SB 747 creates a state grant program that matches counties' previous-year investments in healthcare and public health workforce development. Counties receive state funds to match their spending on recruiting, retaining, and supporting workers in healthcare, public health, child care, long-term care, and mental health services. The grant amount for each county cannot exceed $1.11 multiplied by its population. This policy directly affects all Wisconsin counties by providing financial support for local workforce initiatives in critical care sectors. The bill establishes a clear, per-capita funding limit to ensure predictable state spending.
AB 753 creates a state program to provide matching grants to Wisconsin counties for investments they make in their healthcare, public health, and care provider workforce. Counties can receive state funds equal to their previous fiscal year's spending on recruitment, retention, mental health, trauma care, and wellness programs for workers in health care, public health, child care, and long-term care. The grant amount for each county is capped at $1.11 multiplied by the county's population. This bill establishes the funding mechanism and sets the maximum grant level, requiring the state to appropriate funds for these matching grants annually.
AB 801 establishes a mandatory "all-payer claims database" requiring insurers, healthcare administrators, and managed care organizations (including those serving Medicaid recipients) to submit health claims data in machine-readable format. It mandates data submission within six months of the law's effective date, with standardized electronic reporting and annual submission schedules. The data organization must analyze and publicly report on healthcare costs, quality, and effectiveness in plain language, while restricting data sharing to purposes like public health research or policy decisions. The bill repeals prior requirements and creates new provisions to standardize data collection, reporting, and transparency for the Wisconsin Health Information Organization.
AB 756 repeals a specific statute (252.03(2j)) that granted local health officers the authority to mandate business closures to control communicable diseases. This bill directly affects local health officials, removing their existing legal power to order such closures, and impacts businesses that could have been subject to these mandates. The key mechanism is simply the removal of this statutory provision, with no new requirements or processes added. As a procedural repeal, it does not create new obligations but eliminates a specific existing authority.
SB 31 establishes "state agency status" for physician assistants and advanced practice nurses who volunteer services without compensation for local health departments or school districts. Specifically, these healthcare providers become state agents for liability protection under certain statutes (like 165.25, 893.82, and 895.46) when providing medically supervised services under written protocols. The bill defines key terms like "advanced practice nurse prescriber" and clarifies that non-employee volunteers must act without pay to qualify. This change directly affects volunteer healthcare providers in public health and school settings, ensuring they are legally protected as representatives of the Department of Health Services during their service.
AB 163 requires regular eligibility reviews for the Medical Assistance program (a public health benefits program) every six months, replacing automatic renewals. Recipients must report changes affecting their benefits within 10 days or face a six-month loss of coverage. The bill mandates state agencies to cross-check public benefit databases against death records and other state databases (like employment or prison records) every three months to remove deceased individuals and verify eligibility. It also establishes data-sharing agreements between agencies to confirm applicant information using sources like federal benefit records, with all eligibility reviews required to be completed by January 1, 2026.
AB 418 requires long-term care facilities (including nursing homes and assisted living facilities) and hospitals to allow specific visitation during communicable disease outbreaks. It mandates that facilities permit at least one "essential visitor" (designated by the resident or their legal representative) or one "member of the clergy" for compassionate reasons like end-of-life care, grief support, or when a healthcare professional determines the visitor's presence benefits the patient. Facilities may deny visitation only if the visitor refuses to follow health protocols, poses a contagion risk, or the patient objects. The bill also creates a process for residents or families to file complaints if facilities violate these rules.
AB 206 establishes a process for Wisconsin to add federal newborn screening recommendations to its state-required screening list. It requires the Department of Health Services to evaluate new federal recommendations within 18 months and begin rulemaking to add disorders to the screening list if deemed appropriate. The bill also mandates annual reviews of disorders not included in current screenings to assess new medical evidence and departmental capacity, with a 6-month timeline for implementing new screenings after rules are finalized. This streamlines rulemaking by exempting the department from standard emergency rule procedures, ensuring timely updates to newborn screening protocols without delaying public health protections. The bill directly affects newborns in Wisconsin by determining which genetic disorders are screened for at birth.
SB 570 creates a statewide registry to collect anonymized data on Parkinson’s disease and related movement disorders (parkinsonisms) in Wisconsin. Health care providers and facilities must report patient diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes to the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Department of Population Health Sciences by a specified deadline. The registry will store this data securely, remove identifying information, and share it only for research or public health purposes with strict confidentiality safeguards. The state must publish annual reports on disease incidence and prevalence through a public website, making this data accessible to the public and researchers. This bill directly affects health care providers who must submit reports and Wisconsin residents living with Parkinson’s disease or parkinsonisms.
