[{"_1":2,"_109":-5,"_110":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":-5,"_68":69,"_70":-5,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6448835,"mediaKeyId","2574153-88a26d462791cc1baa0f2ee756b31751","parentId",2574153,"title","Committee hears support for bill allowing unaccompanied minors to consent to medically necessary care","audioSeconds",1917,"startMs",6108000,"endMs",8025000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2574153-88a26d462791cc1baa0f2ee756b31751&start=6108&end=8025","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2574153-88a26d462791cc1baa0f2ee756b31751/thumbnail_6108000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6448835/Committee-hears-support-for-bill-allowing-unaccompanied-minors-to-consent-to-medically-necessary-care","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6448835-347dc9c0b20ba5e4738cf38eda28a654/orig.mp4?Expires=1770506424&Signature=b1PuGrq39ZVPjX0HekQIA2iXguUUmvf6n~CxCd20MecFnC8wkSiYengPZrkj2nqtBhkfpzgR3Vue2oJqd2tunxD06XtOBOoRNYlOar8jv3k0tePNzUGxSl2mzdTpFPYDV~9qGxqJudgCVaArxXMzFo6milhPLCuPl~jnFZDjfTf6Fe5UDlNgzMUd7hQU4q7sEmMojnHxNrm5TF1R5TyAVD9vwdeOg-KYdaFfBi9bFO9ix8FqSOGtqjGdMBhry0tjtH-g~-5P-luvN07HX6SYfg9x~arcO2xwwBxVCnhdwJ281K01Jkw3CLdADk0Lorv6ww6lQlcsFBe5zEeF02T3fg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Wisconsin Legislature","date","2025-03-12T00:00:00Z","article","A Senate committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 70, which would allow unaccompanied minors 14 and older to consent to medically necessary care when they lack a parent or guardian. Sponsors and advocates said the measure would close gaps that leave homeless and unaccompanied youth without access to routine and follow‑up medical services.

Senator Rachel Cabral Guevara told the committee that school data show more than 2,100 unaccompanied youth were identified in Wisconsin public schools in the most recent count and that roughly 18,000 school‑age children were identified as experiencing homelessness. Advocates from SchoolHouse Connection and the Wisconsin Association for Homeless and Runaway Services described state and federal certification procedures that would verify an unaccompanied youth’s status before clinicians provide care under the bill.

Rod, director of state policy for SchoolHouse Connection, testified the bill targets medically necessary care, not elective or cosmetic services, and noted that 35 other states and Washington, D.C., have enacted similar laws. He said the measure builds on Wisconsin’s 2019 law that allowed minors to consent to shelter services and said the proposed medical consent provision would be a logical next step.

Local providers and youth advocates gave examples of young people who faced long delays or outright denials when parents were unreachable. Justin Kearney, program manager at Briarpatch Youth Services, described a shelter client with panic attacks who was transported to an emergency room but could not be treated for two hours because staff could not reach the legal guardian.

Jessica Pfeiffer, a systems navigator for Project 1649 in Rock County, described a teenager who repeatedly suffered gallbladder attacks but could not receive removal surgery until age 18 because parental consent could not be obtained; she said the condition limited the youth’s work and schooling. Witnesses said the bill requires written certification from designated local liaisons, shelter intake staff or program directors before care is provided under the statute.

Supporters asked lawmakers to keep the bill focused on medically necessary care and emphasized that it would not displace parental authority when a parent or guardian is available.

Ending: The committee received broad support from homelessness and youth‑service organizations; no organized opposition was recorded during the hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Committee on Health and Assembly Committee on Health, Aging and Long-Term Care March 12, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 70 would permit certain unaccompanied youth 14 and older to consent to medically necessary care when they lack a parent or guardian; advocates said the change would remove barriers encountered by homeless and unaccompanied youth.","taxTitle","taxId",0,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":-5,"_68":69,"_70":-5,"_71":72,"_73":72},6448840,"Committee hears brief support for allowing nurse practitioners to pronounce death",408,5687000,6095000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2574153-88a26d462791cc1baa0f2ee756b31751&start=5687&end=6095","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2574153-88a26d462791cc1baa0f2ee756b31751/thumbnail_5687000.jpg","/articles/6448840/Committee-hears-brief-support-for-allowing-nurse-practitioners-to-pronounce-death","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6448840-168b96c587b6ccd3c5a8c985705d8cc2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770506424&Signature=f8P4abz4CNiWNilmYqQBueGm-mJ-ag299GSmVusveoUfCYlo6I6nKybZeZf9v3GGzdJNrSF5XGL4yOQrPZSi9fa8W4eNMob-8XhmKXZ2efXR3bDOcAjUsQGBRY4usu8PQR4lBQQUANC42KWI4JFt9o86W4LTkqxZuV20N77KnAehe-nX6VJPr-yg-oWoUacjqZhDTN3K18z3wPneJWoFNVefyKTPPsGdAM7GviViTIeOjCB6hJeG00UG9OhISpSzz6P7Nnqvrb~i2x5iYuZ-P1rhoKOTP6cBmitwXvyMqfroUoxO6dMOuGYy1MwErzrXhwatJ0h47DvZFuSQKttYEg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate committee received brief, unanimous testimony supporting Senate Bill 43, which would authorize advanced practice registered nurses — including nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists and clinical nurse specialists — to pronounce death for purposes of documenting the time, date and place of death.

Representative Summerfield and witnesses from nursing organizations said the measure aligns Wisconsin with at least 36 other states and would reduce delays in completing death records and ease burdens on families and emergency personnel. Gina Denic Champion of the Wisconsin Nurses Association, representing the association, said APRNs are educated and experienced in patient assessment and end‑of‑life care and that expanding authority would be particularly helpful in rural and underserved areas.

“I think the biggest thing … is helping the families grieve,” a witness said during testimony, describing how quicker completion of the pronouncement and record process can reduce additional stress.

Witnesses described no organized opposition. The committee did not take a final vote during the hearing.","Senate Bill 43 would add advanced practice nurses to the list of providers who can record time, date and place of death for death certificate purposes; witnesses said it would reduce delays and help families, particularly in rural areas.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":-5,"_68":69,"_70":-5,"_71":72,"_73":72},6448845,"Senate hearing: proponents push pharmacy access to prescription contraceptives; opponents cite safety and conscience concerns",994,2901000,3895000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2574153-88a26d462791cc1baa0f2ee756b31751&start=2901&end=3895","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2574153-88a26d462791cc1baa0f2ee756b31751/thumbnail_2901000.jpg","/articles/6448845/Senate-hearing-proponents-push-pharmacy-access-to-prescription-contraceptives-opponents-cite-safety-and-conscience-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6448845-caa735d1c6bd19697cefc50fe7665ac7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770506424&Signature=ULQ5So4CgbzCmsMLwvoY5EUeq6jhSzAXDgeEIkYmsMlGmrku1084ZRueL8aldz9tUQAr-iYFhbbRn39ZvxChvNPhOPurM3SVA1immELKhe6E631yl3hVIa0W2dcEsHVMMLw2nFxJJ~AhcUbJ3YjHC1eDuxfFjexbK7eBlzfYnTcPz1lt73CBw8ZpX4t2nqzMchygzEld3qfyawZA5oGz8pfEKXJoWGCxP~bRgGP4XbsGNmJZlfN2gA7n6iLhsH1nZLpYxRuptBHQG-zWzZqdScdd6wQ40wkc9PAKzXHNc7D4vsnNpxreeUZ5YiTyEmvWNK1ve2I~XXgUUNzHnxXneA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Senate committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 42, which would authorize pharmacists to prescribe certain self‑administered hormonal contraceptives, including oral contraceptive pills and the patch, to people 18 and older after a self‑screening questionnaire and blood‑pressure check.

The bill’s sponsors and medical proponents said the measure would expand access and reduce unintended pregnancies, noting that 30 states and Washington, D.C., have enacted similar laws. Senator Rachel Cabral Guevara and Representative Kitchens described evidence showing a substantial portion of unintended pregnancies are associated with lack of consistent contraceptive access and said pharmacist prescribing is an evidence‑based way to reduce those barriers.

“Pharmacists are uniquely positioned to provide these services within community pharmacies,” said Marina Mays, a faculty member at a school of pharmacy and a primary‑care pharmacist. Mays noted that 99.7 percent of Wisconsinites live within 30 minutes of a pharmacy and described studies showing strong agreement between patient self‑screening and clinician evaluation for contraindications.

The bill requires pharmacists to use a self‑screening questionnaire developed with guidance from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, perform a blood‑pressure screening, and report the prescription to the patient’s primary health care provider. Participation by pharmacists is voluntary, and the bill includes a requirement that pharmacists who prescribe carry malpractice liability insurance.

Opponents included the Wisconsin Catholic Conference and Pro Life Wisconsin. Tia Itzia of the Wisconsin Catholic Conference said pharmacists lack the comprehensive diagnostic relationship and access to medical records that physicians have and raised a list of potential health risks she said require ongoing evaluation by a doctor. “Hormonal contraceptives are potent drugs that have been shown to increase the risk of serious diseases,” she said in testimony submitted to the committee.

Matt Sandy of Pro Life Wisconsin told the committee he and his organization oppose the bill on moral grounds and argued that many hormonal methods can act, in some cases, after fertilization by altering the uterine lining and preventing implantation — a mechanism he characterized as abortifacient. He cited medical literature and urged the committee to oppose broader access.

Supporters pushed back on claims of increased clinical risk, citing guidance from ACOG and the Centers for Disease Control that screening for many contraceptives requires no physical exam beyond blood‑pressure measurement, and that pregnancy itself carries higher thromboembolism risk than most contraceptives. Several speakers noted Oregon’s experience after passage of similar law: a published analysis estimated reduced unintended pregnancies and taxpayer savings in the first two years.

Committee members asked whether the malpractice requirement is mandatory and how the bill protects pharmacists’ conscience rights; sponsors said pharmacists’ participation is voluntary and the bill includes insurance requirements for participating pharmacists but raised concerns about corporate pressures that could arise.

The committee did not take a final vote during the hearing.

Ending: The hearing gathered medical, legal and ethical testimony on access and safety; lawmakers signaled further consideration of liability and conscience protections before final action.","Supporters said Senate Bill 42 would reduce unintended pregnancies by allowing pharmacists to prescribe certain hormonal contraceptives for adults 18 and older; opponents, including the Wisconsin Catholic Conference and Pro Life Wisconsin, raised medical‑safety, conscience and abortifacient concerns.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":69,"_45":102,"_47":103,"_49":104,"_51":105,"_53":106,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":107,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":108,"_67":-5,"_68":69,"_70":-5,"_71":72,"_73":72},6448850,"Wisconsin hearing exposes split over proposed palliative care advisory council and statutory definition",2879,2879000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2574153-88a26d462791cc1baa0f2ee756b31751&start=0&end=2879","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2574153-88a26d462791cc1baa0f2ee756b31751/thumbnail_0.jpg","/articles/6448850/Wisconsin-hearing-exposes-split-over-proposed-palliative-care-advisory-council-and-statutory-definition","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6448850-ce16bf51e33b753b6c1ae2f546bf4d5f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770506424&Signature=EgQ5XBpKZsXq1WysuE0-izy9ARZPBrFP6pXn9MoCo6YdTxGelAWRagdpxRODdGPdNB9DwRsBbseBYtHL12t4IMSEIrTgz6x2VgycTVGI889rJYXp1pWOMxIgtCgli8F4A-VLzQBj4OmMBM~6gznhLVXC~SSnAD5RQhgVWnlNYTNDMYobz9Bx0U0-WxWob1nMSddOM2NHQd5ze0feEtaMPLCALlWJDFsvkNIYeKPo1B23fwsBsgvAl-FqctezMIHqiZ95zQrlKIDtMkSaYXOY323LAJf3JPEkmN1PxS~PeSzBZO5de6hZwSTgYqM2d75GUfLSJTfIacBMIpz0mW9etQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Senate committee heard sharply divided testimony on Senate Bill 39 on Jan. 27, as proponents said an advisory council would expand access to palliative care in Wisconsin while religious and pro‑life groups pushed for statutory language to prohibit any practices that hasten death.

Supporters including hospice and palliative care practitioners told the committee the council would help coordinate services, educate clinicians and the public, and raise Wisconsin’s readiness to provide palliative care. Carrie Schupp, general manager and registered nurse at VITAS Healthcare and a board member of the Wisconsin Hospice and Palliative Care Association, said the state scored two‑and‑a‑half stars on a readiness metric and cited 22 other states with palliative care advisory bodies.

“Palliative care lengthens life. It gives patients better quality of life,” Schupp said, adding that many clinicians and clinics refer patients to palliative teams because primary care and specialty visits often lack time for goals‑of‑care conversations.

Opponents, led by Pro Life Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Catholic Conference, said they supported palliative pain relief but remained concerned that palliative programs could be used inappropriately to hasten death. Matt Sandy, legislative director for Pro Life Wisconsin, urged lawmakers to amend the statutory definition of palliative care to explicitly exclude practices that hasten or assist death and to add pharmacists and anesthesiologists to any advisory council.

“I encourage you to read his testimony,” Sandy said, referring to medical testimony submitted by allied clinicians, and argued that amending a statutory definition would provide clearer legal protections than the bill’s current language. He pointed to Wisconsin statute 940.12, the criminal prohibition on assisting suicide, and said the change would “buttress” existing law.

Committee members and legislative counsel discussed constitutional and First Amendment limits on restricting the scope of advisory councils. Legislative counsel told the panel there is no controlling First Amendment precedent that forbids a legislature from specifying the scope of a state advisory body and noted the government‑speech doctrine.

Medical witnesses described how palliative care teams operate, how palliative care differs from hospice, and how palliative services can keep patients comfortable at home and reduce avoidable hospital visits. Dr. Egon Ismaili, a physician board‑certified in palliative and hospice care, gave clinical examples of symptom control, coordination with cardiology and pulmonology, and telepalliative models to reach rural patients.

Several witnesses described ownership patterns in the field and financial pressures. Testimony submitted and cited in the hearing noted that many hospital palliative programs are affiliated with hospice and that insurers and large providers own some community palliative programs; witnesses warned that program financial structures can affect clinical practice and called for transparent safeguards.

Committee members asked whether the bill’s current language — which the proponents said includes some protections on advice and consultation — adequately prevents misuse in clinical practice. Proponents said the page‑5 protections address consultation content but not in‑field practice, while opponents said adding an explicit statutory definition that excludes hastening death would resolve their concerns.

The hearing closed with committee members thanking witnesses and indicating ongoing interest in refining statutory language and council membership. No formal vote was recorded during the hearing.

Ending: The committee did not take final action during the hearing. Members signaled they may consider amendments addressing definition language and council membership before recommending passage.","Supporters said a state advisory council would expand access and coordination of palliative care; opponents including Pro Life Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Catholic Conference urged a statutory definition excluding any practice that hastens death and sought additional clinician seats on the council.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears support for bill allowing unaccompanied minors to consent to medically necessary care

Committee hears brief support for allowing nurse practitioners to pronounce death

Senate hearing: proponents push pharmacy access to prescription contraceptives; opponents cite safety and conscience concerns

Wisconsin hearing exposes split over proposed palliative care advisory council and statutory definition