Telehealth, Expanded Care, Streetcar Dilemma, Upcoming Symposium, We're Hiring

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** Policy Brief: Telehealth changes in Wisconsin
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In a seven-month period in 2020, Wisconsin approved licenses for 556 out-of-state health care professionals. These doctors, nurses, physician assistants and others served Wisconsin patients through telehealth, a form of virtual health care that has exploded in popularity and usage during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through separate emergency orders, Gov. Tony Evers allowed for qualified health care providers licensed in other states to serve Wisconsinites through telehealth without obtaining a Wisconsin license. This means providers licensed throughout the country could administer health care through audio or video communication to Badger State residents without either party having to leave their office or home.

The results were impressive and suggest that the policy should be made permanent. An occupational license should not be a barrier for qualified professionals looking to practice and serve in Wisconsin — whether in-person or virtually.
Read the full brief here ([link removed]) .

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** Nearly 1,000 out-of-state health care providers help Wisconsinites during pandemic
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By JULIE GRACE | December 7, 2020

Since the start of the pandemic, Wisconsin has made it much easier for out-of-state health care professionals to practice and serve patients in the Badger State. Obtaining an occupational license is typically a time-consuming, costly and burdensome process, but all of that has changed in the past few months — at least temporarily.

Through legislation and executive orders, the state has allowed health care providers who are licensed and in good standing in another state to receive a temporary Wisconsin license during the COVID-19 crisis.

According to the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS), the state’s licensing agency, Wisconsin received 1,177 total applications from health care professionals looking to practice here between April 1 and Oct. 31. The agency granted 937 of those.

Dr. Marni Feuerman, a licensed clinical social worker from Florida, was one of them.

Read the full article here ([link removed]) .
Read coverage of our findings from Today's TMJ4 here ([link removed]) .
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** The Hop: Federal monies create a "financial anvil" for Milwaukee
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By MARK LISHERON | November 19, 2020

Milwaukee is trapped on a streetcar going nowhere.

Ridership on The Hop, as the two-year-old, $128 million trolley system is called, has plummeted. Government funding and private sponsorships are drying up. The city soon will be drawing from existing revenue sources to cover the millions of dollars in operating losses.

A vocal alderman is trying to warn about the long-term financial burdens, while the response from most city officials is to press on and maybe, when the political climate is more receptive, expand the streetcar system. Because, as Commissioner of Public Works Jeff Polenske pointed out in a recent memo to the Common Council, The Hop is simply too expensive to stop.

Read more here ([link removed]) .
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** Florida's Corrections Data Law
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If Wisconsin policymakers want to reform the state’s criminal justice system in a way that achieves better outcomes for taxpayers, communities and offenders, they will need detailed, accurate and robust data to better understand how the current system works and how it can be improved.

Unfortunately, much of the basic information on our state’s criminal justice system is unavailable ([link removed]) , uncollected or un-reported. But better models exist, like Florida’s 2018 Criminal Justice Data Transparency initiative, the nation’s most comprehensive criminal justice data collection law ([link removed]) .

Join the Badger Institute on Jan. 7, 2020, at 10 a.m. CT for a virtual discussion with bill author and Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives Chris Sprowls ([link removed]) and Right on Crime Florida State Director Chelsea Murphy ([link removed]) .

In a conversation moderated by Badger Institute policy analyst Julie Grace, they will discuss what the bill does, how they passed such a substantial measure with bipartisan support and what advice they would give Wisconsin lawmakers.
Get tickets to attend this virtual event here ([link removed]) .
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** Digital Marketing Manager
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Are you a digital marketing guru who is passionate about public policy, free enterprise, objective journalism and civil society? This may be the opportunity for you! The Badger Institute is hiring a Digital Marketing Manager to lead the organization’s comprehensive marketing efforts to educate policymakers, thought leaders and the public on important policy issues and free-market ideas.
To read more and apply for the position, click here ([link removed]) .
Donate ([link removed])
Our work in advancing free markets, opportunity and prosperity in the Badger State is only made possible by the generous donations of our supporters. The Badger Institute is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization. We do not accept any government funding.

If you have any questions, please contact development associate Kirsten Golinski at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or 229-894-4496.

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We believe competitive free markets, limited government, private initiative and personal responsibility are essential to our democratic way of life. The Badger Institute is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and does not receive government funding. Our work is funded solely through tax-deductible gifts from foundations, companies and individuals. We appreciate your support.
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