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Mental health parity bill introduced at capitol

October 7, 2009 By

Democrats introduce new legislation aimed at improving health insurance for those with mental issues.

Senator Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay), the lead Senate author of the Wisconsin Mental Health and Substance Abuse Parity Act, says mental illnesses and drug and alcohol addictions should be treated just like physical ailments.

“I’m cosponsoring this legislation because I believe that requiring the equal treatment of mental and physical disorders is in the best interest of all employees and all the employers of this state.”

The Green Bay Democrat says too often, those who need it forego treatment simply because they can’t afford it. His bill would make vital treatment more accessible and affordable, but not mandatory. Hansen says business and government would benefit from employees’ increased productivity and cost savings associated with early diagnosis and treatment.

“But more than that, current laws that allow for the inequitable treatment of mental health and substance abuse disorders are nothing more than legalized discrimination.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Health & Medicine, Politics & Government

DATCP calls payday loans ‘predatory’

October 7, 2009 By

The head of Wisconsin’s consumer protection agency says payday loans are ‘predatory.’ Testifying at the Capitol on bills to regulate the industry, Department of Ag, Trade and Consumer Protection administrator Janet Jenkins compared payday loans to sub-prime mortgage lending.

“That type of lending was called predatory lending, and in the opinion of the department, payday lending is really a form of predatory lending,” Jenkins told a joint hearing before the Assembly Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection committees. “In the department’s opinion, the issue before this committee, and ultimately the legislature, is how to prevent predatory lending in this form.”

Jenkins’ comments prompted some pointed questioning from Republican lawmakers, state Representatives Mike Huebsch and Joel Kleefisch.

AUDIO: Huebsch, Jenkins, Kleefisch (3:00 MP3)

Jenkins clarified that DATCP thinks pay day lending in it’s current form – which her agency doesn’t have regulatory authority over – needs to go away, but that there also need to be alternatives for people who need short term loans.

AUDIO: Janet Jenkins (:20 MP3)

The Assembly committees heard testimony for much of the day Wednesday, on several proposals to regulate the payday loan industry in Wisconsin.

Filed Under: Politics & Government

National ethanol experiment has Wisconsin roots

October 7, 2009 By

Kids across the country today are “fueling up” with a Wisconsin process. Hundreds of thousands of students are participating in “Biofuel Blast,” an ethanol making experiment, which teaches how cellulose and sugars in plants can be converted into fuel. The process was designed in conjunction with UW-Madison Extension and Wisconsin 4-H.

The day is part of an effort by 4-H to get more young people involved in science. Don Floyd, President and CEO of the National 4-H Council, says America currently lags the world in producing new scientists. Floyd says research shows kids that develop interest in the subject by 8th grade are more likely to become scientists.

AUDIO: Brian Moon reports (MP3 :62)

Filed Under: Education, Environment & Conservation

Why liquor but not beer?

October 7, 2009 By

State Representative Terese Berceau (D-Madison) is questioning why lawmakers support raising the tax on liquor but not beer. Wisconsin’s tax on hard liquor would go up 50-cents a liter, under a plan approved by the state Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday. The panel wants revenue generated to help fund tougher drunk driving laws.

Berceau says it “doesn’t make sense” for support of a liquor tax but not her plan to raise the tax on brews by $1.25 a six pack. The Madison Democrat faced opposition by critics who had issue with “being taxed for someone else’s problems” but claims the Judiciary panel’s proposal falls into that category.

“Beer drinkers are the binge drinkers and instead we are having the martini drinkers pay for the beer drinkers.” says Berceau.

She accuses lawmakers of not having the “backbone” to increase the tax on beer, a drink popular with Wisconsinites. She is still holding out hope for a hike the tax on suds but admits there’s not much support at the Capitol.

AUDIO: John Colbert (MP3 :33)

Contributed by John Colbert-WIBA

Filed Under: Business, Legislature

Health care workers recieving H1N1 priority

October 7, 2009 By

For now, health care workers have priority, when it comes getting the H1N1 vaccine. State Health Officer, Dr. Seth Foldy, said the month of September saw a higher than normal number of flu cases confirmed, in 48 of the state’s 72 counties.

AUDIO: Dr. Seth Foldy (:12 MP3)

Foldy told the Assembly Committee that nearly all of those cases have been H1N1, which claimed it’s first victim of the fall flu season earlier this week in Rock County. Foldy said right now, the limited amount of H1N1 vaccine – just fifty thousand doses of nasal spray were recently delivered to the state – is being prioritized for health care workers

AUDIO: Dr. Seth Foldy (:12 MP3)

Foldy says, as other versions of the vaccine become available, the priority list will be expanded to include pregnant women, those caring for children under six months, and all those ages six months to twenty four years. Foldy says the H1N1 vaccine appears to be highly effective, and over a period of weeks there should be enough to vaccinate everyone who wants it.

AUDIO: Foldy H1N1 briefing (13:00 MP3)

Filed Under: Health & Medicine
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