Wisconsin Partnership Program Releases 2009 Annual Report

The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, in coordination with the Oversight and Advisory Committee (OAC) and the Medical Education and Research Committee (MERC), has released the 2009 annual report of the Wisconsin Partnership Program (WPP).

Read the Wisconsin Partnership Program Annual Report (pdf)

The report covers activities and expenditures from January 1, 2009, through December 31, 2009. It has been prepared in accordance with the Insurance Commissioner's Order; the Agreement between the Wisconsin United for Health Foundation, Inc. (WUHF), the University of Wisconsin Foundation, and the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents; and the 2009-2014 Five-Year Plan.

Each of these documents was created to guide the distribution of the funds resulting from Blue Cross and Blue Shield United of Wisconsin's conversion to a for-profit corporation.

The report's highlights include:

Lifecourse Initiative for Healthy Families: The Wisconsin Partnership Program, through the Oversight and Advisory Committee, continued its commitment to addressing the startling infant mortality rates in Wisconsin's African-American community. The Wisconsin Partnership Program has committed up to $10 million to this effort, which began to further take shape in 2009.

MERC's Mission Expands: In accordance with the Five-Year Plan, the Medical Education and Research Committee reorganized around an expanded mission, adding community engagement to its existing educational and research commitments.

Focusing on the Future: In November, the Oversight and Advisory Committee identified promoting healthy weight, physical activity, good nutrition and reducing the incidence and severity of overweight and obesity as its next targeted focus area.

Endowment recovers: The Wisconsin Partnership Program successfully weathered the difficult financial conditions of 2008-2009. Some of the steps were difficult, including reduction in award amounts to existing and future grantees. In response, the Oversight and Advisory Committee and the Medical Education and Research Committee have crafted new funding guidelines that will ensure their ability to make awards annually in even the roughest economic conditions while protecting the value of the endowment.

Key Grant Awards: The Medical Education and Research Committee reauthorized a number of its key targeted initiatives, such as the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin, the Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, the Health Innovation Program and the Transformation of Medical Education. Meanwhile, in September, the Oversight and Advisory Committee allocated funds to six community grants projects that had been approved in 2008, but whose funding was delayed due to the deteriorating financial situation.

Measuring Our Outcomes: Between the Oversight and Advisory Committee and the Medical Education and Research Committee, 41 grant projects concluded in 2009.