A Democratic legislator is drafting hospital assessment legislation that would allow the state of Wisconsin to procure federal reimbursement funds.

Under the bill, introduced by Sen. Roger Breske, D-Eland, qualifying Wisconsin hospitals would receive more than $400 million back from the federal government to offset Medicaid expenses.

The assessment was originally included in Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle’s budget and was passed by Senate Democrats Oct. 15. It was removed by Assembly Republicans and was not included in the compromise budget bill passed last week.

"Senator Breske was frustrated that this provision had to be removed in order to get the budget passed," Breske’s Chief of Staff Sue Meinholz said. "And he felt there was money on the table, and it would be really pretty stupid not to take it."

The state of Wisconsin would charge hospitals an assessment, which would be sent to the federal government, doubled and sent back into the state. A hospital in Rhinelander í