WHCA/WiCAL’s 2nd Annual CEO Summit: Another enjoyable, educational and productive event!
Long Term Care sector CEO’s and clinical and management leaders gathered in Madison for WHCA/WiCAL’s 2nd Annual CEO Summit on Tuesday, July 22nd. Our leaders spent the day receiving updates from the goings on in Madison and Washington.
After welcoming remarks from Board President Steve Kuranz and WHCA/WiCAL CEO Rick Abrams, members heard a presentation from Eric Koch, Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs, on the current political landscape and expectations heading into 2026, an overview of the state budget, current legislation and regulations impacting long-term care providers, and an update on the federal budget reconciliation process.
Following Eric’s primer and Q&A session, participants heard from Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Joint Committee on Finance Co-Chair Senator Howard Marklein with their insider take on the budget process, projections for the 2026 election cycle, and some healthy discussion from members on regulatory issues and other issues we could work on this Legislative Session that isn’t focused on spending.
Before lunch we received a legal review from Stacy Gerber Ward and new colleague Tristan Dollinger from von Briesen & Roper, touching on the current status on bed transfers and the pause on Quick CHOWS, as well as some updated information on Assisted living rights of tenants and residents.
After lunch we heard from Legislators on the other side of the aisle, Democratic Minority Leaders Representative Greta Neubauer and Senator Dianne Hesselbein. The Democratic Leaders provided an overview of their caucuses, their policy priorities, and their take on the 2026 election season.
Moving on from Legislative updates, Department of Health Services Deputy Secretary Deb Standridge provided some in depth information regarding the Department’s engagement on the State Budget Bill, what the federal Reconciliation Bill means for Wisconsin, and other priorities and efforts the Department is currently undertaking. Deputy Secretary Standridge shared her perspective as a former hospital administrator, her experience as regulated and regulator, as well as a hope for constructive partnership with WHCA-WiCAL and members on issues moving forward.
Joining the group from Washington, DC, AHCA-NCAL’s CEO Clif Porter delivered remarks with some updates on the Reconciliation Bill, demographic challenges moving forward, and the regulatory priorities and suggestions that AHCA-NCAL is working on with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Center for Medicaid Services to rationalize the regulatory framework.
Lastly, we closed the day with a panel of folks from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services’ Alfred Johnson, acting Administrator for the Division of Quality Assurance, Jessica Radtke, the new Director for the Bureau of Nursing Home Resident Care, and Ken Brotheridge, the Director for the Bureau of Assisted Living. Jessica gave updates on efforts from DQA, WHCA-WiCAL, and LeadingAge Wisconsin to reset the working relationship between providers and surveyors. Efforts are ongoing internally at the Bureau and we expect to see some new documentation on goals for resetting the tone in the coming weeks. Additionally, Ken discussed the new guidance from the Bureau on electronic monitoring devices in assisted living facilities. Alfred emphasized that the efforts on the survey process are a work in progress and that it will take time for changes, and that he hopes that there continues to be a dialogue between facility staff and surveyors, folks at WHCA-WICAL and the Department, and that as issues come up that you let your RFOD know and Jessica know so that situations can be looked into and resolved.
A huge thank you to the sponsors of this event, the attendees and the speakers. Thank you for the thoughtful and productive conversations, and for your engagement with the decisionmakers in Madison. We welcome any questions or comments on any of the presentations as well as suggestions for continual improvement and how the event could be even more successful next year.
