News Releases: 2023

Tomorrow, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) will join countless other organizations around the state and across the country to observe the 35th annual World AIDS Day by honoring, celebrating, and advocating for those who have been impacted by HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), a virus that weakens a person’s immune system by destroying the body’s cells that fight disease and infection.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), along with the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP), local health departments, and federal partners, is working to investigate a multistate outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to cantaloupes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 43 people in 15 states have been infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella. This includes at least four people from Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services' (DHS) most recent weekly Respiratory Virus Surveillance Report shows that flu, COVID-19, and RSV cases are increasing, with the state especially seeing an increase in hospitalizations of young children infected with RSV.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) reports that underage tobacco and vape sales increased to 13.6% in 2023 from 11.9% in 2022. These are the results of the Synar Survey, an annual statewide assessment of the retailer violation rate for underage sale of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. In 2019, the rate was 5.5% and reached its highest point in 2021 when the rate was 14.1%. On average, underage tobacco and vape sales have increased 140% since 2019.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is announcing new accountability measures aimed at preventing fraud and improving health outcomes for child care coordination, a Medicaid post-birth benefit created under state law to address health disparities in southeastern Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) today launched a new service that will transform the support structure for families of children with delays, disabilities, special health care needs, or mental health conditions.

The Wisconsin Addiction Recovery Helpline reached a significant milestone this month – five years of connecting state residents experiencing substance use concerns with local services and support.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is celebrating the 25th anniversary of aging and disability resource centers (ADRCs) helping older adults and people with disabilities in our state to thrive. ADRCs were first piloted in 1998 in nine counties and have since expanded to cover all 72 Wisconsin counties and 11 federally recognized Tribal Nations in the state, providing connections to resources like adaptive equipment, dementia care services, meal delivery, and more.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is marking National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week by encouraging all Wisconsinites to take steps to end childhood lead poisoning by getting the facts, helping children get tested for lead exposure, and checking homes for lead hazards.

The Department of Health Services (DHS) will be adding a fourth site to a program initiated in 2020 that pilots a hub and spoke approach to treating Wisconsin Medicaid members affected by substance use disorder and physical and behavioral health issues that challenge their efforts in recovery. Vin Baker Recovery of Milwaukee was selected in a process earlier this year.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has issued a memo to health care providers in the state calling for increased awareness and testing for the sexually transmitted infection (STI) syphilis. Recently released 2022 surveillance data show a continued rise in cases in the state.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has awarded grants to six law enforcement agencies to support their work addressing the opioid epidemic in our state.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is calling on Wisconsinites to make a plan to get vaccinated against respiratory illnesses this fall. The reminder comes as the updated COVID-19 vaccine has received federal regulatory approval, a new annual flu vaccine is available, and a vaccine and antibody to prevent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is on the market.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is lifting up substance use prevention efforts across the state through a new grant program and awards recognizing exceptional work by partners who are improving the health and safety of people and communities. The announcements are part of the Wisconsin Substance Use Prevention Conference happening today and tomorrow in the Wisconsin Dells and online.

A new report from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) finds that falls are a leading cause of injury and death in Wisconsin. The report, EMS and Falls in Wisconsin, shows that, in 2022, emergency medical services (EMS) providers responded to over 130,000 falls across the state, the top injury they responded to.

Today, Paula Tran, state health officer and administrator for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) Division of Public Health, has been selected by the de Beaumont Foundation as one of its Class of 2023 40 Under 40 in Public Health leaders.

Today, on International Overdose Awareness Day, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is expanding its commitment to ending drug overdoses and related harms. Grants have been awarded to 15 county, municipal, nonprofit, and tribal nation agencies to make life-saving resources more available in communities with a high need through vending machines in public places stocked with free fentanyl test strips and NARCAN®, a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose. 

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has renewed its commitment to a statewide network of substance use prevention coalitions - the Alliance for Wisconsin Youth - by awarding grants to three partners working to build a healthier Wisconsin. Community Advocates, Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, and Northeastern Wisconsin Area Health Education Center will act as regional coordinators for the Alliance for Wisconsin Youth.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) and Public Health Madison & Dane County have confirmed the first human case of West Nile virus in a Wisconsin resident this year. The individual is a resident of Dane County. Cases of West Nile virus have also been reported in three horses in Wisconsin and several mosquito pools.

With the school year around the corner, the Department of Health Services (DHS) welcomes CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen today to Wisconsin as part of a nationwide call to action to ensure children are ready for a healthy school year.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) recently launched an initiative to train 10,000 people as certified direct care professionals (CDCPs) to combat the state’s shortage of caregivers. The self-paced curriculum includes direct care topics such as safety, ethics, and communication.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announces a new phone line is now available allowing all Wisconsinites to share their successes and challenges with a peer who will listen and offer support.

Today the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) launched a new webpage showing statewide data in BadgerCare Plus and Wisconsin Medicaid enrollment following the end of the federal continuous coverage requirement that had kept members enrolled during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) today is recognizing the positive impact the 988 Wisconsin Lifeline has had in the year since the service began taking calls, texts, and online chats. From July 2022 through June 2023, the 988 Wisconsin Lifeline received 91,834 contacts for mental health and substance use support.

Today the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced the selection of 90 awardees for Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) grants that will improve services for people who are older or have a disability, helping them remain in their home or community.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) will hold three listening sessions and offer an online survey to gather ideas from the public and partners about how to use nearly $15 million over the next five to nine years to reverse the harm caused by electronic nicotine delivery devices, also known as e-cigarettes or vapes. The funds are from a multi-state settlement reached with JUUL Labs, a leading manufacturer of vaping devices.  

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) today announced four organizations have received funding to help providers better serve communities that continue to experience barriers to accessing behavioral health care. Each organization has received $85,762 in one-time grants as part of an ongoing effort by DHS to improve health equity and access.

Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) Secretary-designee Kirsten Johnson joined attendees at the state’s inaugural Harm Reduction Conference in Green Bay today to announce expanded efforts to address the overdose epidemic and the devastating impact it has had on communities statewide.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has confirmed that a horse in Dunn County, Wisconsin, has tested positive for West Nile virus. The positive test is a sign that mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus are present in Wisconsin and can transmit the virus to people and other animals.

From now until August 1, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is seeking input about how we can make the Family Care and Family Care Partnership programs the best they can be. DHS will use the input to make proposed changes to the Family Care and Family Care Partnership waivers.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announces the launch of the Independent Living Supports Pilot program, which will provide eligible Wisconsinites with critical resources allowing them to continue to live independently in their homes rather than entering a Medicaid long-term care program. Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the pilot will take place in select areas of the state. Those who enroll will have access to program benefits for up to 12 months.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) reminds residents who are BadgerCare Plus or Wisconsin Medicaid members that renewals are underway, and there is a "just right" time to renew to avoid delays or gaps in coverage. For example, on May 15, DHS sent renewal packets to approximately 53,000 Wisconsin households scheduled to renew in June. DHS encourages these members to submit their renewals by June 16 to avoid any gaps in coverage.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has awarded $5.1 million in grants to 14 nonprofit dental clinics to increase access to dental care in our state. Grant awards range from $59,000 to $150,000 per clinic over three years and will enable the selected clinics to serve more children and families in need, including Medicaid members, people who have low income, people with disabilities, and people who are uninsured.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has awarded grants for a new program designed to help families and pregnant people experiencing homelessness.

 The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) released two new reports on birth outcomes that continue to shed light on how to best reduce and address significant disparities in infant deaths across Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) Secretary-designee Kirsten Johnson took the stage at the annual Opioids, Stimulant, and Trauma Summit in Wisconsin Dells today to highlight several grant awards totaling over $18 million to tribal nations and local health agencies and other partners to address opioid and other substance use disorders affecting Wisconsinites.

Almost $1.6 million in supplemental funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocated by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) to 23 county Birth to 3 programs last year is yielding positive results for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has awarded  115 state health care providers its annual “BigShot” awards for their efforts to protect children against vaccine-preventable diseases.

The federal government has announced the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency will end May 11. In Wisconsin, case numbers, hospitalizations, and deaths from COVID-19 are significantly lower than they were during the surge in late 2021 and early 2022, and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has been making plans to move away from an emergency response to the virus.

Over 4,000 people throughout Wisconsin will have access to treatment for the problem use of opioids or stimulants now through September because of $8 million in grants awarded today by the Department of Health Services (DHS) to three tribal nations and 22 county agencies. Opioids include prescription pain relievers, heroin, and fentanyl. Stimulants include cocaine and methamphetamine.

Representatives from tribal nation, state, and local agencies, as well as children and caregivers, are in Wausau today and tomorrow for the Wisconsin Children’s System of Care Summit, an event organized by the Department of Health Services (DHS) designed to advance the state’s network of services and supports for children with or at risk of a mental health, substance use, or other challenge and their families.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), including the Office of Health Equity, today join Gov. Tony Evers and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of Minority Health in recognizing National Minority Health Month.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has awarded $10 million to three organizations for construction of spaces designed to provide treatment and recovery support services for women.

Today, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) submitted its plan to use nearly $8 million in opioid settlement funds to the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance (JFC) to support prevention, harm reduction, and capital projects to address the state’s opioid crisis. The money is part of the $400 million the state receives in annual installments through an agreement with major pharmaceutical firms.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is investigating a scam that targets FoodShare members through fake text messages. DHS is alerting members to take steps now to protect their benefits.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is notifying all Wisconsinites enrolled in BadgerCare Plus or another Medicaid program they will need to renew their benefits by an assigned due date between June 2023 and May 2024.

Today, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) highlights critical portions of Gov. Evers’ 2023-2025 DHS budget proposal, which was introduced February 15, 2023. Gov. Evers dubbed it a “breakthrough budget,” leveraging Wisconsin’s unprecedented surplus to make investments in Wisconsin’s health care, behavioral health, public health, emergency response, and long-term care systems.

Gov. Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) have awarded $1 million in grants to increase access to mental health and substance use care for underserved communities. Ten organizations will each receive $100,000 to develop projects that build on the ability of behavioral health professionals to support people with diverse values and beliefs.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has opened applications for $15 million in grant funding to support Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS). HCBS help older adults or those who have disabilities live independently in their community. This is the second time Medicaid HCBS providers and agencies in Wisconsin are eligible to apply for between $25,000 to $1 million in grant funding.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announces that Wisconsin households can now get two free at-home COVID-19 self-test kits every month through the Say Yes! COVID Test website. Each test kit includes five rapid antigen tests, for a total of 10 self-tests. Self-testing allows for quick results to help people make decisions about their health to prevent spreading the virus to others and protect the health of their community.