Care Wisconsin: community partners since 1976

MADISON, WIS, AUGUST 23, 2016– Care Wisconsin, a nonprofit managed care organization specializing in Medicare and Medicaid programs that integrate health and long-term care services, is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Care Wisconsin has grown from a small social services organization providing care to a few members in Madison to a licensed nonprofit health plan serving more than 9,500 members in 46 counties.

Founded in 1976 as the region’s first adult day center after a study identified that it was a pressing need in the Dane County area, the organization has been focused on supporting the needs of community ever since. The mission always has focused on quality of life and independence for members even as the organization has changed from Adult Day Center, Inc. to Eldercare, to Care Wisconsin.

“Our mission has always guided our work,” said President & Chief Executive Officer Karen Musser. “But innovation and growth in support of that mission has allowed us to continue to meet the needs of the community we serve.”

As the needs of those in the community changed, the organization added services with a strong tie to its vision. In the early days this meant adding more day centers and Alzheimer’s support services and then later adding programs for individuals with disabilities. And in 1995, Care Wisconsin was the first in the state to offer the Partnership program, a then new and inventive managed care model that integrated health and long term care for people with chronic conditions and illnesses. The program was shown to reduce health care fragmentation and features an interdisciplinary team that fosters communication across provider types and service settings.

In 2005 Care Wisconsin received its HMO license which set the stage for a time of planning for long-term care reform that would provide people with access to new public programs and expanded independence to live in the community. This came to fruition in 2008 when Family Care, a program that uses the interdisciplinary team model to help individuals coordinate their long-term care needs was chosen as a replacement for Medicaid waiver programs in a number of counties. Care Wisconsin was part of bringing Family Care to eight counties where it never had been and also expanding Partnership to four counties.

Since that time, Care Wisconsin has continued to grow. In 2014, the organization was one of the first to offer Medicaid SSI in Dane County. The program provides health care and behavioral health coordination to adults who are eligible for Medicaid SSI due to a disability determined by the Disability Determination Bureau.

“As we look back on our history, we are proud of what we have done, but we know there is more to come,” says Musser. “We look forward to serving the members we already know as well as the many we have not yet met.”

To learn more about Care Wisconsin’s history and view a video of historical highlights, visitwww.carewisc.org/celebrating-40-years

About Care Wisconsin

For 40 years, Care Wisconsin has been filling gaps in services and helping people in the community who are most at risk — low-income frail elders and adults with intellectual/developmental and/or physical disabilities.Today, Care Wisconsin offers three public programs, including Family Care, Partnership, and Medicaid SSI in 46 counties in Wisconsin serving more than 9,500 members.

Care Wisconsin’s Mission and Values: To promote the quality of life of our communities by empowering others and working together to creatively solve unique health and long term care needs. To operate on a sustainable financial basis through growth and continuous improvement. Our culture is based on integrity, accountability and treating members, partners and each other with dignity and respect.