THU AM News: Exact Sciences launches new genetic cancer test; Evers approves $15M in crisis funding for western Wisconsin health care, uses line-item veto to expand scope

February 29, 2024

— Exact Sciences has launched a new genetic test that uses a blood or saliva sample to predict the risk of developing various cancers.

The Madison-based diagnostics company yesterday rolled out the Riskguard hereditary cancer test, which will be available for order starting March 12. It can provide insights on familial risk and specific genetic changes for 10 common cancers: colorectal, breast, prostate, skin, ovarian, endometrial, pancreatic, gastric, kidney and endocrine.

Brandie Leach, senior director of medical affairs for Exact Sciences, says the test can help patients understand their risk of developing these cancers “to inform screening, treatment and risks” to other family members.

And it can identify changes in certain cancer-associated genes for patients with a family history of cancer, according to yesterday’s release. These findings can be used by health care providers to offer more personalized care based on risk level and other factors. Exact Sciences also has genetic counselors on staff to help health care providers interpret test results.

“We believe that helping people to identify their risks — and take informed actions to reduce those risks — is a crucial step to help eradicate cancer and the suffering it causes,” Leach said in a statement on the test. “This will become an increasingly important tool in the primary care setting as well.”

Brian Baranick, the company’s general manager of precision oncology, says Exact Sciences is seeing more physicians express interest in combining tests like Riskguard with others focused on therapy selection “to develop a more complete understanding of a patient’s tumor at the molecular level.”

Once it’s available, oncologists will be able to order the Riskguard test through the same portal as other offerings such as the company’s Oncotype cancer tests. Tests will be processed at the PreventionGenetics laboratory in Marshfield.

See more in the release.

— Gov. Tony Evers approved providing $15 million for health care assistance in western Wisconsin, using his line-item vetoes to expand how the funding can be used.

Evers yesterday announced the approval of 2023 Wisconsin Act 97, which provides crisis response resources focused on health care access in the region. The move comes after Hospital Sisters Health System and Prevea Health last month announced the closure of hospitals in Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls, leading to concerns about access to care for local residents.

The version of the bill passed by the Legislature limited the $15 million to be used only for hospital emergency department services, Evers noted. His line-item vetoes allow the dollars to be used for “any hospital services meeting the area’s pressing healthcare needs,” including urgent care, OB-GYN, inpatient psychiatry, mental health and substance abuse and more, according to the release.

In his veto message, the guv wrote he objects to “unnecessarily restricting crisis funding intended to address urgent healthcare access needs in Western Wisconsin that exist well beyond hospital emergency departments.”

Evers also directed the state Department of Health Services to submit its request to the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee to release the funds, the release shows.

Grant funding will be reserved for hospital services provided in the state’s western region, though hospitals in Eau Claire and Chippewa counties will be prioritized.

Wisconsin Hospital Association President and CEO Eric Borgerding said the group looks forward “to working with the Joint Committee on Finance and the Department of Health Services to implement these grants while redoubling our efforts to achieve long-term solutions that support Wisconsin’s safety-net hospitals and working together to sustain the many services they alone stand up and provide in both rural and urban settings.”

Chippewa Valley Republican legislators in a statement yesterday slammed the guv’s partial vetoes.

“We are extremely frustrated that the Governor used his powerful veto pen to create a slush fund that won’t guarantee these funds are used to help the needs of the Chippewa Valley,” they said. “The governor’s actions today only further delays critical funds for our area to help heal from the wounds of the HSHS hospital closures.”

See the guv’s release.

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— Communities around the state are converting unused buildings and lots into new housing complexes with financial support from WEDC, the state agency announced.

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. awarded Ladysmith a $200,000 Idle Site Redevelopment grant to convert the former Ladysmith Elementary School into a 40-unit workforce housing project.

Ladysmith City Administrator Alan Christianson calls the grant “an absolute game changer” for the community.

“Around here, $200,000 is really huge and it’s leveraging a total project of nearly $13 million,” Christianson said in the WEDC release.

The agency is also providing $228,000 to Rhinelander to convert the former Rodeway Inn motel into a 31-unit apartment building, and $200,000 to Elkhart Lake to prepare a site for two developments that will have 120 total units once complete.

Jessica Reilly, village administrator and clerk, notes Elkhart Lake is a resort community that relies on hospitality industries.

“We don’t have a lot of apartments in the village,” she said. “With these two apartment developments, we’re hoping to expand who can come here to live and work.”

See the release.

— Small businesses in Juneau, Langlade and Lincoln counties will get a leg up in competing for federal contracts after the SBA approved their designation as Historically Underutilized Business Zones.

The federal agency yesterday announced it approved a request from Gov. Tony Evers to designate the three counties as HUBZones, giving small businesses there “price preferences and other advantages” in competing for federal contracts.

With the latest designations, Wisconsin now has more than 120 HUBZones, according to the release.

Eric Ness, SBA’s Wisconsin district director, says more federal contracts are becoming available through the Inflation Reduction Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPs Act and other sources.

“Now is an ideal time for small businesses in Juneau, Langlade, and Lincoln counties to get their HUBZone certification and pursue these contracts,” he said.

See more program details.

— State officials are flagging a Sunday deadline for Wisconsin businesses to apply to have their federal Paycheck Protection Program loans forgiven.

Under a “goodwill exception period” announced by the U.S. Small Business Administration, PPP borrowers with less than $100,000 in loans can apply for forgiveness through March 3, according to the state Department of Administration.

“PPP loans helped thousands of Wisconsin small businesses stay afloat during the pandemic, and many of these loans were forgiven,” DOA Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld said in yesterday’s release. “That is why I strongly encourage anyone who still needs their loan forgiven to apply before time runs out.”

— The State Building Commission has approved about $370 million in new projects, including a new indoor football practice facility for UW-Madison.

That’s according to a release from Gov. Tony Evers, who says the funding is “necessary to continue building the economy and infrastructure of tomorrow.”

The commission approved the Camp Randall Sports Center Replacement project and demolishing the university’s McClain Athletic Facility, the release shows.

Other approved projects include the Regional Forensics Science Center at Northcentral Technical College in Wausau, a new entrance and visitor station at Potawatomi State Park in Door County and replacing a hangar door at the Army Aviation Support Facility 2 in Madison.

See the full list of approved projects.

— The number of deer killed by hunters across seasons in 2023 was down 11.5% from 2022, according to preliminary data presented to the Natural Resources Board.

The total harvest in 2022 was 338,171 deer, compared to 299,289 last year. The 2022 hunt represented the high point of the five-year average from 2018-2022. The decrease primarily came from a 14.6% decline during the nine-day gun deer hunt and 15.5% decline during the December antlerless deer hunt.

The largest decline was in the state’s Northern Forest zone — down 18.1% for antlered deer and 28.4% for antlerless deer in 2023 compared to the five-year average. DNR Deer Program Specialist Jeff Pritzl noted a harsh winter as one potential factor.

See more on the deer season data here.

— UW-Madison has announced the new endowed Jack Salzwedel Distinguished Faculty Chair in Business and Regulation, funded by a $3 million donation from American Family Insurance.

The chair, part of the university’s La Follette School of Public Affairs, is named to recognize former American Family Insurance Chair and CEO Jack Salzwedel, according to yesterday’s release.

Greg Nemet, the school’s interim director, will lead the selection process for the chair later this spring. A current tenured professor will be named to the position in January 2025, the release shows.

See the release.

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