Governor Doyle Calls Special Session of Legislature for Hospital Assessment

Press Release

Governor Doyle Calls Special Session of Legislature for Hospital Assessment

Governor Jim Doyle today called a special session of the Wisconsin State Legislature for June 24, 2009 at 1 p.m. to re-estimate the existing hospital assessment. In order for this bill to take effect by the federal deadline of June 30, it must pass the Legislature and be signed by Governor Doyle by June 29, 2009.

"The budget I submitted to the Legislature in February depends on making deep cuts and taking advantage of potential sources of federal revenue," Governor Doyle said. "My preference would be for the entire budget to be completed on time, but the Legislature is now facing critical financial deadlines and I am calling on them to act."

Federal Medicaid revenues that support hospitals and state services depend on having new hospital assessment rates in place by June 30. The bill would increase the payments to hospitals by $108 million during this fiscal year. The new rates would also allow the state to claim $74 million in additional federal Medicaid revenue and will reduce the state's General Purpose Revenue spending for Medicaid by $26.6 million during the current fiscal year.

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