TO: All Wisconsin Legislators
FROM: Tim Size
DATE: August 8th, 1995
SUBJECT: Supporting The Proposed Rural Medical Center Legislation
The purpose of this bill is to allow rural based providers of multiple services to be licensed, inspected and otherwise regulated by the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) as the single entities that they have become in many communities. Formal recognition of Rural Medical Centers as a provider type will improve the coordination of health services within rural communities through the implementation of a unified set of administrative rules, statutory regulations and surveys.
We believe that this bill proposes to implement a particularly innovative and basic redefinition of what rural hospitals are and what they can become, in Wisconsin and across the country. Recognition of the Rural Medical Center model by both private and public sectors is a major step towards the needed restructuring of local services away from an over dependence on inpatient services towards a more thorough meeting of a variety of local health needs through a more locally integrated system of community oriented primary care.
A lot of effort has gone into developing the Rural Medical Center model over the last six years - the attached review of a few of the milestones that led to the development of this bill demonstrates its grass roots origins and broad state support.
We hope that you will support this legislation and contact Senator Dale Schultz's office at 6-0703 to become a co-sponsor of LRB 3789/1. Thanks.
The Rural Medical Center: Development Milestones
Spring, 1988
Several rural hospital administrators suggest that the Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative work plan include an objective to encourage the State to review the effectiveness of its regulation of rural hospitals.
Summer, 1989
A reform bill passes, supported by a broad rural health coalition, that includes language to establish a Special Committee of the Legislature to review the "Statutes and Rules Which Affect Rural Hospitals"
January, 1990
The Special Committee begins its work, chaired by then Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services, Patricia Goodrich with representation from providers, consumers and the public sector.
Summer, 1990
During a "field hearing", the Director of Nursing of a diversified rural hospital asks the key question: "Shouldn't I have a single counter part in government that understands the variety of programs now offered by diversified rural hospitals?" Committee shifts from thinking about various individual regulatory revisions to developing a new way for both private and public sectors to think about rural hospitals.
December, 1990
The Special Committee recommends the establishment of Rural Medical Centers: community based organizations providing a diverse range of medical and health services tailored to local need, regulated by a unified licensure and survey process.
Summer, 1991
A Rural Medical Center Work Group is established by the DHSS Division of Health to begin the practical preparatory steps for implementing the public sector component of the model. The potential role for local public health agencies is clarified and added into the model.
March, 1992
Legislation passes supporting the Rural Medical Center concept and directing its development by DHSS.
August, 1992
A Consortium led by the DHSS and including rural hospitals receives a federal grant to help fund the development of the Rural Medical Center concept.
1992 to date
Development of rules and piloting of unified surveys.