Wisconsin’s biohealth industry poised for growth
Wisconsin is seeking to bolster its biohealth and precision medicine industry. Learn more at our panel.
Wisconsin’s biohealth industry poised for growth
Wisconsin is seeking to bolster its biohealth and precision medicine industry. Learn more at our panel.
Prescription drug costs: No magic pill
The rising cost of prescription drugs is threatening patient access and squeezing healthcare budgets. Our panel is taking a deep dive into the issue.
Prescription drug costs: No magic pill
The rising cost of prescription drugs is threatening patient access and squeezing healthcare budgets. Our panel is taking a deep dive into the issue.
Western Wisconsin reacts to healthcare facility closures
The decision by Hospital Sisters Health System and Prevea Health to exit western Wisconsin — which will result in two hospitals and 19 clinics shutting down — shook the region. Our panelists will take
What’s next for medical marijuana in Wisconsin?
As states across the country are loosening their laws on marijuana, momentum is growing in Wisconsin to legalize the drug for medical purposes. Our panel is taking a deep dive into the issue.
Wisconsinites grapple with PFAS contamination
The presence of “forever chemicals” in water is drawing concern and attention from Wisconsin residents and officials.
Research has shown high levels of certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — a large group of manmade chemicals used for decades in industry and consumer products — may cause health impacts, including increased risk of some cancers and pregnancy complications.
A study released in November found 7 in 10 private wells contained one or more PFAS, but few contain a level above state health guidelines.
A virtual Wisconsin Health News panel on Dec. 5 will weigh in on the health impacts of PFAS and actions by state and local leaders to address contamination.
Panelists:
- Lee Donahue, Town of Campbell Health, Education and Welfare Supervisor
- Roy Irving, Ph. D., Hazard Assessment Section Chief in the Bureau of Environmental and Occupational Health at the Department of Health Services
- Dr. Beth Neary, Wisconsin Environmental Health Network Co-President
- Katie Rosenberg, City of Wausau Mayor
- Sen. Eric Wimberger, R-Green Bay
WHN Virtual Panel Series is sponsored by:
- Aurora Health Care
- AARP Wisconsin
- Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Wisconsin
- Gundersen Health System
- Husch Blackwell
- Quartz
Newsmaker event with AMA President Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld
Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld made history in June by becoming the first openly gay president of the American Medical Association.
He’s also an anesthesiology professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin, the director of its $500 million Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin endowment and a consultant to the World Health Organization’s digital health advisory group.
During a Wisconsin Health News virtual Newsmaker event, Ehrenfeld will discuss his priorities for the AMA, addressing physician burnout, the endowment’s efforts to support health equity, how artificial intelligence will impact healthcare and more.
Family Care: Challenges and Future
Family Care, one of the state’s Medicaid long-term care programs, is poised for major changes, as a direct care workforce shortage takes its toll across the state.
For-profit health insurers have either acquired or are seeking to buy some of the nonprofit managed care organizations that administer the program. Meanwhile, providers are pushing to overhaul the way they’re paid. And health officials are working to update the program and preparing to ask state and federal policymakers to renew it for another five years.
A Wisconsin Health News virtual panel on Sept. 27 will take a deep dive into what’s shaping the program and its future.
Panelists:
- Lisa Davidson, CEO of the Disability Service Provider Network
- Patti Jo Becker, Co-Chair of the Survival Coalition of Wisconsin Disability Organizations
- Jamie Kuhn, Medicaid Director
- Mark Hilliker, CEO of Inclusa
- Sara Muhlbauer, CEO of Lakeland Care
- Kenneth Munson, CEO of Community Care
WHN Virtual Panel Series is sponsored by:
- Advocate Aurora Health
- AARP Wisconsin
- Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Wisconsin
- Gundersen Health System
- Husch Blackwell
- Quartz
From hospitals to living rooms: What’s next for at-home care
Buoyed by the pandemic and technological advancements, providers are increasingly delivering care in homes. At its best, the at-home care movement promises to bolster access, increase patient satisfaction and lower costs. But as care shifts from the hospital to the living room, hurdles remain, including safety concerns, outdated policies and questions over whether rosy economic projections will come to fruition. Meanwhile, the digital solutions fueling at-home care can be a barrier for patients that may benefit the most.
Wisconsin Health News is assembling an expert virtual panel on May 23 to tackle these topics and more.
Panelists:
-Sal Braico, CEO, Pivotal Health
-Dr. Brian Hoerneman, Interim Executive Vice President of Care Delivery, Marshfield Clinic Health System
-Todd Costello, Executive Director, Community Living Alliance
-Amanda Beres, Advanced Care at Home Nurse Manager, Mayo Clinic Health System
-Kevin Moore, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Wisconsin
How is the obesity revolution impacting Wisconsin?
Obesity is undergoing a rapid cultural shift. Shedding previous perceptions that it’s mostly a lifestyle choice, doctors and medical experts are helping reshape obesity as a disease - one that can lead to hypertension, cardiovascular disease and stroke.
It's especially salient in Wisconsin, where more residents are considered obese than other states, and childhood obesity is on the rise.
A new class of effective drugs have sprouted up to treat obesity, with more in the pipeline. But many insurers aren’t yet covering them and some are concerned that as doctors rush to prescribe pills, environmental factors and other root causes of obesity may be overlooked.
Wisconsin Health News is assembling an expert, virtual panel on April 27 to examine the issue.
Panelists:
-Dr. Sam Pabich, UW Health
-Abbey Harburn, Director of Analytics and Practice Transformation, Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality
-Jean Harris, Senior Director of Market Access for Midwest Region, Novo Nordisk
-Andrea Werner, Chief Population Health Officer, Bellin and Gundersen Health System
-Dr. Leslie Golden, Watertown Family Practice
State of Mental Health in Wisconsin
Gov. Tony Evers has declared 2023 the year of mental health, saying Wisconsin is facing a "quiet, burgeoning crisis." A recent report shows more than a third of students in the state feel sad or hopeless everyday, a 10-percent increase over the past decade.
A virtual Wisconsin Health News event will analyze the reasons behind rising mental health needs and what can be done to address them.
Panelists:
- Mary Kay Battaglia, Executive Director, NAMI Wisconsin
- Linda Hall, Director, Wisconsin Office of Children's Mental Health
- Maria Perez, Vice President of Behavioral Health, Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers.
- Rep. Paul Tittl, R-Manitowoc, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Prevention
What do the elections mean for healthcare?
This fall’s elections could have a big impact on healthcare in Wisconsin. At a Wisconsin Health News Virtual Panel on Nov. 29, some of the state’s top healthcare lobbyists will break down the significance of the results and preview their top priorities for the next legislative session.
Panelists:
-Eric Borgerding, CEO, Wisconsin Hospital Association
-Mike Flesher, CEO, Wisconsin Medical Society
-John Nygren, Executive Director, Wisconsin Association of Health Plans
-John Sauer, CEO LeadingAge Wisconsin
The future of value-based care
Wisconsin payers, providers and employer groups have launched efforts in recent years to curb healthcare costs. With an emphasis on primary care, population health and close collaboration, the organizations hope to achieve high quality, affordable care. A Wisconsin Health News panel will take a deep dive into the approaches and what's needed to move the needle on value.
Panelists:
-Jennifer Atkins, Senior Vice President of Managed Care Strategy, Advocate Aurora Health
-Dr. Nicole Brady, Chief Medical Officer, UnitedHealthcare Wisconsin
-Dave Ostendorf, Chief Actuary, Centivo
-Tom Lutzow, Principal, Health Management Associates
Alcohol's health impact: A sobering look at Wisconsin’s high drinking rates
Alcohol-induced deaths rose nearly 25 percent in Wisconsin in 2020, following a national trend amid the stress and isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was the largest year-to-year increase in decades in a state where excessive drinking rates are already among the highest in the nation.
Yet, efforts to curb use often fly under the radar.
During a Wisconsin Health News virtual event on Oct. 18, experts will discuss the significant health and economic toll that alcohol takes on the state and outline efforts to address this health issue.
Panelists:
-Maureen Busalacchi, Director, Wisconsin Alcohol Policy Project, Medical College of Wisconsin
-Jerry Deschane, Executive Director, League of Wisconsin Municipalities
-Dr. Paul Hartlaub, Medical Director, Primary Care Quality, Ascension Medical Group
State of nursing in Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s nursing workforce is at a crossroads. Burnt out by the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses are fleeing the field, while those that remain are demanding better working conditions and more responsibility. Meanwhile, a lack of nursing educators is creating a bottleneck in the workforce pipeline.
A panel of experts will examine the future of nursing in Wisconsin during a virtual panel on March 22.
Panelists:
-Linda Young, Dean, UW-Eau Claire College of Nursing and Health Sciences
-Rep. Rachael Cabral-Guevara, R-Appleton
-Gina Dennik-Champion, Executive Director, Wisconsin Nurses Association
-Nancy Korom, Chief Nursing Officer, Children’s Wisconsin
-Pat Raes, President, SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin
WHN Panel Series Webinar - Legislator Roundtable
Large issues are looming as the Wisconsin Legislature aims to wrap up its work soon.
With bills targeting the healthcare workforce, medical marijuana and insurer practices around specialty drugs, lawmakers are considering legislation with far-reaching impacts.
A live, virtual Wisconsin Health News Roundtable on Feb. 8. will feature some of the state’s leading lawmakers.
Panelists:
• Rep. Rob Summerfield, R-Bloomer
• Sen. Mary Felzkowski, R-Irma
• Sen. LaTonya Johnson, D-Milwaukee
• Rep. Lisa Subeck, D-Madison
This event is free, but registration is required.
WHN Virtual Series - Climate Change: Addressing a Rising Health Threat
There’s growing recognition of the impact that climate change can have on health.
A rise in natural disasters like heat waves, wildfires and floods is leading to an uptick in pregnancy complications, heart disease and lung health issues - often hitting vulnerable communities the hardest.
Meanwhile, more and more hospitals are going green, taking steps to limit the environmental impact of their energy-intensive facilities and extensive supply chain.
A Wisconsin Health News virtual panel will examine what’s at stake as temperatures rise, and outline what steps are needed to curb the crisis.
Panelists:
• Mandela Barnes, Lieutenant Governor, State of Wisconsin
• Dr. Andrew Lewandowski, Education Co-Chair, Wisconsin Health Professionals for Climate Action
• Rep. Supreme Moore Omokunde, D-Milwaukee
• Monica Nakielski, Director of Sustainability, Advocate Aurora Health
WHN Webinar - Dec 7 - Hospital CEO Roundtable
From COVID-19 to the workforce crisis to long-standing inequities, hospital leaders were faced with a barrage of challenges this year.
A panel of the state’s leading health system and hospital leaders will outline how they are leading their organizations through change at the Wisconsin Health News Hospital CEO Roundtable on December 7 via Zoom Webinar.
Panelists:
Dr. Sue Turney, CEO, Marshfield Clinic Health System
Dr. Imran Andrabi, CEO, ThedaCare
Eric Conley, President, Froedtert Hospital
Bernie Sherry, Ministry Market Executive, Ascension Wisconsin
WHN Webinar - Oct. 26 - Insurance CEO Roundtable
Wisconsin Health News is bringing back its annual Insurance CEO Roundtable on Tuesday, Oct. 26.
Insurance leaders will discuss the impact of COVID-19, health costs, technology, health disparities and more during the live, virtual event.
Panelists:
• Les McPhearson, President, Dean Health Plan
• Vaughn Vance, Incoming CEO, WEA Insurance Corporation/Health Tradition Health Plan
• Krista Hoglund, CEO, Security Health Plan
• Paul Nobile, President, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Wisconsin
