Aspirus Health Opens Neonatal Health Clinic in Wausau

(Mike Leischner, WSAU) Aspirus Health has opened a neonatal health clinic, focused on caring for children who require intensive care from birth to age three. According to Mike Leischner with WSAU, the clinic will offer a roster of neonatologists and physical, speech, language, and occupational therapists, focused on screening for and addressing post-discharge issues in a child’s first two years. Neuroplasticity, or brain growth, is highest during the first two years of life, and interventions during that time significantly improve outcomes.

Aspirus Rhinelander Hospital welcomes new OB-GYN

Aspirus Health has announced that John Ester, MD, a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist with more than 25 years of experience, has joined the medical staff at Aspirus Rhinelander Hospital and Aspirus Rhinelander Clinic – N Shore Drive. “Dr. Ester brings extensive expertise in comprehensive women’s health care, including management...

Family Health Center of Marshfield Breaks Ground on New Facility in Wisconsin Rapids

Senior leadership from Family Health Center of Marshfield (FHC) was joined by government officials and community partners on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new health center that will expand access to healthcare services in the Wisconsin Rapids area. The new 24,250-square-foot Wisconsin Rapids Health Center...

Tony Lo Sasso on healthcare costs as a top issue for voters

This transcript was auto-generated from video closed captioning subtitles and is likely to contain text, spelling and/or grammatical errors. The transcript is temporary and will soon be replaced by a clean and accurate version. Thank you for your patience. to the floor. What are the most important issues to voters?...

Wisconsin hospitals highly concentrated, new report shows

(The Center Square) – A new study of healthcare in Wisconsin shows Wisconsin hospitals are highly concentrated, including being more concentrated than neighboring Illinois. The impact is that patients have healthcare options but not a wide range of hospital networks to choose from. The concentration increased after a 2021 merger between Aspires and Ascension and would increase more if Madison’s joint operating agreement between hospitals would make it considered to be one firm. The study from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Anthony Lo Sasso and Capital Policy Analytics’ Ike Brannon for UW-Madison’s Center for Research on the Wisconsin Economy is a follow-up to a prior report from the pair showing that Wisconsin hospitals charge 25.6% more to patients for in-person care than hospitals in Illinois. “People have options, healthcare is available, but the fact that there are not competitor institutions and hospitals around implies that it’s the insurers who don’t have a lot of choices,” Lo Sasso told The Center Square. “You can’t build a network without the big players in the market.” The costs to consumers for hospital procedures are often the result of negotiations with insurance companies. But, in Wisconsin, 36% of those insured through commercial enrollment in the

Change in Aspirus Medicare coverage in Wausau

Aspirus Neonatal Clinic opens in Wausau

WAUSAU, Wis. — A new neonatal clinic is opening in Wausau, Wis. Aspirus Health opened the Aspirus Neonatal Clinic on its Wausau campus. Care teams at the clinic include neonatologists, physical therapists, speech therapists, language therapists and occupational therapists. There are also respiratory therapists, ophthalmologists, audiologists, dietitians and behavioral health specialists.

Family Medicine Physician Dr. Katelyn Larsen joins Aspirus Tomahawk Clinic

TOMAHAWK – This week, Aspirus Health announced that Katelyn Larsen, MD, has joined Aspirus Tomahawk Clinic. In Tomahawk, Dr. Larsen will provide comprehensive family medicine care for patients of all ages, according to a release from Aspirus. Dr. Larsen earned her medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin...

State Rep. Clint Moses Secured Millions to Improve Health Care in Western Wisconsin

When hospitals in the Chippewa Valley closed abruptly and left families without mental health care, Rep. Clint Moses went to work on it. The Menomonie chiropractor lobbied the state budget committee and came back with money for new treatment beds in western Wisconsin. That is the kind of work Moses...

Meijer Now Accepts Evermore OTC Cards For Medicare Customers

Meijer now accepts over-the-counter spend cards, expanding the ways eligible Medicare customers can use qualifying supplemental health plan benefits to purchase covered OTC products and other plan-approved items at its stores. The direct integration makes it easier for participating Medicare plan members to shop for approved health and wellness items,...

ENT & Allergy cuts ribbon on new home for Northwoods health care

RHINELANDER – Though he claims no credit for why the clinic was built, ENT & Allergy Associates and its newest otolaryngologist, Shane White, recently celebrated both the grand opening of a new Rhinelander location and White’s homecoming. “I don’t personally claim credit for that building being built, but...

Emplify Health Working With Second Company to Help Older Adults Find Health Problems Earlier

Emplify Health by Bellin is teaming with a technology company to help older adults across the region stay healthy and independent in the communities where they live. The not-for-profit health system is working with Pearl Health by collaborating and enhancing care delivery for 25,000 Medicare beneficiaries across the combined Bellin and Gunderson footprint of 11 hospitals, over 100 clinics, and 1,400 providers in the upper Midwest.

Episode 5: Profits over patients

Joy Powers: This is Swing State of the Union — a podcast all about Wisconsin and why it’s so important to U.S. politics. I'm Joy Powers.  . Sam Woods: And I'm Sam Woods. Thank you so much for joining us. We are weeks away from the Nov. 3 election, and early voting in Wisconsin begins Oct. 20.

New Report Reignites Push for Healthcare Reform

MADISON – A new report from the CROWE Center at UW–Madison found that Wisconsin’s hospital market has become increasingly concentrated. The report highlights another alarming trend in Wisconsin’s healthcare affordability crisis, where rising costs continue to put pressure on family budgets, employers, and the state’s overall economic competitiveness.

Construction begins for HSHS St. Mary’s expansion

Local news about the companies, people and issues that impact business in Northeast Wisconsin and beyond. Construction began in September for HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center’s new six-story inpatient bed tower. The new bed tower and a revitalization of the St. Mary’s campus will significantly expand the...

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Awards Marshfield Clinic Mental Health Awareness Training Grant

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has awarded Marshfield Clinic a three-year Mental Health Awareness Training Grant, bringing nearly $580,000 in federal funding to support mental health awareness, education, and access across central and northern Wisconsin. SAMHSA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human...

Wisconsin DNR notifies Enbridge of alleged violations on Line 5 reroute

Wisconsin environmental regulators have notified Enbridge of seven alleged violations of state environmental laws and permits on a $1 billion project to reroute its Line 5 oil and gas pipeline in northern Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources issued a formal notice of violation in a letter to Enbridge...

How to deal with allergies; and getting dental care to underserved children

Ragweed and grass pollen irritate many Wisconsinites this time of year. We talk to a nurse practitioner specializing in allergies, asthma and treatment. Then, we learn how a nonprofit is providing dental care to thousands of children in the southeast corner of the state. Featured in this Episode. How to...