• Home
  • News
    • Politics / Govt
    • Legislature
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
    • Archives
  • Sports
    • Badgers
    • Packers
      • Titletown Report
    • Brewers
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support

Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / Politics / Govt / Push for hospital assessment

Push for hospital assessment

March 11, 2008 By WRN Contributor

Many hospitals like the governor's $527-million repair bill.

The Wisconsin Hospital Association says the proposed hospital assessment is a win-win proposition for lawmakers, service providers and patients. Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch is opposed to any new taxes, but Eric Borgerding, Executive Vice President of the Association, says it's a complicated issue. The bottom line is: Will it work?

"I would not blame anyone for asking questions and being diligent about making sure this will work. That's the position we've been in for quite some time until we changed out position last October. We changed our position because we've been able to negotiate what we think are some pretty solid assurances that the dollars will be used for their intended purpose."

That controversial hospital tax would bring the state $450-million in federal Medicaid reimbursement funds each biennium. It would generate $125-million to help plug the budget hole by reducing the amount of GPR needed for Medicaid, and hospitals would be reimbursed. Borgerding says it's a much different proposal than the one the governor previously introduced.

"It's different in the sense that number one, we think it is workable; number two, we think it contains very necessary protections to make sure that it accomplishes its intended purpose; number three, it has a sunset provision so that if it's not working it will go away."

Borgerding says opponents have good reason to be skeptical watchdogs for the taxpayers, considering the last state budget took $200-million from the Patients Compensation Fund, and now the state is being sued for that. Borgerding says his challenge is to convince others that this hospital assessment is the right thing to do. Similar proposals have been adopted in 23 other states.

AUDIO: Jackie Johnson report (1:49 MP3)

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Politics / Govt



Featured Stories

Packers season comes to an end in NFC Championship

Legendary Hank Aaron passes away

Ted Thompson passed away at age 68 (AUDIO)

Big Ten suspends Wisconsin’s Ahcan

Bucks lose tight battle with Nets

TwitterFacebook

Listen Now | More from Titletown ยป

Sports Headlines

Packers season comes to an end in NFC Championship

Legendary Hank Aaron passes away

Bucks drop second straight, fall at home to Lakers

Hockey Badgers grab series opener at Penn State

Wisconsin’s Mark Johnson named WCHA 1970’s Player of the Decade

More Sports

Tweets by @WRN

Get our news delivered to your inbox:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Copyright © 2021 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC