Sean Kirkby, Author at Wisconsin Health News

Senate committee passes hospital price transparency bill

Jan 12, 2026 | Legislature, Top Stories |

A legislative committee late Friday recommended passage of a bill that would create state enforcement of federal hospital price transparency requirements.

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Naturopathic doctors seek prescriptive authority

Jan 12, 2026 | Legislature, Top Stories |

Naturopathic doctors are seeking to prescribe, dispense and administer prescription drugs, a move opposed by physician associations.

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Report: School belonging, key factor in kids’ health, declines in Wisconsin

Jan 12, 2026 | Mental Health, Top Stories |

The percentage of Wisconsin kids who feel they are welcomed, accepted, respected and valued at school has dropped by 37 percent over the past decade, according to a report released Friday.

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State health officials continue to recommend full slate of childhood vaccines

Jan 9, 2026 | Public Health, Top Stories, Vaccines |

State health officials said Thursday they continue to support childhood vaccine recommendations from pediatricians, after recent changes to federal guidance.

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Van Orden joins Democrats to support extending enhanced ACA subsidies

Jan 9, 2026 | ACA, Top Stories |

U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien, voted Thursday with Wisconsin’s two House Democrats to support an extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies.

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Emplify Health by Gundersen pursues first-of-its-kind EmPATH unit in state

Jan 9, 2026 | Hospitals, Mental Health, On The Record, Top Stories |

Emplify Health by Gundersen will soon offer those in mental health crisis an alternative to the hospital emergency department.

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Supporters, opponents of hospital price transparency bill clash at public hearing

Jan 8, 2026 | Legislature, Top Stories |

Businesses pushed for legislation Wednesday that would require the Department of Health Services to enforce federal hospital price transparency requirements, a bill that hospitals called unnecessary.

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Health committee approves GOP bill changing abortion definition

Jan 8, 2026 | Abortion, Legislature, Top Stories |

The Assembly health committee approved legislation Wednesday that would change the definition of abortion in state law so it doesn’t apply to certain medical procedures.

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Report: Injuries are leading cause of death for Wisconsin kids

Jan 8, 2026 | Top Stories |

Injuries are the leading cause of death for Wisconsin kids, according to a report released this week by the Children’s Health Alliance of Wisconsin that aims to inform prevention efforts.

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Federal agency sues Advocate Aurora Health over firing of nurse

Jan 7, 2026 | Hospitals, Top Stories |

A federal agency sued Advocate Aurora Health last month, alleging that the health system violated federal law by not accommodating the religious beliefs of a nurse and firing her for not receiving a COVID-19 vaccination.

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