THE VALUED VOICE

Grassroots Spotlight: WHA Virtual Roundtable with Congressman Bryan Steil

The Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA) joined hospital and health system leaders in southeast Wisconsin for a virtual roundtable with Congressman Bryan Steil on Jan. 26.

Health care leaders gave Rep. Steil an update on the improving picture of hospital capacity, which Wisconsin has been fortunate to experience while other states across the country have seen caseloads climb. While hospital capacity has increased, Wisconsin hospitals and health systems are working through the initial challenges of the COVID vaccine rollout and are seeing large increases in demand for vaccinations now that the age 65+ population is eligible.

Congressman Steil described how he has been pushing the federal government to provide more transparency over the vaccine allocation process, noting that Wisconsin was near the bottom of states in the number of vaccine doses received on a per-capita basis.

WHA members in the 1st Congressional District reported that they have seen significant supply constraints that have impaired their ability to vaccinate to the fullest capacity their infrastructure will allow. They are eager to see supply lines improve and are optimistic that greater transparency in future allocations at the federal level will also aid planning efforts at the state level.

For more information, contact WHA Vice President of Federal and State Relations Jon Hoelter.