‘Rural Initiative’ legislators introduce health care bills

A group of Wisconsin State Assembly Republicans are promoting legislation this session under the “Wisconsin Rural Initiative” banner, focusing on technology, workforce, education and health care. Called the “Rural Wisconsin Matters Plan,” the group unveiled three health care-related bills* Wednesday:

·         Rural system/hospital grants for allied health training—LRB 2202/1813 provides matching funds for rural health care systems or other appropriate entities that provide training for health care team members.

·         Wellness facility grants—LRB 2259/2501 allows the state’s Department of Health Services to provide at least two matching grants to rural health care entities dedicated to helping wellness in the rural community. According to the Legislative Reference Bureau analysis, an entity is eligible for a grant if the application is “targeted to address community health needs identified by the applicant’s community needs assessment, including chronic illness management, occupational health services and rehabilitation services.”

·         Advanced Practice Clinicians (APC) Training Grants—Similar to the allied health training grants, LRB 2476/1812 provides matching grants for clinical rotations in training APCs such as physician assistants and advanced practice nurses.

The bills are gathering legislative cosponsors through March 24, after which they will be given bill numbers and sent to legislative committees for further action.