In this section
Children's legislative priorities
Improving Medicaid access to high-quality healthcare
Medicaid is the largest children's health program in the U.S. and covers a broad range of healthcare services with few costs paid by the family. Wisconsin ensures all children, ages birth to 19, have access to health insurance, regardless of income. About 53% of children served at Children's are covered by Medicaid. In 2018, Children's provided over $82 million in uncompensated care; that is why the Medicaid reimbursement rate is very important to our hospital's ability to provide the best care for kids.
Preventing injuries and keeping kids safe
We want our children to be healthy and safe, but they are surrounded by potential for harm on a daily basis. Fortunately, the injuries and illnesses that impact most children can be avoided. Children's helps educate families to provide a safe environment for their children. This includes care seat safety, bike safety, promoting safe sleep environments and teen driving safety.
Promoting public health
In order to strive towards our vision to have Wisconsin's children be the healthiest in the nation, we look beyond the patients and clients we serve to help whole communities. It is important that children are thriving in healthy physical, mental and social emotional environments. This includes ensuring that children are immunized and have access to appropriate asthma care, that they're kept safe from violence, their homes are safe from poisoning risks and that they're able to obtain proper oral healthcare.
Increasing research funding
Children's Research Institute advances pediatric medical research for children in Wisconsin and beyond. We focus on translational research - taking discoveries from the laboratory and converting them to new therapies at patients' bedsides. We invest significant funds in cutting-edge research to help improve the lives of children and families. Increased funding enhances our ability to study and research pediatric-specific illnesses and diseases, determine ways to improve care and find cures to improve children's health.
Supporting foster care and adoption
Children's works with families after a report of child abuse, neglect and/or if a child is unsafe in their home. Children who need foster and adoptive homes come from various backgrounds and have a wide range of unique needs. Children's collaborates with local and state agencies to ensure that children's cases are handled appropriately and that our most vulnerable children are protected and given safe, supportive physical, mental, and emotional care.
Federal letters of support and testimony
- May 2023 – Coalition letter to Congressional leadership re: Pediatric Subspecialty Loan Repayment Program funding
- April 2023 – Project ADAM letter re: Access to AEDs Act
- April 2023 – Coalition letter re: Child Abuse Prevention & Treatment Act funding and Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention Grants
- April 2023 – Coalition letter to Congressional leadership re: gun violence prevention funding for research
- March 2023 – DEA comment letter re: telemedicine prescribing
- March 2023 – FDA comment letter re: lead in baby food
- March 2023 – Coalition letter to Congressional leadership re: community violence intervention and youth violence prevention funds
- March 2023 – Coalition letter to Congresswoman Moore re: menthol cigarettes and little cigars
- December 2022 – Coalition letter to Congressional leadership re: Verifying Accurate Leading-edge In-Vitro Clinical Test Development (VALID) Act
- November 2022 – Children's letter to Congressional delegation on key end-of-year priorities
- November 2022 – Coalition letter to Congressional leadership in support of Access to Genetic Counselor Services Act
- November 2022 – Letter to Congressional leadership on orphan drugs, pediatric pharmaceuticals, pediatric medical devices and more to support kids with rare diseases
- September 2022 – Letter to Wisconsin congressional delegation on Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV)
- September 2022 – CMS comment letter on Physician Fee Schedule
- August 2022 – Response to Health and Human Services request for information on primary care
- July 2022 – FDA comment letter on menthol in cigarettes and flavored cigars
- July 2022 – Coalition letter to Senator Baldwin on FDA role in tobacco and e-cigarette regulations
- May 2022 – Wisconsin pediatric provider letter to Congressional delegation on kids' mental and behavioral health
- April 2022 – Firearm morbidity and mortality prevention research at CDC and NIH
- April 2022 – U.S. House coalition support letter for Supporting Children's Mental Health Care Access Act
- March 2022 – Child Poverty Reduction Act coalition letter to congressional leadership
- March 2022 – Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program reauthorization coalition support letter
- March 2022 – FDA regulation of synthetic nicotine coalition letter
- February 2022 – U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Statement for the Record - Dr. Smriti Khare
State letters of support and testimony
- May 2023 – Safe harbor testimony to end charging youth victims of sex trafficking with prostitution
- May 2023 – Hospital CEO letter to support hospitals in caring for patients covered by Medicaid
- May 2023 – Air ambulance respiratory therapist testimony
- April 2023 – Joint Finance Committee testimony on Family Resource Centers and Triple P Positive Parenting Program
- April 2023 – Joint Finance Committee testimony on Dental Clinic
- March 2023 – Postpartum eligibility extension testimony
- February 2023 – Coalition letter on postpartum eligibility extension
- May 2022 – Wisconsin Department of Health Services comment letter on postpartum coverage extension
- February 2022 – 30th Street Industrial Corridor health system support letter to WI DOT Secretary Thompson
- January 2022 – Prohibiting mandated insurance "white bagging" for clinician administered drugs
- November 2021 – Coalition memo to Governor Evers re: child abuse and neglect prevention funding
- October 2021 – Postpartum coverage extension testimony SB 562
- October 2021 – Pediatric health organization memo re: COVID-19 and keeping kids safe and in school
- September 2021 – Tobacco 21 Senate Dr. Diaz testimony
- September 2021 – Tobacco 21 Senate Dr. Amos testimony
- August 2021 – ATV passenger safety coalition testimony
- August 2021 – Short-term limited duration insurance plans
- July 2021 – Children's Advocacy Network 2021-23 Wisconsin state budget update
- June 2021 – Wisconsin Plumbing Code Advisory Committee coalition memo re: water stations in schools
- June 2021– Sudden cardiac arrest awareness for student athletes testimony AB 82
- May 2021 – Wisconsin pediatric health organizations letter re: COVID-19
- May 2021 – Wisconsin Hospital Association Chief Medical Officer letter re: COVID-19
- May 2021 – Medicaid postpartum coverage coalition memo
- March 2021 – PAH coal tar-based sealants testimony AB 131
- March 2021 – Dental therapy cosponsorship coalition memo
Milwaukee area letters of support and testimony
- February 2023 – Milwaukee County American Rescue Plan Act Allocation Task Force re: lead poisoning prevention
- May 2022 – Milwaukee Market Match program Finance Committee testimony
- October 2021 – Coalition memo to Milwaukee County Executive and Supervisors re: Market Match fruit and vegetable incentive program
- September 2021 – Triple P, The Parenting Network coalition letter to Milwaukee Common Council re: American Rescue Plan Act funds for parent and family supports
- July 2021 – Health care system coalition letter to Mayor Barrett re: American Rescue Plan Act funds for violence prevention
- July 2020 – Letter to Wauwatosa Common Council re: mask ordinance
- July 2020 – Coalition letter to Mayor Barrett re: mask ordinance
- April 2019 - Wauwatosa Equity & Inclusion Commission Support Letter
- March 2019 - Dr. Paradis Milwaukee Common Council Steering & Rules Committee testimony on lead poisoning prevention
Join our advocacy network
Children's Advocacy Network will keep you up-to-date on issues affecting children's health and well-being so you can contact your legislators on topics that matter to you.
Contact us
For information about our advocacy efforts, email us.