSICAL.
THE OTHER 80% OF OUR WHOLE
HEALTH IS WHERE WE WORK, SLEEP,
EAT AND PLAY.
SO AS MOM'S STRESSES ARE NOT
MANAGED, IF I HAVE HOUSING
ISSUES, IF I HAVE UNHEALTHY
EATING PRACTICES BECAUSE I JUST
DON'T HAVE THE EDUCATION, IF I
DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE PROPER
RESOURCES TO BRING STABILITY TO
MY LIFE, THEN THAT'S GOING TO
CAUSE ME TO HAVE A STRESSOR THAT
MAY CREATE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE,
THAT MAY CREATE STRESS IN THE
WOMB THAT DOESN'T ALLOW FOR ME
TO HAVE THE HEALTHY BIRTH
OUTCOME.
SO THE WORK WE DO IS TO TRAIN
THOSE COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS
ON HOW TO ADDRESS THE WHOLE
FAMILY, INCLUDING BRINGING THE
FATHER INTO THE PICTURE, BECAUSE
THAT'S A HUGE COMPONENT TO A
HEALTHY BIRTH OUTCOME AND A
MOM'S STRESSORS.
SO THAT IS WHAT WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE, THAT WE HAVE A WHOLE
HEALTH APPROACH THROUGH ENSURING
OUR FAMILY CAN BE HEALTHY.
>> GREAT INFORMATION.
BRIA GRANT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
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