Wisconsin Repays Medical Malpractice Fund

Gov. Scott Walker says the state of Wisconsin has repaid a medical malpractice fund $233 million after a raid in 2007 done to help balance the budget.

Walker announced the payment Tuesday in Green Bay.

The state reached an agreement last month with the Wisconsin Medical Society over the final payment after the state Supreme Court ruled a year ago that the state had to pay the money back.

The payment made Tuesday included the $200 million taken from the fund plus $34 million in lost earnings and interest.

The patients’ compensation fund was raided under a bipartisan deal reached with then-Gov. Jim Doyle and the Legislature.

The Medical Society successfully argued that taking the money from the fund used to help pay malpractice claims was unconstitutional.