MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers approved a bill securing $15 million in crisis response funding to support health care access in western Wisconsin on Wednesday. 

What You Need To Know

  • Gov. Tony Evers approved a bill securing $15 million in crisis response funding to support health care access in western Wisconsin

  • It comes after Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) and Prevea Health announced they would close several hospitals and health care facilities in Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls and throughout Chippewa Valley

  • Under the Wisconsin State Legislature’s version of the passed bill, the $15 million in crisis response funding could only be used for hospital emergency department services. Evers used partial vetoes to broaden its scope

  • Once approved by the committee, DHS will open a grant application process for eligible hospitals and hospital services

It comes after Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) and Prevea Health announced they would close several hospitals and health care facilities in Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls and throughout Chippewa Valley.

“Recent hospital closures in western Wisconsin have disrupted Wisconsinites’ ability to access basic, everyday health care services and uprooted the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of folks and their families,” said Evers in a statement. “My administration and I are working to do everything we can to support those workers and their families, as well as folks across the area who need to be able to access basic and emergency health care services alike.”

It’s estimated that the recent closures have affected about 1,400 workers in the region.

Under the Wisconsin State Legislature’s version of the passed bill, the $15 million in crisis response funding could only be used for hospital emergency department services. Evers used partial vetoes to broaden its scope.

Now, that funding can be used by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to meet the “area’s pressing health care needs.” That includes anything from urgent care services to OB-GYN services to psychiatry services and more.

Evers directed DHS to submit a request to the Republican-controlled Joint Committee on Finance to have the $15 million released immediately.

“I’m urging Republicans on the Joint Committee on Finance to approve the department’s request quickly to ensure these resources are immediately available to help stabilize and support health care access across the Chippewa Valley region, and to do so without delay,” said Evers in a press release. “This investment will go a long way in helping address the very real and pressing health care access concerns facing Western Wisconsin, and it is critically important that we get this funding out the door to folks who need it.”

Once approved by the committee, DHS will open a grant application process for eligible hospitals and hospital services. Criteria can be found here.

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