Sean Kirkby, Author at Wisconsin Health News

Wisconsin ranked 21st for overall health

Dec 13, 2017 | Top Stories, WHN Stories |

Wisconsin is the 21st healthiest state in the country, according to a recently released annual report from United Health Foundation’s America’s Health Rankings. That’s down a spot from 2016, when it was 20th.

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Healthcare.gov enrollment continues upward tick

Dec 13, 2017 | ACA, Top Stories, WHN Stories |

The number of Wisconsinites buying Healthcare.gov coverage for next year continues to tick upward, according to federal data released Wednesday.

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Hospitals, drugmakers clash over drug discount program

Dec 12, 2017 | Federal Government, Hospitals, Top Stories, WHN Stories |

Wisconsin hospitals are hoping to block a new rule that would cut funding they receive through a drug discount program, while pharmaceutical companies and the federal government say the regulatory change will bring needed reforms.

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Walker approves nurse licensure compact update

Dec 12, 2017 | Legislature, Top Stories, WHN Stories |

Gov. Scott Walker approved an update to state law allowing Wisconsin to participate in an interstate nurse licensure compact Monday.

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Kane Communications Group receives international MarCom award for strategic and integrated communications

Dec 12, 2017 | Press Releases |

Kane recognized with highest honors for concept, creative and execution of nurse recruitment campaign MILWAUKEE, WI (December 12, 2017) – Kane Communications Group, a Milwaukee-based strategic communications firm has been...

Contender to take on Milwaukee County psychiatric hospital pushes back against Buzzfeed report

Dec 11, 2017 | Hospitals, Mental Health, Top Stories, WHN Stories |

Pennsylvania-based Universal Health Services, the sole vendor left in the process to outsource inpatient services at the Milwaukee County Mental Health Complex, faced a barrage of questions from county mental health board members and staff about their quality of care last week.

Advocates call on Walker to take federal funds and expand Medicaid

Dec 11, 2017 | Medicaid/Medicare, Top Stories, WHN Stories |

Advocates continue to call on Gov. Scott Walker to accept federal funding to expand Medicaid further as his administration prepares to ask the federal government to renew its partial expansion.

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Report: Ascension in potential merger talks

Dec 11, 2017 | Hospitals, Top Stories, WHN Stories |

Ascension, which owns more than 20 hospitals in Wisconsin, is in talks to potentially merge and create the largest hospital system in the nation, according to a Wall Street Journal report Sunday.

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Walker names Smith Medicaid director

Dec 8, 2017 | Medicaid/Medicare, Top Stories, WHN Stories |

Gov. Scott Walker tapped Heather Smith, his deputy chief of staff for budget, legislative and intergovernmental affairs, to serve as the state’s new Medicaid director and administrator of the Division of Medicaid Services.

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Heifetz reflects on Medicaid’s future

Dec 8, 2017 | Medicaid/Medicare, On The Record, Top Stories, WHN Stories |

Michael Heifetz announced this week he’s resigning as Medicaid director, a position he’s held since October 2016. Before that he was the state’s budget director for three years and also worked for Dean Health Systems for 11 years.

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