Tea Party Activists Are at Odds with Business Community and Health Care Stakeholders As we discussed in a blog post Friday, states have until the end of this week to notify federal officials whether the state plans to move forward with a state-based health insurance exchange, a federally-facilitated exchange, or a state-federal...
EXCHANGE UPDATE: Feds Give States More Time to Submit Blueprints
Walker Sends Mixed Signals about Wisconsin Implementation With a deadline just a week away for states to submit plans for a key part of health care reform implementation, Secretary Sebelius informed Governors today that the Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) is giving states some more time to develop their plans for the new health...
YoungStar in Wisconsin: An Analysis of Data as of July 2012
This report analyzes YoungStar developments as of July 2012, including the percentage of children in higher-rated settings, variations across YoungStar regions, efforts to help child care programs improve, and the challenges facing child care providers, particular those rated at the 2-Star level.
Wisconsin Poised to Use “Race to the Top” Funds to Strengthen YoungStar and Develop an Early Childhood Data System
Wisconsin submitted a $22.7 million Race to the Top- Early Learning Challenge (RTTT-ELC) proposal on October 25, 2012, with an emphasis on strengthening YoungStar and accelerating the development of an early childhood longitudinal data system. This second round of federal funding is targeted to states with the next five highest ranked...
It’s Prematurity Awareness Month, and No One Likes Coming in 19th or 34th …
Milwaukee Partners Gathering at Quality of Life Center throughout the Month for, “Breaking the Cycle: Protecting Our Legacy” EventsNovember is Prematurity Awareness Month, and awareness is necessary because the United States as a whole is still ranked 34 out of 38 developed countries for infant mortality rates, and the premature birth...
Circuit Court Rules that WI Governors Can’t Block DPI Rulemaking
Another one of the bills advanced by Governor Walker early in the 2011-12 session has suffered a setback in court. As you may have heard by now, a ruling Tuesday by Dane County Circuit Court Judge Amy Smith concluded that the Wisconsin Constitution does not allow the legislature to give the governor power to review and block rules...
KIDS COUNT Data Feature: Gap in School Discipline between Black and White Students is Widening
Black students in Wisconsin are much more likely to receive school discipline that White students, and the gap is widening, according to figures from the state's Department of Public Instruction.In 2010-11, about one out of every 20 students in Wisconsin was suspended from school. But that number conceals significant racial disparities...
Study Says House Budget Could Cut Medicaid Enrollment in Half
Urban Institute Analysis Says WI Would Lose Almost $28 Billion over Next 10 YearsThere has never been any question that the House budget plan authored by Rep. Ryan would result in a very significant cut in Medicaid spending. However, there have been many questions about how the House version of the budget would affect states and how...
Wisconsin Still Above Average in Children’s Insurance Coverage, but Others are Catching Up
Affordable Care Act Reforms Will HelpAs a county, we are beating the odds. Despite an increasing number of children living in poverty and a decline in employer-sponsored insurance, the number of children growing up without health insurance has declined since 2009 by almost one million. This success is due in large part to our...
Beloit’s Lifecourse Initiative Develops Plans to Combat Infant Mortality
The Beloit area is getting closer to implementing a comprehensive strategy for reducing the city’s high infant mortality rate, particularly among African American babies. After almost two years of collecting data, meeting with community members, and considering alternatives, the Beloit Chapter of the Lifecourse Initiative for Healthy...
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