The State of Wisconsin reimburses providers for services provided to Medical Assistance recipients under the authority of Title XIX of the Social Security Act and ss. 49.43 to 49.47, Wisconsin Statutes. This program, administered by the State's Department of Health Services, is called Medical Assistance (MA) or Medicaid. In addition, Wisconsin has expanded this program to create the BadgerCare and BadgerCare Plus programs under the authority of Title XIX and Title XXI of the Social Security Act and ss. 49.471, 49.665, and 49.67 of the Wisconsin Statutes. Federal statutes and regulations require that a state plan be developed that provides the methods and standards for reimbursement of covered services. A plan that describes the reimbursement system for the services (methods and standards for reimbursement) is now in effect.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is proposing to implement a healthcare efficiency project related to personal care reimbursement. This project will not require that the Medicaid state plan be amended, but it will affect provider reimbursement rates. Changes to provider reimbursement rates will be reflected on the maximum allowable fee schedules, available online through the ForwardHealth Portal at:

https://www.forwardhealth.wi.gov/WIPortal/Max%20Fee%20Home/tabid/77/Default.aspx

The project would reduce the separate reimbursement rate paid to personal care agencies for personal care worker travel time. For travel to recipients who do not reside in “rural" counties, the adjusted reimbursement rate for separate reimbursement of personal care worker travel will be at 50% of the personal care service rate. The reimbursement rate for personal care services will not change.

The proposed changes are to adjust reimbursement for personal care worker travel when reimbursed in addition to reimbursement for the personal care services. This change is projected to result in savings of $1.713 million all funds (AF) in the remaining quarter of federal fiscal year 2012 (April 1, 2012 through June 30, 2012), composed of $676,000 general purpose revenue (GPR) and $1.037 million federal match (FED). In federal fiscal year 2013, the savings are projected to be $6.850 million AF, composed of $2.758 GPR and $4.092 FED. The effective date of the proposal will be April 1, 2012.

A copy of the proposed change may be obtained free of charge by calling or writing as follows:

Regular Mail
Elizabeth Scudder
Bureau of Benefits Management
Division of Health Care Access and Accountability
P.O. Box 309
Madison, WI 53701-0309

Phone
Elizabeth Scudder
(608) 267-9697

FAX
(608) 266-1096
Attention: Elizabeth Scudder

E-Mail
elizabeth.scudder@wisconsin.gov

A copy of the proposed change is available for review at the main office of any county department of social services or human services.

Written comments are welcome. Written comments on the proposed changes may be sent by FAX, e-mail, or regular mail to the Department. The FAX number is (608) 266-1096. The e-mail address is elizabeth.scudder@wiconsin.gov. Regular mail can be sent to the above address. All written comments will be reviewed and considered.

The written comments will be available for public review between the hours of 7:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. daily in Room 350 of the State Office Building, 1 West Wilson Street, Madison, Wisconsin. Revisions may be made in the proposed changed methodology based comments received.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, April 9, 2012, the Wisconsin Conservation Congress will hold its election of county delegates in each county. Upon completion of the delegate elections, the joint Department of Natural Resources Informational Hearing and Conservation Congress Spring Meeting will convene to take comments on the Department and Conservation Congress advisory questions.

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the Department of Natural Resources will take public input on the following advisory questions relating to hunting, trapping, and the management of Department lands.

Question 1. Eliminating the sunset of the current split season framework for bobcat hunting and trapping.

Question 2. Modernizing license requirements for hunting guides.

Questions 3 to 15. Expanding open water hunting opportunities for waterfowl on the following lakes and flowages; Beaver Dam Lake in Dodge County (excluding Rakes and Trestle Works Bays), Lake Butte des Morts in Winnebago County, Lakes Poygan and Winneconne in Waushara and Winnebago counties, Castle Rock Lake in Adams and Juneau counties (south of railroad bridge and county road G), Grindstone Lake in Sawyer County, Fence, North Twin and Trout Lakes in Vilas County, Lake Koshkonong in Dane, Rock and Jefferson counties, Lake Puckaway in Marquette and Green Lake counties (the waters west of the west end of the dredge bank, excluding the waters east of the west end of the dredge bank), Shawano Lake in Shawano County, Lake Wisconsin in Sauk and Columbia counties (north of railroad bridge), and Lake Wissota in Chippewa County (south of county road S and north of county road X).

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the Department of Natural Resources will take public input on the following advisory questions relating to fishing on the inland, outlying, and boundary waters of Wisconsin.

Question 16. Opening fishing seasons year round.

Question 17. Removing northern and southern management zones.

Questions 18 to 20. Allowing motor trolling statewide with 3 lines, 2 lines, or 1 line.

Questions 21 to 26. Accessing fishing regulations.

Questions 27 to 31. Initiating and developing new fishing regulations.

Questions 32 to 34. Simplifying the fishing license structure.

Questions 35. Rough fish spearing seasons.

Question 36. Requiring anglers to use non-lead sinkers, weights, jigs, and hooks if they are less than 1-inch length in any dimension and less than 1-ounce in weight on Escanaba, Nebish, and Pallette lakes in Vilas County.

Questions 37 to 38. Removing and posting fishing refuges.

Question 39. Using trail cameras on DNR managed public hunting lands (Natural Resources Board advisory question).

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that following the completion of the advisory questions from the Department and the Conservation Congress, the Conservation Congress will hold town hall meetings to get input from citizens on ways to simplify regulations and identify barriers to hunting and fishing participation.

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the informational hearings/meetings will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, April 9, 2012, at the following locations:

Adams   Adams County Courthouse, County Board Room A230, 402 Main Street, Friendship, WI 53934

Ashland   Ashland County Court House, Main Court Room, 201 Main Street West, Ashland, WI 54806

Barron   Barron Government Center, Auditorium, 303 E. LaSalle Ave., Barron, WI 54812

Bayfield   Bayfield County Courthouse, Upstairs, 117 E. 5th Street, Washburn, WI 54891

Brown   Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (SC132), 2740 W. Mason St., Green Bay, WI 54313

Buffalo   Alma High School Gymnasium, S1618 STH 35, Alma, WI 54610

Burnett   Burnett County Government Center, Room 165, 7410 County Road K, Siren, WI 54872

Calumet   Calumet County Courthouse, Rm. B025, 206 Court Street, Chilton, WI 53014

Chippewa   Chippewa Falls Middle School, 750 Tropicana Blvd., Chippewa Falls, WI 54729

Clark   Greenwood High School, 306 W. Central Ave., Greenwood, WI 54437

Columbia   Wayne E. Bartels Middle School, Gymnasium, 2505 New Pinery Rd., Portage, WI 53901

Crawford   Prairie du Chien High School, Auditorium, 800 E. Crawford St., Prairie du Chien, WI 53821

Dane   Middleton Cross Plains Performing Arts Center, 2100 Bristol St., Middleton, WI 53562

Dodge   Horicon International Education Center, Lower Level Auditorium, N7725 STH 28, Horicon, WI       53032

Door   Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan St., Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235

Douglas   Brule Town Hall, 5820 S. Maple St., Brule, WI 54820

Dunn   Dunn County Fish and Game Club, 1900 Pioneer Ave., Menomonie, WI 54751

Eau Claire   South Middle School, Auditorium, 2115 Mitscher Ave., Eau Claire, WI 54701