Vos Criticizes Patients Compensation Fund Transfer
Rep. Robin Vos opened up question of OCI Commissioner Dilweg by asking if the budget proposal to transfer $175 million dollars from the Injured Patients Compensation Fund is an arbitrary number.
"Why don't we do $300 million?" asked Vos.
"Good! Done," quipped committee co-chair Sen. Decker.
Vos questioned whether the $175 million figure was merely chosen because it was the amount needed to balance the budget. He said an actuarial study from the Wisconsin Medical Society said the amount that could safely be transferred was $60 million, as did an internal OCI study. A DOA study put the figure at between $150-$200 million, Dilweg said.
Vos asked why the budgeted amount was placed within the parameters of the study done by the DOA which "needed to fill a budget hole."
Dilweg said the fund is a product of the governor and Legislature, and the governor and Legislature can decide what to do with the fund. "We'll manage through whatever number is approved," Dilweg said.
Labels: Dilweg, OCI, Patients Compensation Fund, Vos
