4/11/11 UPDATE: You can keep up with the list of upcoming DHS Town Hall Meetings by going to the DHS Town Hall Meeting website.

The following information was shared byDAWN (Disability Advocates: Wisconsin Network).* This post will be updated as additional town meetings are announced.

The Department of Health Services (DHS) has announced a second Town Hall Meeting will be held in Fennimore on Tuesday, April 5. The meeting willtake place from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at South West Technical College inthe Lenz Conference Center in the Kramer Building (Building 300), 1800Bronson Blvd., Fennimore, WI.

The first Town Hall Meeting is in Eau Claire on March 30 at 1 p.m. atChippewa Valley Technical College in the WI Business Education Center,Room 103 Auditorium, 620 W. Clairemont Ave., Eau Claire.

The purpose of these meetings is for DHS to gather ideas from the publicon cost efficiencies, savings, and improved outcomes to the statesMedicaid programs. These ideas will help DHS develop plans designed toimprove overall consumer care, streamline program delivery and stabilizeprograms to ensure long-term sustainability.

Those who testify will have up to three minutes to share theircost-saving ideas. People can also submit their written testimony at themeeting. Testimony will also be accepted via email to DHS DeputySecretary Kitty Rhoades at
DHSDeputySecretaryKittyRhoades@dhs.wisconsin.govor via U.S. mail toSecretary Dennis Smith, Room 650, 1 W. Wilson St., Madison, WI, 53703.

DHS can gather ideas on all Medical Assistance programs, includingSeniorCare, BadgerCare Plus, Family Care, IRIS (Include, Respect, ISelf-Direct) and other long-term care programs.

People who require special accommodations to attend or participate inthe meeting should notify DHS at608-266-9622(TTY888-701-1250).

For more information, contact Beth Swedeen atbeth.swedeen@wisconsin.gov.

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* DAWN is a grassroots, statewide network of people who care about disability issues and is a project of the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities (BPDD). You can also sign up for the DAWN email networkto receive announcements directly.