No progress in $15 million for emergency departments

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU) - In our continuing coverage of the healthcare shutdown in Western Wisconsin, we are still following up on the status of $15 million in state funding meant to help address it.

That money was initially meant for mental health beds in Sacred Heart and was reallocated to support emergency departments in the Chippewa Valley. First, here’s a quick reminder of what’s happened.

On January 22, HSHS announced it would be closing two hospitals and Prevea clinics in our area. February 28, Governor Evers signed a bill into law addressing the $15 million with some line-item vetoes. On March 22nd, the hospitals closed. April 16th, Governor Evers called a special meeting of the Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee to discuss the funding now in gridlock. GOP leaders did not show up. Just last month, Senate Republicans held a special session overruling Governor Evers’ vetoes surrounding those bills but nothing came from that.

As we near three months since HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s Hospital closed, emergency departments within the Chippewa Valley continue to experience higher demands.

Mayo Clinic Health System sent us a statement saying in part,

Helmers said the Mayo Clinic has optimized their space, increased staffing, and introduced virtual options to help care for more patients.

State lawmakers have also tried to address the shutdown, working to release the $15 million. Yet in the past five months, that funding has gone nowhere.

“It’s just shameful that we are still talking about the same thing when we are stuck in a rut because there are things we should be doing,” State Sen. Jeff Smith, (D) Brunswick, said. “Our Republican legislators in this region need to force them to bring that money up here. It’s up to them.”

When Governor Evers signed this bill into law, he made line-item vetoes allowing the money to be used more broadly and outside of Eau Claire and Chippewa Counties. Because of those changes, the Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee refuses to take up the money. They say Governor Evers needs to allow the funding to be used within the original scope of the bill.

State Senator Jesse James, (R) Altoona, sent a statement about this.

As of right now, James and Smith said there’s no timeline for when that finding will be released. Although there is no progress within the $15 million, health systems in the Chippewa Valley continue to work to address the shutdown. On Monday, Oakleaf Clinics opened a new urgent care in Menomonie.