Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 176: Relating to: financial eligibility for the Alzheimer’s family and caregiver support program. (FE)

AB 176 repeals the financial eligibility requirement (section 46.87(5m)) for Wisconsin's Alzheimer's family and caregiver support program. It updates two sections of the law to remove references to this repealed requirement, clarifying that eligibility now depends on meeting the financial criteria previously defined under the repealed section. The bill directly affects Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers in residential facilities who previously needed to satisfy these financial standards to receive program services. The key change is eliminating the specific financial threshold that determined program access, streamlining eligibility without creating new benefits or funding. This is a technical adjustment to existing statutes, not a substantive policy change.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRepeals financial barrier for Alzheimer's caregiver support, expanding access to healthcare services without restricting eligibility.92% confidence

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failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 402: Relating to: coverage of maternity and newborn care under health insurance policies and plans and granting rule-making authority.

AB 402 requires all health insurance plans in Wisconsin to cover maternity and newborn care services. It grants the Commissioner of Insurance authority to create specific rules for implementing this coverage requirement. The bill directly affects health insurance providers and ensures these services are included in standard coverage for policyholders.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates comprehensive maternity/newborn coverage in all health insurance plans, expanding patient access to essential services without restrictions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Women's Health

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failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 349: Relating to: payment for school medical services. (FE)

SB 349 increases state reimbursement for school medical services from 60% to 100% of the federal share for eligible school districts, cooperative educational service agencies, and specialized programs like the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired. It also raises reimbursement for allowable administrative costs from 90% to 100% of the federal share. The bill applies to all entities providing school medical services that meet federal requirements and allows claims for transportation costs as part of these services. This change directly affects school districts and specialized educational programs by increasing state funding for these services.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases state reimbursement for school medical services from 60% to 100% of federal share, directly funding school health operations and supporting student access to medical care.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncreases state reimbursement to 100% for school medical services, expanding funding for student health care access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 447: Relating to: including information about immunization waivers in enrollment or admission materials for schools, child care centers, and nursery schools.

SB 447 requires schools, child care centers, and nursery schools to include clear written information about immunization waiver options in enrollment materials. Specifically, it mandates that these institutions inform families in writing about their right to seek waivers for health, religious, or personal conviction reasons when notifying them of immunization requirements. The bill also requires schools to provide a simple procedure for submitting waiver requests alongside required health forms during enrollment. This directly affects schools and childcare providers by changing their enrollment documentation, and it impacts parents or guardians who may seek waivers for their children.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates clear waiver info in enrollment materials, ensuring families understand immunization options and facilitating school access without unnecessary barriers.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires schools to provide clear waiver information, enhancing transparency in immunization policies to support public health program accessibility.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood

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failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 442: Relating to: requiring hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to implement policies to prevent exposure to surgical smoke in operating rooms. (FE)

SB 442 requires hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to implement policies preventing exposure to surgical smoke during procedures that generate it. The bill mandates the use of smoke evacuation systems - equipment capturing harmful smoke at its source - during any surgery likely to produce surgical smoke (like laser or electrosurgical procedures), unless a provider determines it's unnecessary for a specific case. It directly affects healthcare facilities and surgical staff by establishing a new safety standard for operating rooms. Key provisions define "surgical smoke" and clarify that facilities must adopt these policies, with providers retaining limited discretion to exempt specific procedures. The law aims to reduce respiratory and eye exposure risks for medical personnel and patients.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates smoke evacuation systems to protect surgical staff/patients from harmful smoke exposure, enhancing healthcare safety standards in facilities.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates smoke evacuation systems to prevent surgical smoke exposure, directly improving workplace safety for surgical staff.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workplace Safety

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failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 401: Relating to: coverage of maternity and newborn care under health insurance policies and plans and granting rule-making authority.

SB 401 requires employer-sponsored disability insurance policies and self-insured health plans to cover maternity and newborn care as an essential health benefit, directly affecting employees and their families. The bill mandates coverage with minimal or no out-of-pocket costs, prohibits discrimination in coverage decisions based on disability or life expectancy, and directs the Insurance Commissioner to set specific benefit standards through rules. The Commissioner must base these standards on typical employer coverage surveys and update them periodically to address gaps in access. This applies to most employer health plans but excludes certain disability policies described in existing law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates essential health benefit coverage for maternity/newborn care with minimal out-of-pocket costs, expanding access and protecting patient rights through anti-discrimination provisions.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates employer coverage of maternity care with minimal costs, protecting workers' rights and expanding health benefits under employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Women's Health

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failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 192: Relating to: fatality review teams and granting rule-making authority. (FE)

SB 192 creates a statewide framework for fatality review teams to examine preventable deaths, specifically focusing on maternal deaths, child abuse/neglect, overdoses, homicides, and other reviewable deaths like stillbirths or unexpected child fatalities. The bill establishes definitions for local and state teams, requires the Department of Health to support their development, and allows healthcare providers to share patient health records confidentially with these teams for review purposes. This directly affects hospitals, healthcare providers (who must share records under strict confidentiality rules), and local/state agencies (which must form or support these teams). The key mechanism is enabling secure, confidential record-sharing between healthcare systems and fatality review teams to identify patterns and prevent future deaths, without altering public access to most records.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables healthcare providers to confidentially share records with fatality review teams (maternal deaths, overdoses) to improve public health data collection and prevention efforts, supporting healthcare system improvements.75% confidence

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failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 153: Relating to: expanding the treatment alternatives and diversion programs. (FE)

SB 153 expands a grant program for counties and tribes to create treatment and diversion programs for individuals with substance use disorders or mental illness who are charged with or convicted of crimes related to these conditions. The bill requires programs to use evidence-based practices, integrate mental health services, include case management, and collaborate with courts, prosecutors, and treatment providers. It also modifies sentencing rules to exempt participants in approved programs from losing good time in jail. This bill directly affects individuals facing charges related to substance use or mental health, as well as local governments and service providers.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill expands state grant program funding for treatment/diversion programs, directly allocating state resources to support public health and criminal justice services.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands diversion programs for substance/mental health-related offenses, mandates evidence-based treatment, and modifies sentencing to exempt participants - directly advancing criminal justice reform by reducing incarceration and promoting rehabil...95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands mental health treatment programs through diversion initiatives, integrates evidence-based services, and requires case management for substance use/mental illness cases in criminal justice system.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy Sentencing Mental Health Substance Abuse

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failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 382: Relating to: requirements for children born alive following abortion or attempted abortion and providing a penalty.

AB 382 requires health care providers to provide the same medical care to a child born alive during or after an abortion or attempted abortion as they would to any other newborn at that gestational age, including immediate hospital transport. It mandates reporting failures to comply with these requirements to law enforcement and imposes a Class H felony penalty for violations (excluding prosecution of the mother). The bill also allows affected individuals to sue for civil damages equal to three times the abortion cost plus emotional distress, while guaranteeing confidentiality for the woman involved and prohibiting contracts from being used as a defense in such lawsuits. This legislation directly affects abortion providers and hospitals performing such procedures, focusing on post-procedure medical obligations rather than restricting abortion access.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates healthcare providers to deliver medical care to children born alive during abortion, requiring standard newborn care as a healthcare service.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Women's Health

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