Children and Families

• About the issue
• Why does this matter to people with disabilities?
• Are there any proposals that would make a change in this issue?
• Who can I contact with my questions?
• Background Information For This Issue

About the issue: (Top of page)

Families with children with disabilities receive support through many programs. These programs provide the services and supports families need to keep their children at home. Some of the services that families receive are ramps, respite care, special medical equipment, personal care, and therapies to bring the child up to age level.

There are four major programs that help families. They are the Family Support program, the children’s Medicaid waiver program, the Katie Beckett program, and the Birth to Three program. The Birth to Three and the Katie Beckett programs are entitlements for those meeting eligibility criteria. Both the children’s waiver and the Family Support programs are limited in terms of availability and resources. Families can’t always receive what they need. And both have waiting lists to get on the program.

Wisconsin is working on changing the way these programs are run. The intent is to make them easier for families to get the help they need. Right now families have to know about each of these programs in order to access them. They also have to apply to each in order to get them. Eligibility criteria are different for each. It is a complicated and confusing arrangement.

Why does this matter to people with disabilities? (Top of page)

These programs are often the only resource families have that allow their children to remain at home. If families are not able to get these services, there is a higher risk their child will be placed in an institution. The financial and emotional cost to place a child away from family is huge. Families have a stake in how a new system will be constructed. Will it be flexible? Will it be accessible? Will it be adequately funded?

Are there any proposals that would make a change in this issue? (Top of page)

• Assembly Bill 133 - Hearing Aids
  Requires health insurance coverage of hearing aids and cochlear implants for infants and young children under five years of age. [More on Assembly Bill 133 ]
  Outcome: Had a hearing but failed to get out of committee. This issue was addressed by SB 88. See SB 88 for a status update on this issue.
• Assembly Bill 185 - Birth Defects
  This bill makes changes to the birth defect prevention and surveillance system. Among other changes it allows DHFS to develop primary preventive strategies to decrease the occurrence of birth defects. [More on Assembly Bill 185 ]
  Outcome: Hearing held in the Assembly. Passed out of committee and the full Assembly. Referred to the Senate. Hearing held and passed out of committee. Referred to Joint Finance Committee. Failed to get out of that committee.
• Assembly Bill 237 - Soft Drink Tax
  This bill creates a tax on the sale at wholesale of soft drinks sold in this state and creates the dental access trust fund. The revenue generated from the tax is put into the dental access trust fund. Moneys put into the dental access trust fund are us [More on Assembly Bill 237 ]
  Outcome: Referred to the Assembly Health and Healthcare Reform Committee. Failed to get out of committee.
• Assembly Bill 242 - Abuse of Vulnerable Adults
  Current law allows a court to impose a restraining order to protect vulnerable adults, abused children, and others. Currently, the restraining order starts when the subject of the order is served. This bill changes the start date to when the court issu [More on Assembly Bill 242 ]
  Outcome: Hearing held in the Assembly. Passed out of committee and passed the full Assembly. Referred to the Senate where it failed to get out of committee, however this issue was addressed by SB 242. SB 242 passed both houses and was signed into law creating A
• Assembly Bill 417 - Autism Insurance
  This bill requires health insurance policies and self-insured governmental and school district health plans to cover the cost of treatment for autism, Asperger's syndrome, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified if the treatment is pr [More on Assembly Bill 417 ]
  Outcome: No action was taken on this bill. This issue was addressed by SB 178. See that bill for a status update.
• Assembly Bill 700 - Integrated Service Programs
  This bill makes several changes to state statute 46.56 that covers Integrated Services Programs (ISP). Some of the changes include expanded coverage to include not just children with severe disabilites but other children who use two or more care systems. [More on Assembly Bill 700 ]
  Outcome: Hearing held in the Assembly. Passed out of Assembly committee on Children and Family Law. referred to Joint Finance committee. Failed to get out of that committee.
• Assembly Bill 901 - Autism Services
  This bill provides over $6 million in the current fiscal year for the autism benefit under the Medical Assistance program. These funds would eliminate the current waiting list for intensive treatment. The bill also requires a treatment plan with appropr [More on Assembly Bill 901 ]
  Outcome: Passed the full Assembly and sent to the Senate. It failed to get out of the Senate committee on Health, Human Services, Insurance, and Job Creation.
• Senate Bill 40 - Biennial Budget
  This bill is Gov. Doyle's proposed budget. It covers all state spending and revenue. [More on Senate Bill 40 ]
  Outcome: This bill was signed into law on 10-26-07 and became Act 20.
• Senate Bill 88 - Hearing Aids and Cochlear Implants
  Requires health insurance coverage of hearing aids and cochlear implants for infants and young children under five years of age. [More on Senate Bill 88 ]
  Outcome: Had a Senate hearing, passed out of committee, and passed the Senate. It was referred to the Assembly where it had a hearing, was amended in committee, passed out of committee, but never had a vote by the full Assembly.
• Senate Bill 117 - Soft Drink Tax
  This bill would tax the sale of soft drinks and soft drink syrups at the wholesale and manufacturing points. This tax would create a dental access trust fund. This fund would be used to increase fees paid to dentists serving patients using Medical Assis [More on Senate Bill 117 ]
  Outcome: Failed to get out of Senate committee on Health and Human Services.
• Senate Bill 124 - Abuse of Vulnerable Adults
  Current law allows a court to impose a restraining order to protect vulnerable adults, abused children, and others. Currently, the restraining order starts when the subject of the order is served. This bill changes the start date to when the court issu [More on Senate Bill 124 ]
  Outcome: Passed both the Assembly and Senate. Signed into law on 3-20-08 and became Act 124.
• Senate Bill 144 - MA Eligibility Changes
  This bill makes a number of changes to assets and divestment rules to conform Wisconsin law to federal law when determining eligibility for Medical Assistance (MA). [More on Senate Bill 144 ]
  Outcome: Failed to get out of the Senate committee on Health and Human Services.
• Senate Bill 178 - Autism Insurance
  This bill requires health insurance policies and self-insured governmental and school district health plans to cover the cost of treatment for autism, Asperger's syndrome, and pervasive developmental disorders if the treatment is provided by a qualified [More on Senate Bill 178 ]
  Outcome: Had a Senate hearing, passed out of committee, was amended, and passed the Senate. It was referred to the Assembly, where it never got out of committee.

Who can I contact with my questions? (Top of page)

John Shaw
Wisconsin Council on Developmental Disabilities
201 W. Washington Avenue
Madison WI 53703-2796
Phone: Voice (608) 266-7707; TDD (608) 266-6660
Email: shawj2@dhfs.state.wi.us
Fax: (608) 267-3906

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Background Information For This Issue (Top of page)

• Family Voices of Wisconsin