As I write this (April 4), a few hardy golfers are playing on partially snow covered courses and the Brewers have started the baseball season, under the roof – Ah, Spring in Wisconsin!
In addition to the changing seasons, we can always count on changes during the political season….can you count how many days until the November election?
If we want to make positive changes, we need your continued support in the legislature: to advocate for initiatives “Working Toward Sensible Health Solutions”, our theme for this year. The theme is also linked to our comprehensive, market-based plan for providing affordable health insurance – Sensible Health Solutions . This Fall, we anticipate renewed efforts by some legislators to pass Healthy Wisconsin II – a misguided effort to improve access without addressing the real issue – the rising cost of health care. We need your support of our alternative plan. Please review and let us know what you think.
Also, please thank Al Wearing, President- Elect, Teri Courtney, the Legislative Committee, and, of course, Megan Purtell for the outstanding job they did with this year’s Day on the Hill. We had more than 180 participants spend the morning learning about current health affairs, including the interesting courtroom drama: “Health Care on Trial”. During the afternoon we visited our State Senators and Assemblypersons and shared WAHU issues and solutions. Thanks to all attendees. Your continued involvement is much appreciated and needed. For those who were not there – we hope you can make it next year. Or during the year – like Mike Farrell and other WAHU members who attended the Healthy Wisconsin II hearings on very short notice. Thank you! Look for more information on Healthy Wisconsin II in our legislative report elsewhere in this newsletter.
As long as we are talking membership, another big thank you to Cathy Antonie and her team for their efforts. We are approximately 600 strong and look for continued growth in 2008. There is plenty of room under our tent in the fight for affordable, accessible health care. Great events to invite prospective members to learn about our issues include our Spring Chapter meetings, Summer golf outings and the spectacular Fall Sales conference. The simple act of each member enrolling one prospect can double our membership overnight and geometrically increase our organizational impact. Use this link. Share the membership experience.
Last, thanks to Immediate Past President, Kent Schroeder, for our seat at the Insurance Commissioner’s table. We are one of two broker associations represented on the OCI Health Council (the other is NAIFA). The Health Council meets quarterly to review health insurance issues; recent topics include transparency, BadgerCare Plus and a review of other state health coverage initiatives. Council members include health plan and provider representatives and consumer advocates. This is an incredible opportunity to have the brokers’ voice heard The next meeting is in April and they are open to the public. Information from past meetings can be found on the OCI’s website.
