From WisPolitics.com/WisBusiness.com …
— Wisconsin has joined a multi-state lawsuit seeking to block certain federal agencies from using or sharing state Medicaid data for non-health care purposes, Attorney General Josh Kaul announced today.
The lawsuit aims to prevent the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Homeland Security from using or sharing “personally identifiable, protected” Wisconsin Medicaid data, according to the state Department of Justice release.
DOJ says the amended lawsuit filed Thursday is meant to keep the agencies from using the data for immigration enforcement, population surveillance or other “invasive” purposes.
It argues the federal government’s disclosure of these records to the Department of Homeland Security violates confidentiality protections, and also will likely discourage people from enrolling in Medicaid or getting necessary health care.
“Information that the federal government has about people’s health should be safeguarded,” Kaul said in a statement. “It shouldn’t be used at the federal government’s discretion.”
See the release below and see the amended complaint.
— Vice President JD Vance in La Crosse touted tax cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill while launching a defense against Dem attacks over health care provisions.
He argued yesterday President Trump’s legislation shores up programs like Medicaid by refusing to give benefits to those who don’t have a legal right to be in the U.S.
Vance warned campaign ads would begin before long attacking the legislation. He argued Dems want to give health care to those in the country without documentation, which Republicans refuse to do.
“It’s not about health care for you. It’s about health care for illegal aliens, and we happen to believe in a different principle,” the former Ohio senator said.
Ahead of Vance’s stop yesterday, state Dem Chair Devin Remiker called the stop a “tone-deaf political” photo op while focusing on the health care provisions in the legislation.
“He’s taking a victory lap for stripping health care from 300,000 Wisconsinites, threatening the jobs and livelihoods of thousands, and shuttering rural hospitals — including one at risk of closing in the very district he’s visiting,” Remiker said. “This visit isn’t about helping Wisconsin — it’s a blatant PR stunt to cover up the devastation caused by the Big Ugly Bill.”
See more from the speech here.
— Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, a registered nurse with master’s degrees in nursing and public health, called on Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to step down or be fired following an exodus of top officials at the CDC.
Rodriguez, a candidate for guv, yesterday said she knows “real public health leadership must be grounded in science, not conspiracy and ideology” and Kennedy lacks the judgment and commitment to meet that standard.
National media have reported the Center for Disease Control’s top director was fired and other senior leaders quit following a falling out with Kennedy over vaccine policy.
“The resulting chaos at the CDC is his responsibility, and every day he remains in charge, more families are put at risk,” Rodriguez said. “People will get sick and some will die unnecessarily because of his failures.”
— State and local health officials have now identified at least 21 cases of measles in Oconto County as the disease continues to spread in the community.
Of that total, three cases are in children four years old or younger, 13 cases are among those ages 5 to 17 years old and the other five are in adults.
The state Department of Health Services measles dashboard shows all 21 of the cases were in unvaccinated people. One hospitalization has been reported.
Top Stories
– CDC tumult plunges public health world into ‘uncharted waters’
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– CDC in turmoil. Trump still backs RFK Jr.
– Medicare Will Require Prior Approval for Certain Procedures
– Texas lawmakers advance abortion pill restrictions
– FDA recommends more monitoring of Alzheimer’s patients on Eisai-Biogen’s drug Leqembi
Press Releases
– Dept. of Justice: AG Kaul sues to stop federal government from sharing Wisconsin Medicaid data
– Rodriguez campaign: Calls on Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to resign
