WC Wisconsin News

Tomah Health Hospice and Palliative Care staff members have returned to Madison to advocate for the establishment of a Wisconsin Palliative Care Council. Director Siera Williams, along with Nurse Practitioners Michelle Theige and Kim Casper, testified before the Wisconsin Senate Health Committee on March 12.

Previously, on February 12, they had presented their support for the bill to the Wisconsin Assembly Committee on Health, Aging and Long-Term Care. Williams emphasized that a Palliative Care Council could enhance awareness and access to such care in Wisconsin. "Experts in the field could improve access to community-based Palliative Care programs like ours, ensuring that all Wisconsinites who need this essential service can receive it," she stated.

Theige and Casper also highlighted the benefits of Tomah Health's services during their testimony. Theige noted, "The passing of this bill would have a significant positive impact for palliative care throughout Wisconsin. As the aging population continues to increase, the need for Palliative Care services will." Casper added that early utilization of these services could be improved: "This bill would allow an increase in their knowledge of Palliative Care, so they are more willing to utilize these services at the beginning of their diagnosis rather than waiting until they’re to the point where they’re more Hospice appropriate."

The proposed legislation aims to create a 22-member council within the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. This council would provide recommendations to enhance palliative care accessibility statewide, advocate for sustainable reimbursement models, and offer insights into its economic and quality-of-life benefits.

Despite previous attempts, similar bills have stalled in the Wisconsin Senate.