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Ascension Wisconsin, UnitedHealthcare reach deal to restore in-network access

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Ascension Wisconsin, UnitedHealthcare reach deal to restore in-network access


Patients with UnitedHealthcare insurance once again have in-network coverage at Ascension Wisconsin hospitals and doctors’ offices.

United and Ascension Wisconsin announced Tuesday that they reached a new multi-year agreement to give United members access to Ascension’s hospitals and providers in Wisconsin.

According to United, the deal is effective immediately and retroactive to Oct. 1, the day the insurer’s members lost coverage when the two sides failed to reach an agreement in a dispute over reimbursement rates.

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According to an Ascension Wisconsin spokesperson, services that patients received from Oct. 1 to Oct. 13 will be covered at in-network rates and patients should not be billed for out-of-network costs.

In a statement, Dustin Hinton, CEO of UnitedHealthcare Wisconsin, said the agreement restores access for people enrolled in United’s commercial, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid plans.

“Our top priority throughout the negotiation was to reach an agreement that was affordable for consumers and employers, and this agreement helps accomplish that goal,” he said.

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UnitedHealthcare said it is mailing letters out to members to let them know that Ascension Wisconsin is back in-network.

Daniel Jackson, CEO of Ascension Wisconsin, described the agreement as “more than just a contract” in a statement issued Tuesday. 

“It is a reaffirmation of our Mission to serve all with dignity and compassion,” Jackson stated. “By securing fair and sustainable reimbursement, we are able to continue supporting our caregivers, strengthening our ministries, and providing high-quality, compassionate care across the communities we serve.”

In its announcement, the health system also said that it was grateful to patients, providers and partners for their patience throughout the negotiation process. 

Ascension Wisconsin said it is not providing interviews with health system officials at this time.

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Before reaching a deal Ascension and United had been locked in a months-long contract dispute. Ascension argued United was not offering reimbursement rates that covered rising health care costs, while United argued Ascension was asking for large price hikes that would raise costs for customers and employers. 

Other negotiations between Ascension affiliates and UnitedHealthcare had gotten close to the deadline before the dispute in Wisconsin. Ascension Florida had to reach a short-term agreement with United to stay in the network during negotiations earlier this year before both sides came to a multi-year agreement.

Dan Sacks, an associate professor of risk and insurance at the University of Wisconsin School of Business, said contract disputes are a normal part of the negotiation process between health care providers and health insurers.

He said their contracts dictate what insurers pay hospitals and influence how much patients pay. But he also said it’s rare for talks to break down like they did in this case.

“It’s costly for Ascension if patients end up canceling scheduled visits. It’s very costly for patients if their care is disrupted,” Sacks said. “It ends up being costly for United if some people decide that they would rather go to a different insurer.”

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Sacks said both sides reaching a deal is “absolutely good news” for United members and Ascension patients, but it’s not such good news for those who began looking for alternative providers or canceled visits.

“For the patients who arguably did the prudent thing and rescheduled visits or canceled visits and looked for an alternative provider, they really have no recourse,” he said. “They lost a chance to get health care that they thought they were entitled to when they signed up for insurance, and now that care is delayed or it may never happen.”



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Winter weather advisory issued for southeast Wisconsin

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Winter weather advisory issued for southeast Wisconsin


The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory from 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9 through 6 a.m. Monday, Nov. 10.

This is for Milwaukee, Racine, and Kenosha counties, where heavy lake effect snow can produce 2″ to 5″ of snow with locally higher amounts possible if the snow band(s) persist longer and/or produce heavier rates of snowfall during this time. 

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Heavier amounts of snow and higher impacts continue from Lake County in Illinois through Chicago, Valparaiso, and South Haven. Northerly winds are moving very cold air over the warmer waters of Lake Michigan, creating concentrated bands of heavy snow. 

Depending on the orientation of the winds, this can move the lake effect snow bands into various areas in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan.

Trends are continuing to favor an intense band that can bring heavy snowfall to some lakeshore areas. There will be a sharp cutoff gradient of heavy snow to light snow, all depending on where the snow band sets up.

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There is a slight chance that the lake effect snow could stay more over the lake if the winds stay more out of the north. That would cut down on the amount of snow that southeast Wisconsin can see. However, most models are trending at pushing the band into Milwaukee, Racine, and Kenosha counties, causing snow to accumulate 2″ to 5″. 

Snow is going to move in during the evening hours when most people will be at home and sleeping, but due to the cold temperatures of the air and ground, snow will likely cause travel impacts Monday morning. It is not recommended to drive in lake effect snow due to the intense low visibility that can occur. 

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Plan for extra travel time tonight and into Monday morning as snow will likely stick on the pavement. 

Your Fox6 Weather experts are watching this closely and will have you covered.

The Source: Information in this report is from the FOX6 Weather Experts and the National Weather Service. 

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Marquette and Wisconsin renewed women’s basketball rivalry and the OT game had everything

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Marquette and Wisconsin renewed women’s basketball rivalry and the OT game had everything


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The women’s basketball rivalry between Marquette and Wisconsin is back on, and the game on Nov. 8 at the Al McGuire Center showed why it should be scheduled every season.

The Golden Eagles won in overtime, 65-62, in the first matchup of the state rivals since 2017. The tense battle provoked the full spectrum of emotions for MU (2-0), including frustration, pain, fear and then exhilaration.

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“These guys haven’t had the opportunity to play Wisconsin before, but I have a lot throughout my entire career,” said MU head coach Cara Consuegra, a former player at Iowa and staff member at Penn State.

“So I knew this was going to be a really tough game. So we talked about that we thrive in adversity and we’re built for moments like this. And I thought this entire game was a lot of adversity in so many different ways.”

MU guard Kennedi Perkins hurts neck in scary fall

There was a very scary moment late in the first half.

UW (1-0) held a 31-21 lead, its biggest of the game, with just over 3 minutes left in the second quarter when MU senior guard Kennedi Perkins fell backward after attempting a running shot in the paint. Perkins’ head collided with the lower right leg of the Badgers’ Breauna Ware.

Perkins stayed down on the court in pain. After play was stopped on the other end, MU’s trainer and two assistant coaches ran out to check on her. The on-site paramedics then put Perkins on a stretcher and brought her to a local hospital with a neck injury.

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“She’s OK,” Consuegra said. “They have her at Froedtert, just getting checked out. But nothing serious, just really precautionary.”

The game was delayed more than 10 minutes.

“One of our principles is to stay in the moment,” Consuegra said. “Obviously seeing the stretcher come out, I think was rattling for everybody.

“That’s when we huddled up as a team and, one, let them know she was going to be OK. But, two, understanding we just got to stay in the moment. We can’t change what happened and let’s play hard for our teammate that went down.”

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Jaidynn Mason’s big steal part of big run for MU

The game was mostly a slog for the Golden Eagles, who finished with 20 turnovers.

“The first half we didn’t do much of what we wanted to do,” Consuegra said. “So it was difficult.”

UW made all six of its 3-pointers in the first half.

MU kept trying to get over the hump in the second half, but it looked grim facing an eight-point deficit with 2:18 left in thr fourth quarter

But a 3-pointer by the Golden Eagles’ Skylar Forbes provided a jolt of energy. MU’s defense then got two stops sandwiched around a layup by Halle Vice. Forbes’ step-back jumper with 48 seconds left brought the Golden Eagles within 57-56.

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MU’s Jaidynn Mason then made the defensive play of the game, getting a steal with 19 seconds remaining. UW’s Ronnie Porter grabbed Mason’s jersey before the MU guard could get a breakaway layup. After a review by the officials, the foul was upgraded to a flagrant.

Forbes made two free throws to give MU the lead. With the Golden Eagles getting the ball back, Forbes was fouled again. She made 1 of 2 from the free-throw line to give MU a 59-57 advantage.

“It was just us trusting our principles, trusting our defense and trusting each other,” Consuegra said.

The Badgers missed a 3-pointer with eight seconds left, but Kyrah Daniels secured the offensive board and dropped in a putback to tie the game at 59-59.

Forbes had a driving attempt blocked by UW’s Shay Bollin, forcing overtime.

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Skylar Forbes hits winning 3-pointer in overtime

Through three quarters, Forbes had one point and only 3 field-goal attempts.

She finished with 19 points in the fourth quarter and overtime.

“I don’t know how much of a flip of the switch it was,” Forbes said. “Kind of reiterating Coach, just staying in the moment. Just making sure that I’m there for my teammates and knowing my teammates are there for me.

“So just being able to get the spots that I know I can get to.”

Forbes hit the winner in overtime on a 3-pointer from the top of the key with nine seconds remaining.

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“I rep that shot a lot in my individuals,” Forbes said. “We rep it in practice. My preparation, that was the one thing (that gave her confidence).”

Consuegra jumped in to say that Forbes was getting up shots at 7:30 that morning.

“So … not a surprise,” Consuegra said.

MU coach Cara Consuegra loves having rivalry with UW back

MU’s victory evened the series with UW at 13-13.

Consuegra is in her second season at MU, and if she has her way the teams will play every season.

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“I think that they’re the two premier basketball programs in the state,” she said. “Obviously there’s a tremendous rivalry on the men’s side.

“And there was a tremendous rivalry when I was here as an assistant. And, quite frankly, I was stunned when I got here and realized we hadn’t played in eight years.

“So I’m grateful for the opportunity to play and the games are going to be like this. Like a dogfight, but those are what rivalry games are.”



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Wisconsin Badgers freshman guard Zach Kinziger ‘contemplating’ redshirting in 2025-26

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Wisconsin Badgers freshman guard Zach Kinziger ‘contemplating’ redshirting in 2025-26


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  • Wisconsin freshman guard Zach Kinziger is considering redshirting the 2025-26 season.
  • Wisconsins coach Greg Gard believes Kinziger has a bright future and can learn from veteran players on the team.
  • The decision might not be official until the end of the season, Gard suggested.

MADISON — Wisconsin freshman guard Zach Kinziger may potentially redshirt the 2025-26 season, UW coach Greg Gard told reporters after the Badgers’ Nov. 7 win over Northern Illinois.

“Zach came to me probably a week ago, and we talked about it, and he’s contemplating it,” Gard said. “He wants to get his degree from Wisconsin. He wants to contribute at a high level. But he knows he’s got experienced and older guys in front of him that, quite frankly, are older and more experienced, so they have a head start.”

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Gard emphasized that he and Kinziger are “still thinking about it,” and there is not necessarily a deadline to make a decision. The freshman from De Pere did not play in either of UW’s first two regular season games. He was the only player who did not see the floor in the Badgers’ 97-72 win over Northern Illinois.

“That really won’t become official until after the season if he doesn’t appear in any games,” Gard said. “But I said right now, if you’re undecided, we’ll just not put you in until we get to a point — and hopefully, knock on wood, nothing happens and nobody gets hurt.”

Kinziger, a former four-star recruit, is among a particularly crowded group of guards. San Diego State transfer Nick Boyd, preseason all-Big Ten honoree John Blackwell and Virginia transfer Andrew Rohde have been Wisconsin’s starters. Others in the rotation include Jack Janicki, Braeden Carrington and Hayden Jones.

If the 6-foot-3 guard indeed sits out his freshman season, that would leave the Badgers with 13 players who are available in the 2025-26 season. Gard’s group is short one player in the frontcourt after Temple transfer Elijah Gray was dismissed from the team.

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“His future can be very impactful here,” Gard said. “He’s just got really good guards in Blackwell and Boyd that he can learn from, and that’s what I told him. … ‘Your best teacher and best experience for this year has been eyed up, nose-to-nose with Nick Boyd every day.’ And that’s going to help him more than anything and more than he realizes it right now.”



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