EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WRN) – Lawmakers in the Chippewa Valley want to reallocate untapped state funds towards emergency services grants.
It’s 15 million dollars that was allocated in the last state budget for HSHS to provide expanded mental health capacity. That never happened.
“The 15 million sat in the trust fund, and now we’re looking to reappropriating it,” said State Senator Jesse James. He said the closure of HSHS hospitals will mean a loss of emergency services.
“HSHS, St. Joseph’s campus and Sacred Heart campus accounted for almost 40% of the ER visits,” James said.
Two bills would free up the money, and allow it to be used for grants to fund emergency services in the area. HSHS hospitals in Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire are set to close in April.