Month: June 2012

Common Ground Healthcare Cooperative, which is starting a nonprofit health insurer for individuals and small businesses, has appointed three people to its new executive management team. Common Ground, a coalition of religious groups and other organizations that formed the cooperative, was awarded two federal loans potentially totaling $56.4 million in February. (JOURNAL SENTINEL, 6/5)

Hundreds of local teachers and other school district employees will see their health insurance deductibles and premiums rise as districts struggle to manage costs. It's part of a trend that's sweeping across Wisconsin in the wake of the passage of Act 10, the state law which strips public unions of the power to collectively bargain with districts regarding health insurance packages. But local administrators say the change would have been inevitable, even without the law. (WAUSAU DAILY HERALD, 6/4)

A Wisconsin study that shows a connection between viruses in drinking water and human illness is likely to have a national impact and could eventually lead to federal rules requiring treatment of all public water systems, according to experts. (WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL, 6/1)

The University of Wisconsin-Madison will launch a physician assistant program in Wausau that's designed to attract northern Wisconsin residents to the profession. University officials said Thursday that the program, hosted by the UW Marathon County campus, will accept four students beginning in summer 2014 and expand after that. (WAUSAU DAILY HERALD, 6/1)

Health systems in eastern Wisconsin are taking the first steps toward revamping the way they are paid, laying the groundwork for head-to-head competition on price and quality as well as sweeping changes in the health insurance market. Aurora Health Care is promising employers guaranteed savings if they offer a health plan that requires employees and their families to use only Aurora hospitals, doctors and other services. Froedtert Health, Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare and Columbia St. Mary's Health System are part of a partnership with other health systems in eastern and north-central Wisconsin and northern Illinois that plan to do the same. (JOURNAL SENTINEL, 5/31)