If one lawmaker has his way, soon all teens would learn CPR and CCR in school.

New legislation (AB 725) being considered at the capitol would require schools to offer high school students instruction in performing cardiopulmonary and cardio-cerebral resuscitation and the use of an automated external defibrillator.

“Students do not have to be certified. We just want them to be aware of; you know, the basics, at least the basics of what to do.”

The bill’s author, Ted Zigmunt (D-Francis Creek), says right now, not all schools offer such training. His bill would leave it up to each school to determine how much instruction is given and how to go about it.

“If you’re a small school in a small town you can have local fire department or your EMTs come in and do a two-hour class once a year and that’d be enough.”

That life-saving information proved to be very useful Sunday afternoon as a Dane County teen helped save her younger brother’s life after he was nearly electrocuted.

McFarland fire department captain Harlan Hettrick says its a perfect example of the significance of CPR.

“We’re so glad that the school system down here does this with the kids and connects them up with the EMS service down here so they can learn this skill. This is a perfect case of why it’s so important to know it.”

The 14-year-old boy had been using a roof rake, which hit a power line and shocked him. His older sister immediately began CPR, which she learned at her school.

NOTE: The Assembly Committee on Public Health held a previously scheduled public hearing on Tuesday. (WIBA contributed to this story.)

Jackie Johnson report 1:34

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Federal funding is on its way to help Wisconsin in the fight against childhood obesity.

Jon Hisgen is the health and physical education consultant with the state Department of Public Instruction. He says a “sizeable” sum of money is coming from the federal government to help plan strategies for combating the weight problem. A portion of that money will be used to help 20 school districts set up programs to get kids more physically active during the day, and after school.

It’s estimated that 25-percent of school kids are obese or overweight, and inactivity is a main culprit.

AUDIO: John Colbert reports (:36)

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A bill moving through the legislature could decide whether a Wisconsin company stays in Wisconsin. Currently, health care billing companies are regulated by the Division of Banking in the Department of Financial Institutions. This bill creates an exemption for Dominion Medical Management, although during recent debate on the legislation, state Senator Jon Erpenbach (D-Waunakee) argued Dominion is a collection agency. “Make no mistake about it, that’s what they do,” Erpenbach said. “They go after debt in the health care arena.”

But Bob Kebbekus, President of the Milwaukee area company, said that’s NOT what Dominion does – which is to provide billing services for doctor’s offices. “A collection agency is completely different that what a billing company does,” said Kebbekus. “We cannot file suit, we cannot submit to a credit bureau. We cannot do any of that as an extension of a physician’s office.”

The bill creates an exception from the definition of “collection agency” for health care billing companies like Dominion. Kebbekus said he was surprised that eight Senators voted against the bill. “Maybe it wouldn’t happen, but there is some fear that sometimes these billing agencies or collection agencies start harassing or being very aggressive in trying to get their bills paid,” said state Senator Judy Robson (D-Beloit). “I get a little bit concerned when we have deregulated an area that may in fact be protecting consumers.”

Kebbekus said what his company does for doctors doesn’t make it a collection agency, although it meets the definition laid out by DFI. “Just because we took the checks, and the checks are made out in the physician’s name, and we deposit them into the physician’s account . . .that in and of itself makes us a collector under the definition.” Kebbekus said he hopes to keep Dominion and its fifty jobs in Wisconsin, and to expand employment here, but that decision may depend on the fate of the legislation. The bill (SB 286) is currently available for consideration by the Assembly.

Bob Hague reports (1:10 MP3) AUDIO: Bob Hague reports (1:10 MP3)

Baby bottles and sippy cups for children will have to be BPA-free, under legislation signed into law Wednesday by the Governor.

The bill bans the selling or making in Wisconsin of bottles and cups for children under the age of three that contain bisphenol-A, or BPA. The chemical is commonly used to make clear plastic stronger, but Governor Jim Doyle says it has raised some health concerns in numerous studies. The chemical has been linked to causing delays in human growth and development.

Wisconsin is one of a handful of states that have moved to ban the chemical. Doyle expects others to follow, with even Congress considering a ban on the federal level.

Even though many stores are no longer selling bottles containing BPA, the Governor says it’s an important move because it encourages manufacturers to stop using the chemical. He says it’s unlikely companies will want to make two different products for states with or without a ban.

AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (1:01)

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State lawmakers want to make sure insurers pay claims made by people who are drunk when injured. Can your insurance plan refuse coverage for injuries sustained while you’re intoxicated? State Representative Kelda Helen Roys says some do just that. “We’re talking about somebody who burns his or her hand on the grill while drinking a few beers on a Saturday afternoon, somebody who trips on the sidewalk, walking home from a Badger tailgate, or someone injured in a car accident when their designated driver is at the wheel,” said the Madison Democrat. “Everyone deserves the care that they pay for.”

Roys, a Madison Democrat, has authored legislation which would prohibit such alcohol exclusions. Poplar Democrat Bob Jauch is the sponsor in the Senate. “The insurance industry supports alcohol exclusion laws, they were written many, many years ago,” Jauch told the Assembly Committee on Health and Healthcare Reform. “I don’t know how often insurance companies use the exclusion to save money, but it’s simply wrong.”

The bill would apply to employee-sponsored plans and self-funded plans offered by state and local governments, but not private self-funded plans which regulated by the federal government. At least one committee member questioned the need for the legislation, and the consequences if it becomes law. “The purpose of this bill is to get at all insurance companies that are not paying for this right now, under their plans,” said West Bend Republican Pat Stachota. “But, it’s my understanding . . . they do not currently exclude or deny any coverage of an individual injured as the result of alcohol or controlled substances. They’re not doing this right now,” she sad. “But they can,” Jauch replied.

There was no testimony in opposition to the bill (AB-730), which the committee is scheduled to vote on this week.

Bob Hague (:60 MP3)  AUDIO: Bob Hague reports (:60 MP3)

A coalition says the legislature is delivering the “right medicine” for consumers. The Assembly passed, on a voice vote Thursday, legislation that would exempt prescription drugs from the state’s minimum mark up law. It means big box stores could offer more $4 generic pharmaceuticals.

John Reinemann, Legislative Director of the Wisconsin Counties Associations and spokesman for the People for Affordable Prescription Drugs, says it’s a positive thing for consumers especially those in the “tighter economic bracket.”

The Depression-era minimal markup law was designed to prevent monopolization of industries. Some believe the law is still needed today believing small businesses will suffer because they cannot compete with the prices of large retailers.

Reinemann, a former small business owner, empathizes with that belief. However he says mom and pops may have other things to offer such as location, better service and different products; “It’s not a complete clear cut advantage for everyone.”

The WCA has crunched numbers on what county employees will save with passage of the measure.

John Reinemann (:21)

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Governor Jim Doyle says he’ll support the bill if it gets to his desk. It now goes to the Senate. Last year, a federal judge said Wisconsin’s minimum mark-up law for gasoline was unconstitutional. But it still applies to other products.

Congressman Paul Ryan (R-Janesville) participates in the White House health care summit, the only representative from Wisconsin. Ryan is the top Republican on the House Budget Committee. He focuses on the fiscal implications of President Barack Obama’s nearly $1-trillion package. Ryan says “health inflation is driving us off of a fiscal cliff.”

Rep. Paul Ryan audio 6 mins

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The state Senate Thursday passed a bare-bones health plan for low income residents. Minority Leader, Republican Senator Scott Fitzgerald, said this BadgerCare Basic plan is basically the public option which Democrats in Washington failed to get included in health care reform. “It’s ObamaCare light,” charged Fitzgerald. “It’s been done in increments, but this is the final piece. This is the final piece that Governor Doyle wants on his way out the door as a lame duck governor.”

BadgerCare Basic is a plain for low income residents in the waiting list for BadgerCare Core. The state was forced to suspend enrollees in BadgerCare Core back in October, but Governor Jim Doyle promised to provide coverage for those on the waiting list, who number approximately 25,000.

“You can call it the public option, you can call it ObamaCare, you can call it government run health care, it’s not,” said the bill’s author, Democrat Jon Erpenbach “It’s a mechanism for those 25,000 people, if they choose to do so, to get together to form a pool, spread out the risk and at the very least have basic bare bones coverage for about 130 bucks a month.”

“We are creating expectations among the poorest people in our state, for a plan that provides mediocre coverage, and is too expensive,” said Senator Kathleen Vinehout of Alma, the only Democrat to vote against the bill. The Basic plan is supposed to be self funded by enrollees’ $130 monthly premium. There is also a one million dollar federal grant, but Vinehout and Berlin Republican Luther Olson said the plan is severley undercapitolized. “We’re going to become the board of directors of our own insurance company,” said Olson, adding that the state insurance commissioner would never sign off on a privatley offered plan if it were so poorly capitalized.

“We want to allow the folks that really need it an option to take a policy for a hundred and thirty a month – not the best policy – but if there’s somethnig out there better, they’ll have the opportunity to do that,” said Green Bay Democrat Dave Hansen. “But when the people go to get this insurance they’ll find out that they won’t be getting much,” said Neenah Republican Mike Ellis. “They get an aspirin and maybe a cup of cough syrup, and then they’re going to be all over your back: why is it that I’m getting some sub-standard health care.?”

The bill (SB 484) passed 17-16 and now heads to the Assembly. Senators did approve an amendment offered by Vinehout, requiring a state audit of the program after its first year of operation.

Sens. Fitzgerald, Erpenbach (8:00 MP3) AUDIO: Sens. Fitzgerald, Erpenbach (8:00 MP3)

Decentralization was a theme from the only Wisconsinite at the White House health care summit. Janesville House Republican Paul Ryan emphasized the need for lawmakers not to enact policies that will stifle competition among insurance companies.

The idea of associations, business or otherwise, offering coverage came up with Representative Robert Andrews (D-New Jersey) concerned about members being shortchanged.

Rep Andrews (:27)

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Andrews believes minimum federal standards should be set for associations who want to offer health plans.

Ryan believes an association “will do a good job on behalf of their members.”

Rep Ryan (:63)

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The top Republican on the House Budget Committee says if Washington sets standards it becomes more expensive for insurers to stay in the market and will lead to fewer choices for consumers.

The Wisconsin Senate is poised to pass a bill which provides no-frills state health insurance, after concerns from a member of the Democratic majority led Majority Leader Russ Decker (D-Weston) to send the bill back to committee earlier this week. State Senator Jim Sullivan (D-Wauwatosa) said the amended bill, dealing with the BadgerCare Plus Core Basic Plan will require the state Department of Health Services to confirm that those who sign up for the Basic plan are eligible for it and the Core plan, which has a waiting list of 22,000.

The Basic plan will provide generic drugs and limited hospital care for 130 dollars a month, which is expected to fund the plan along with a one million federal grant. Sullivan says his amendment will also address that, with additional reporting back to the legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance. “These are not tax dollars, this is supposed to be a self-funding program,” Sullivan said.

Cost issues forced the state had to suspend enrollment in the BadgerCare Plus Core plan for adults last fall. The Core plan is for those on the waiting list. The bill ran into problems on Tuesday when Senator Kathleen Vinehout (D-Alma) said there were too many problems with funding, costs, and quality of coverage. Democrats think they can get the amended version passed today without her vote.

Bob Hague (1:15 MP3) AUDIO: Bob Hague reports (1:15 MP3)