Three bills by Rep. Debra Kolste, D-Janesville, were passed by the Wisconsin State Assembly on the last day of session last week.
“I was happy to be able to work with Republican members to get my bills through the Assembly,’’ Kolste said. “It can be difficult in such a partisan atmosphere to reach agreements.’’
The Senate companion bill to Assembly Bill 408 was passed on a unanimous voice vote in the Assembly and will be signed into law by Governor Walker on Friday in Green Bay. AB 408 creates mental health pilot projects. One of the pilots requires the Department of Health Services to provide data on the availability of inpatient psychiatric beds.
Another pilot project will test alternative care delivery models designed to reduce costs and improve outcomes for Medical Assistance patients with chronic or significant mental illness. An additional project is designed to test models that encourage consultation between psychiatrists and physicians providing primary care to patients with mental health issues.
“We must find better, more effective and less expensive ways to help people with mental illness,’’ Kolste said. “I have high hopes that coordinating care between providers will improve outcomes and bring costs down.’’
Assembly Bill 787 increases by $1 million the funding for respite care for families with members suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. The Assembly passed the bill on a 98-0 vote and sent it to the Senate for concurrence.
“I believe the Senate will pass this bill,’’ Kolste said. “Respite care for families dealing with Alzheimer’s is a crucial need. Alzheimer’s and dementia patients often do better when they can maintain their lives at home, but caretakers need this respite care. I am glad everyone got behind this bill.’’
Assembly Bill 871 is a technical bill that clarifies rules for chiropractic care.
“These were sensible rule changes that chiropractors and legislators agreed on,’’ Kolste said. “It does a few other things designed to allow expansion of chiropractic services in sensible ways.’’
The bill was passed on a voice vote and messaged to the Senate.
“This has been a tough legislative session and I am thankful to end it with a few successes,’’ Kolste said.
