Who we are

Employees of the Department of Health Services follow a common mission. We also focus on specific strategy and guiding principles in all of our work for the people in Wisconsin.

OUR MISSION

To support economic prosperity and quality of life, the Department of Health Services exercises multiple roles in the protection and promotion of the health and safety of the people of Wisconsin.

OUR STRATEGY

The Department supports policies vital to a fair and vibrant marketplace that delivers affordable, high-quality healthcare to our citizens and leverages our state's tradition of strong health outcomes, innovation and world-class provision of healthcare.

OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES

1. We serve the citizens who have entrusted us with important responsibilities and funds they earned.
2. Our healthcare costs are not sustainable at current levels. We need new models for care delivery, regulation development, prevention strategies, risk sharing and purchasing.
3. In this transformation, we must enhance the role of our citizens as primary stakeholders in managing their health and associated costs.
4. Competition, choice, and transparency are critical elements to these emerging models if we are to increase the value of healthcare to our citizens.
5. Public programs shall complement rather than compete against the private market. We will work to eliminate cost shifting to the private sector and among different systems (acute, mental health, long-term care).
6. We will continue to provide support systems to help vulnerable people lead fulfilling, self-directed, healthy lives that promote independence, while recognizing the value of and utilizing supports from families and the community.
7. We will actively promote collaboration in pursuit of innovation, increased value and improved outcomes for the benefit of all our citizens.
8. We will align resources to achieve positive outcomes and hold ourselves accountable for achieving results.

MEASURING OUR ACCOUNTABILITY FOR OUTCOMES

1. Triple the number of individuals who self-direct their long-term services and supports.
2. Expand the use of integrated healthcare for all individuals with complex medical needs who are enrolled in publicly-financed health care programs.
3. Ensure every child while in the foster care system has a medical home.
4. Reduce the rate of growth in the per capita cost of each population group.
5. Adopt innovative models of care such as peer supports for special populations.
6. Reduce the prevalence of acquired pressure ulcers in acute care and long-term care settings.
7. Reduce the incidence of falls in Wisconsin nursing homes.
8. Comply with the requirement that Continuing Care Plans are transmitted (and includes all required elements) to the next level of care provider within 5 days of the patient’s discharge.
9. Monitor the incidence of civil patient re-admission within 30 days following treatment at Mendota Mental Health Institute (MMHI) and Winnebago Mental Health Institute (WMHI).
10. Reduce the incidence of preventable admissions and re-admissions to institution-based care.
11. Ensure that the three state Centers meet the Baldrige National Quality Indicators and participate in the Wisconsin Center for Performance Excellence program.
12. Expand and improve program integrity efforts to increase compliance and reduce the incidence and risk of fraud or misuse of department funds.
13. Improve management and control funds appropriated to administer the Medicaid program.
14. Reduce preterm, low-birth weight and infant mortality rates for BadgerCare Plus HMO members in Southeastern Wisconsin.

Last Revised: March 25, 2013