Wisconsin Group Purchasing Arrangements

In 2003, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle (D) signed legislation into law that creates five regional health care purchasing alliances to bring farmers and small businesses into one pool per region. These cooperatives allow groups to directly negotiate with health plans. In 2005, Governor Doyle passed new legislation that removes limits on the number of cooperatives that can be developed in the state. By encouraging the establishment of cooperatives, the hope is that not only will more uninsured individuals access health insurance, but also that competition will increase among carriers and create more options for coverage.