Medicare Advantage changes leave Wisconsin beneficiaries reviewing coverage

WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) - Craig Holmes received a letter saying Aspirus would no longer provide his Medicare Advantage plan. He said the notice left him little time to review other plans before Medicare’s annual open enrollment begins Oct. 15. Josh Reissmann, an independent insurance agent in Wausau, said Medicare...

Health experts discuss Measle outbreak, public health

Wisconsin Health News hosted a panel featuring public health professionals from across the state to discuss measles, vaccinations, communicable disease and social determinants of health on Oct. 7. Milwaukee Health Commissioner Michael Totoraitis, Lafayette County Health Officer Julie Leibfried, Wauwatosa Health Department Director Laura Stephens and Oneida County Health Department...

New Wisconsin teen mental health resource connects families, youth-serving programs

MARSHFIELD – Two health care organizations have partnered to launch a new Teen Mental Health Resource hub designed to make trusted information and practical tools about young people’s mental health easier to find. This one-stop online resource launched by Wisconsin Out of School Time Alliance, a program of...

Flu levels low across Wisconsin, health officials urge early vaccination

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) - The Wisconsin Department of Health Services says flu levels are low across the state, including in northeast Wisconsin. Health officials saw a small uptick a few weeks ago as students went back to school, but those levels have since come down slightly. They say prevention...

Oneida County Health Department promotes flu vaccination with Boo to the Flu campaign

RHINELANDER (WJFW) — It’s cold and flu season and one local health department is raising awareness for vaccination. The Oneida County Health Department is encouraging people to get their flu vaccine during spooky season through its Boo to the Flu campaign. “Boo to the Flu is our seasonal...

Twelve insurers are leaving Medicare Advantage entirely for 2027, a Becker’s tally shows, among them Aspirus in Wisconsin and iCircle in New York

Twelve insurers are leaving Medicare Advantage entirely for 2027, and the list includes Aspirus Health Plan in Wisconsin and iCircle in New York. The count comes from a Becker’s Payer Issues tally first published Sept. 30 and updated Oct. 6. Each name on it is dropping every county where it sold Medicare Advantage plans, so... The post Twelve insurers are leaving Medicare Advantage entirely for 2027, a Becker’s tally shows, among them Aspirus in Wisconsin and iCircle in New York appeared first on The Financial Wire .

State Rep. Pat Snyder Put His Seat on the Line for Wisconsin Moms, and He Won

For years, a bill to give new mothers on Medicaid a full year of health coverage sat stuck in the Wisconsin Assembly. It had support from Republicans, Democrats, doctors and pro-life groups. What it didn’t have was a vote, because Assembly leadership wouldn’t schedule one. State Rep. Pat...

In Wisconsin communities affected by measles, opinions on vaccines remain mixed

Tattoo Zuzu sits on Viroqua’s busy Main Street, with an eclectic mix of art and thrifted treasures filling the front of the shop. The name is in honor of owner Audra Grosz’s 5-year-old daughter, a nickname Grosz’s mother loved from “It’s a Wonderful Life.”. Her...

34th State Assembly Candidate Merlin Van Buren on cost of living, school funding, and health care

Democrat Merlin Van Buren is running for the 34th Assembly District which covers Oneida and Vilas Counties. Van Buren currently serves as on the Rhinelander School Board. WXPR’s Katie Thoresen spoke to him about different challenges in the Northwoods including cost of living, school funding, rural health care, and PFAS. You can listen to the full interview above.

In Wisconsin communities affected by measles, opinions on vaccines remain mixed

Tattoo Zuzu sits on Viroqua’s busy Main Street, with an eclectic mix of art and thrifted treasures filling the front of the shop. The name is in honor of owner Audra Grosz’s 5-year-old daughter, a nickname Grosz’s mother loved from “It’s a Wonderful Life.”. Her...

Crowley, Tiffany offer opposing health-care plans | Election 2026

Editor's note: This story was produced as part of the NEW (Northeast Wisconsin) News Lab , a consortium of five news outlets − the Appleton Post-Crescent , Green Bay Press-Gazette , Green Bay Press Times , Wisconsin Public Radio and Wisconsin Watch − covering 2026 election issues and races in northeastern Wisconsin. UW-Green Bay is our educational partner. Adam Paul, who owns Vintage Rose Bakery & Sandwich Shop in west De Pere with his wife, says health care is the biggest financial stress he faces. He struggles with mental health, and his wife has a thyroid condition. For the last three months, Paul said they’ve been negotiating with their insurance provider to try to get an MRI covered for his wife’s condition. “Fighting with the insurance company, and owning a business at the same time, to get things covered is a nightmare,” Paul said. “It’s a constant fight of, ‘OK what is my health worth?’” As a business owner, he said he “would love” to offer his employees insurance, but his company is just “way too small” for him to make it work financially. Paul and other Brown County community members spoke at an affordability roundtable in De Pere last

15 Best U.S. Retirement Destinations for Reliable Access to Quality Healthcare

Some U.S. cities offer far better healthcare access and quality for retirees than others, even under the same Medicare system. Illinois, Wisconsin and Texas cities rank highly, with some excelling in quality and others in sheer access to care. Medicare coverage is standardized, but where you live can still affect...

Wisconsin Medicaid ABA Technician Rate Has Held at $11.91 Since February 2023, the Lowest Among Its Neighbors. Federal Audit Updates Are Expected October 14.

Wisconsin pays $11.91 for technician-delivered 97153, unchanged since February 2023, as DHS revisits 97155 billing and enrollment after a federal audit. The technician rate trails the region: Comprehensive 97153 pays $11.91 per unit, unchanged since February 2023 and below every neighbor charted, and the 2025 to 2027 budget’s rate increases skipped behavioral treatment.

Crowley says Black infant health is a priority; Tiffany silent

The Cap Times is an independent newsroom serving Madison and Wisconsin. Sign up for the Morning Update to receive news in your inbox each morning. This article is part of the Cap Times series Deadly Divide, investigating Wisconsin’s ongoing Black infant mortality crisis. Erin McGroarty reported this story as a USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism 2026 National Fellow and a participant in the Center’s engagement initiative.

New facility in Wisconsin Rapids to combine medical, dental and recovery services under one roof

WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. (WSAW) - Family Health Center of Marshfield broke ground on a new health care center in Wisconsin Rapids Tuesday. The new Wisconsin Rapids Health Center will be located at 231 West Riverview Expressway. It will bring medical, dental, pharmacy services, alcohol & drug recovery services, and patient support resources under one roof.

Aspirus Wausau Hospital Recently Performs 1,000th WATCHMAN Procedure

Aspirus Wausau Hospital recently performed its 1,000th WATCHMAN procedure, marking a significant milestone for the hospital's cardiovascular team and its ongoing care of patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib). The achievement reflects years of collaboration among physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, technologists, and support staff who have helped build and sustain...

Family Health Center breaks ground today in Wisconsin Rapids