MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A state audit faults the Wisconsin Department of Health Services for how it awarded grants and ventilators to health care providers during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The agency’s leader, in her response, defended the awards, emphasizing that the money and ventilators were handed out during a public health emergency with the goal of keeping health care providers open and able to provide care to patients. The nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau reported Wednesday on its review of the grant distribution and ventilator program. Department of Health Services Secretary Kirsten Johnson says the agency will follow recommendations in the audit.
