APPLETON - Governor Doyle today signed legislation to launch a new centralized warehouse for information about health care costs and medical procedures that can be used by consumers and employers across Wisconsin. Health care providers and insurers will voluntarily contribute information for the new database on everything from routine vaccinations to knee replacements, allowing patients and providers to compare prices, doctors, facilities and procedures.
“No state can solve the national health care crisis by itself, but Washington’s failure can’t be Wisconsin’s,” said Governor Doyle. “We must do everything we can to make health care more affordable for average Wisconsin families. This database will make health care more efficient and will arm consumers and employers with the information to make smart choices and save money.”
Assembly Bill 907 authorizes the State of Wisconsin to compile the new database in partnership with the Wisconsin Health Information Organization (WHIO), a new non-profit collaborative of health care and insurance firms led by ThedaCare CEO John Toussaint. The private sector will match the state's contribution for this new health care transparency system.
Governor Doyle thanked Representatives Gregg Underheim, Tom Nelson and Sheldon Wasserman, as well as Senators Carol Roessler and Judy Robson for their work on the bill.
Governor Doyle also signed Assembly Bills 659 and 830, legislation that will advance the process by which life-saving organs are donated in Wisconsin.
“Through the miracles of modern medicine, organ donations turn tragedy into hope,” said Governor Doyle. “It is important that we protect and enhance the integrity of this life-saving process.”
AB 659, “Anne’s Law,” was named after a young woman whose parents consented to donating their daughter’s tissue after she died in a car accident and only later discovered that the donation was used by a for-profit company.
This bill will allow a donor or the family of a donor to limit who can receive a donation. The new law will also require hospitals, organ procurement organizations (OPO), tissue banks, coroners, and medical examiners to inform the donor or their family that a donation may go to either for-profit or non-profit organizations.
AB 830 sets new requirements for how an organ is donated when an autopsy or coroner’s investigation is pending.
Governor Doyle thanked Representatives Al Ott and Sheldon Wasserman, as well as Senators Alan Lasee and Mark Miller for their work on Assembly Bill 659. Governor Doyle thanked Representatives Steve Wieckert and Amy Sue Vruwink, as well as Senators Alan Lasee and Roger Breske for their work on Assembly Bill 830.
Governor Doyle also signed the following legislation:
Assembly Bill 926, which makes it easier to establish a health care purchasing cooperative to help small businesses, municipalities, farmers and self-employed workers buy more affordable health care insurance.
Governor Doyle thanked Representatives Curt Gielow and Tom Nelson, as well as Senators Sheila Harsdorf, Rob Cowles and Russ Decker for their work on the bill.
Senate Bill 284, which will allow child protection agencies to focus their resources on children who have been maltreated within their families or by other caregivers, by permitting, rather than requiring, a law enforcement agency to refer for investigation a case in which a person who is not a caregiver of a child is suspected of the abuse or neglect.
Governor Doyle thanked Senator Carol Roessler and Representative Steve Kestell for their work on the bill.
