Policy & Advocacy
Aging services is a basic right for everyone
Advocacy is one of LeadingAge Wisconsin’s core services. Our members know that older adults and their families deserve easy access to quality care and services in the place they call home. Our members know the only way to ensure access to quality care is through greater government investment in aging services and practical, common-sense regulatory approaches.
LeadingAge Wisconsin represents these interests before the governor’s office, the Legislature and state agencies through lobbying efforts. We closely monitor rules, regulations and reimbursement initiatives that may affect members and take a proactive role in shaping public policy.
Our policy work includes interpretation of public policy trends and consultations to help our members implement regulatory initiatives. This work not only allows LeadingAge Wisconsin to quickly help our members resolve their day-to-day concerns, it informs our advocacy work and allows us to bring real-world examples of what’s working – and what isn’t – to policymakers.
Advocacy in Action
Grassroots engagement is an essential component of our advocacy strategy. We encourage everyone who cares about quality of life for older adults and people with disabilities, access to care and the future of aging services to learn more about our latest calls to action and to share their support or opposition with their elected leaders. To learn more about the political giving arm of our advocacy efforts, please see our PAC page.
|
Take Action: Support Immigration Workforce Solutions
Ask your representatives and senators to support and enact immigration-focused policy solutions that strengthen the aging services workforce and ensure access to quality care and services for older adults.
|
Take Action: Make Medicare Telehealth Waivers Permanent
September 30, 2025 was the deadline to extend flexibilities that allow Medicare beneficiaries to receive certain healthcare services wherever they call home, via telehealth. This broad access to care has been possible through waivers of current law…
|
Take Action: Protect Affordable Housing Programs
Congress is determining fiscal year 2026 appropriations levels for the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) programs. This window is our chance to fight for strong investment in American communities…
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services - Bureau of Nursing Home Resident Care will host its April Regional Forums, members are advised to mark th… More...
Jennifer Michalak, staff development coordinator at Clement Manor in Greenfield, has been named a Veteran VIP in the McKnight’s Women of Distinction a… More...
At Rocky Knoll Health Care Center, meaningful connections happen every day, sometimes between residents and some very special visitors: preschoolers. More...
The spring session of Echelon, LeadingAge Wisconsin's assisted living quality excellence program, discussed new strategies for growing assisted living… More...
Introducing WiLQAL: A New Improvement Opportunity for Assisted Living Communities More...
Ready to make a difference on the policy issues shaping aging services? Join your peers at the LeadingAge National Leadership Summit 2026, April 20–22… More...
Marissa Janke, LeadingAge Wisconsin's VP of Development and Outreach, has been named a Veteran VIP in the McKnight’s Women of Distinction awards. More...
This spring, LeadingAge Wisconsin Bronze Sponsor Forefront is hosting a three-part virtual webinar series designed to help aging services professional… More...
This four-part, structured cohort experience is designed exclusively for NHAs and Assistant NHAs and combines practical leadership development with me… More...
Dickson Hollow and Kirkland Crossings broaden senior housing options to meet growing demand More...
Building our Long-Term Care Workforce
• Provide more resources for English as a second language training and offer the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) exam in additional languages.
• Support increased resources for CNA training, including WisCaregiver Careers.
Medicaid Reimbursement
• Support payment methodologies reasonably related to the cost of providing services.
• Support incorporating the Direct Care Workforce fund into the Medicaid cost-to-continue budget.
• Support new resources for all aging services.
Addressing Regulatory Barriers
• Inform new regulatory efforts through workgroup participation.
• Support all efforts to identify and modify regulations to reduce administrative burden on providers.
• Remove specific state-imposed burdens requiring waivers for minors to pass medications or prohibit minors from using lifts in some settings.
Wisconsin Legislation We're Watching
We continuously monitor the bills making their way through the Wisconsin Legislature to confirm our members’ best interests are represented. LeadingAge Wisconsin is a registered lobbying organization. We register in support, opposition or for informational purposes for many of the bills we track. Learn more about the bills we’re watching:
