49.496 (3) (a) (intro.) Except as provided in par. (b), the department shall file a claim against the estate of a recipient or against the estate of the surviving spouse of a recipient for all of the following unless already recovered by the department under this section:
SECTION 1452. 49.496 (3) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
49.496 (3) (a) 1. The amount of medical assistance paid on behalf of the recipient while the recipient resided in a nursing home or while the recipient was an inpatient in a medical institution hospital and was required to contribute to the cost of care.
SECTION 1453. 49.496 (3) (a) 2. a. of the statutes is amended to read:
49.496 (3) (a) 2. a. Home-based or community-based services under 42 USC 1396d (a) (7) and (8) and under any waiver granted under 42 USC 1396n (c) (4) (B) or 42 USC 1396u.
SECTION 1454. 49.496 (3) (a) 2. d. of the statutes is created to read:
49.496 (3) (a) 2. d. Personal care services under s. 49.46 (2) (b) 6. j.
SECTION 1455. 49.496 (3) (am) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.496 (3) (am) (intro.) The court shall reduce the amount of a claim under par. (a) by up to $3,000 the amount specified in s. 861.33 (2) if necessary to allow the recipient's heirs or the beneficiaries of the recipient's will to retain the following personal property:
SECTION 1456. 49.496 (3) (am) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
49.496 (3) (am) 3. Other tangible personal property not used in trade, agriculture or other business, not to exceed $1,000 in value the amount specified in s. 861.33 (1) (a) 4.
SECTION 1458. 49.496 (3) (c) of the statutes is renumbered 49.496 (3) (c) 1. and amended to read:
49.496 (3) (c) 1. If the department's claim is not allowable because of par. (b) and the estate includes an interest in a home, the court exercising probate jurisdiction shall, in the final judgment or summary findings and order, assign the interest in the home subject to a lien in favor of the department for the amount described in par. (a). The personal representative or petitioner for summary settlement or summary assignment of the estate shall record the final judgment as provided in s. 863.29, 867.01 (3) (h) or 867.02 (2) (h).
SECTION 1459. 49.496 (3) (c) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
49.496 (3) (c) 2. If the department's claim is not allowable because of par. (b), the estate includes an interest in a home and the personal representative closes the estate by sworn statement under s. 865.16, the personal representative shall stipulate in the statement that the home is assigned subject to a lien in favor of the department for the amount described in par. (a). The personal representative shall record the statement in the same manner as described in s. 863.29, as if the statement were a final judgment.
SECTION 1460. 49.496 (3) (f) of the statutes is created to read:
49.496 (3) (f) The department may contract with or employ an attorney to probate estates to recover under this subsection the costs of care.
SECTION 1460m. 49.496 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.496 (4) ADMINISTRATION. The department may require a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22 or 46.23 or the governing body of a federally recognized American Indian tribe administering medical assistance to gather and provide the department with information needed to recover medical assistance under this section. The department shall pay to a county department or tribal governing body an amount equal to 5% of the recovery collected by the department relating to a beneficiary for whom the county department or tribal governing body made the last determination of medical assistance eligibility. A county department or tribal governing body may use funds received under this subsection only to pay costs incurred under this subsection and, if any amount remains, to pay for improvements to functions required under s. 49.33 (2) 49.45 (2) (b) 1. The department may withhold payments under this subsection for failure to comply with the department's requirements under this subsection. The department shall treat payments made under this subsection as costs of administration of the medical assistance program.
SECTION 1461. 49.496 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.496 (5) USE OF FUNDS. From the appropriation under s. 20.435 (5) (4) (im), the department shall pay the amount of the payments under sub. (4) that is not paid from federal funds, shall pay to the federal government the amount of the funds recovered under this section equal to the amount of federal funds used to pay the benefits recovered under this section and shall spend the remainder of the funds recovered under this section for medical assistance benefits under this subchapter.
SECTION 1462. 49.499 (intro.) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is renumbered 49.499 (1) (intro.).
SECTION 1463. 49.499 (1) to (3) of the statutes are renumbered 49.499 (1) (a) to (c).
SECTION 1464. 49.499 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:
49.499 (2m) From the appropriation under s. 20.435 (6) (g), the department may distribute funds for innovative projects designed to protect the health and property of a resident in a nursing facility, as defined in s. 49.498 (1) (i).
SECTION 1465. 49.665 (1) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 49.665 (1) (e) and amended to read:
49.665 (1) (e) "Custodial parent Parent" has the meaning given in s. 49.141 (1) (b) (j).
SECTION 1466. 49.665 (1) (b) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:
49.665 (1) (b) "Child" means a person who is under the age of 19.
SECTION 1467. 49.665 (1) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.665 (1) (d) "Family" means a unit that consists of at least one dependent child and his or her custodial parent or parents, all of whom reside in the same household. "Family" includes the spouse of an individual who is a custodial parent if the spouse resides in the same household as the individual.
SECTION 1468. 49.665 (1) (f) of the statutes is created to read:
49.665 (1) (f) "State plan" means the state child health plan under 42 USC 1397aa (b).
SECTION 1469. 49.665 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.665 (3) ADMINISTRATION. The department shall administer a program to provide the health services and benefits described in s. 49.46 (2) to families persons that meet the eligibility requirements specified in sub. (4). The department shall promulgate rules setting forth the application procedures and appeal and grievance procedures. The department may promulgate rules limiting access to the program under this section to defined enrollment periods. The department may also promulgate rules establishing a method by which the department may purchase family coverage offered by the employer of a member of an eligible family or by a member of a child's household under circumstances in which the department determines that purchasing that coverage would not be more costly than providing the coverage under this section.
SECTION 1470. 49.665 (4) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
49.665 (4) (a) 1. The family's income does not exceed 185% of the poverty line, except as provided in par. (at) and except that a family that is already receiving health care coverage under this section may have an income that does not exceed 200% of the poverty line. The department shall establish by rule the criteria to be used to determine income.
SECTION 1470d. 49.665 (4) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
49.665 (4) (a) 3. The family has not had access to employer-subsidized health care coverage within the time period established by the department by rule, but not to exceed 18 months, immediately preceding application for health care coverage under this section. The department may establish exceptions to this subdivision time period restriction by rule. An individual is not ineligible for health care coverage under this section solely because the individual had continuation coverage under 42 USC 300bb-1, et seq., at any time prior to applying for health care coverage under this section.
SECTION 1471. 49.665 (4) (am) of the statutes is created to read:
49.665 (4) (am) A child who does not reside with his or her parent is eligible for health care coverage under this section if the child meets all of the following requirements:
1. The child's income does not exceed 185% of the poverty line, except as provided in par. (at) and except that a child that is already receiving health care coverage under this section may have an income that does not exceed 200% of the poverty line. The department shall use the criteria established under par. (a) 1. to determine income under this subdivision.
2. The child does not have access to employer-subsidized health care coverage.
3. The child has not had access to employer-subsidized health care coverage within the time period established by the department under par. (a) 3. The department may establish exceptions to this subdivision.
4. The child meets all other requirements established by the department by rule. In establishing other eligibility criteria, the department may not include any health condition requirements.
SECTION 1472. 49.665 (4) (at) of the statutes is created to read:
49.665 (4) (at) 1. a. Except as provided in subd. 1. b., the department shall establish a lower maximum income level for the initial eligibility determination if funding under s. 20.435 (4) (bc), (jz) and (p) is insufficient to accommodate the projected enrollment levels for the health care program under this section. The adjustment may not be greater than necessary to ensure sufficient funding.
b. The department may not lower the maximum income level for initial eligibility unless the department first submits to the joint committee on finance its plans for lowering the maximum income level and the committee approves the plan. If, within 14 days after submitting the plan to the joint committee on finance, the cochairpersons of the committee do not notify the secretary that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the plan, the plan is considered approved by the committee.
2. If, after the department has established a lower maximum income level under subd. 1., projections indicate that funding under s. 20.435 (4) (bc), (jz) and (p) is sufficient to raise the level, the department shall, by state plan amendment, raise the maximum income level for initial eligibility, but not to exceed 185% of the poverty line.
3. The department may not adjust the maximum income level of 200% of the poverty line for persons already receiving health care coverage under this section.
SECTION 1473. 49.665 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.665 (4) (b) Notwithstanding fulfillment of the eligibility requirements under this subsection, a family no person is not entitled to health care coverage under this section.
SECTION 1474. 49.665 (4) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.665 (4) (c) No family person may be denied health care coverage under this section solely because of a health condition of that person or of any family member of that person.
SECTION 1475. 49.665 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.665 (5) (a) Except as provided in par. pars. (b) and (bm), a family that, or child who does not reside with his or her parent, who receives health care coverage under this section shall pay a percentage of the cost of that coverage in accordance with a schedule established by the department by rule. If the schedule established by the department requires a family, or child who does not reside with his or her parent, to contribute more than 3% of the family's or child's income towards the cost of the health care coverage provided under this section, the department shall submit the schedule to the joint committee on finance for review and approval of the schedule. If the cochairpersons of the joint committee on finance do not notify the department within 14 working days after the date of the department's submittal of the schedule that the committee has scheduled a meeting to review the schedule, the department may implement the schedule. If, within 14 days after the date of the department's submittal of the schedule, the cochairpersons of the committee notify the department that the committee has scheduled a meeting to review the schedule, the department may not require a family, or child who does not reside with his or her parent, to contribute more than 3% of the family's or child's income unless the joint committee on finance approves the schedule. The joint committee on finance may not approve and the department may not implement a schedule that requires a family or child to contribute more than 3.5% of the family's or child's income towards the cost of the health care coverage provided under this section.
SECTION 1476. 49.665 (5) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.665 (5) (b) The department may not require a family, or child who does not reside with his or her parent, with an income below 143% 150% of the poverty line to contribute to the cost of health care coverage provided under this section.
SECTION 1476d. 49.665 (5) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:
49.665 (5) (bm) If the federal department of health and human services notifies the department of health and family services that Native Americans may not be required to contribute to the cost of the health care coverage provided under this section, the department of health and family services may not require Native Americans to contribute to the cost of health care coverage under this section.
SECTION 1476f. 49.665 (5m) of the statutes is created to read:
49.665 (5m) OUTREACH. The department shall coordinate with the department of public instruction to develop, and beginning on October 1, 1999, to implement, an outreach mailing targeted at families of children who are enrolled in the federal school lunch program under 42 USC 1751, et seq., to inform the families of those children about health care coverage under this section and the family's potential eligibility for that coverage.
SECTION 1477. 49.682 (2) (c) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.682 (2) (c) (intro.) The court shall reduce the amount of a claim under par. (a) by up to $3,000 the amount specified in s. 861.33 (2) if necessary to allow the client's heirs or the beneficiaries of the client's will to retain the following personal property:
SECTION 1478. 49.682 (2) (c) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
49.682 (2) (c) 3. Other tangible personal property not used in trade, agriculture or other business, not to exceed $1,000 in value the amount specified in s. 861.33 (1) (a) 4.
SECTION 1479. 49.682 (2) (e) of the statutes is renumbered 49.682 (2) (e) 1. and amended to read:
49.682 (2) (e) 1. If the department's claim is not allowable because of par. (d) and the estate includes an interest in a home, the court exercising probate jurisdiction shall, in the final judgment or summary findings and order, assign the interest in the home subject to a lien in favor of the department for the amount described in par. (a). The personal representative or petitioner for summary settlement or summary assignment of the estate shall record the final judgment as provided in s. 863.29, 867.01 (3) (h) or 867.02 (2) (h).
SECTION 1480. 49.682 (2) (e) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
49.682 (2) (e) 2. If the department's claim is not allowable because of par. (d), the estate includes an interest in a home and the personal representative closes the estate by sworn statement under s. 865.16, the personal representative shall stipulate in the statement that the home is assigned subject to a lien in favor of the department for the amount described in par. (a). The personal representative shall record the statement in the same manner as described in s. 863.29, as if the statement were a final judgment.
SECTION 1481. 49.682 (6) of the statutes is created to read:
49.682 (6) The department may contract with or employ an attorney to probate estates to recover under this section the costs of care.
SECTION 1482. 49.683 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.683 (2) Approved costs for medical care under sub. (1) shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.435 (5) (4) (e).
SECTION 1483. 49.687 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.687 (2) The department shall develop and implement a sliding scale of patient liability for kidney disease aid under s. 49.68, cystic fibrosis aid under s. 49.683 and hemophilia treatment under s. 49.685, based on the patient's ability to pay for treatment. To ensure that the needs for treatment of patients with lower incomes receive priority within the availability of funds under s. 20.435 (5) (4) (e), the department shall revise the sliding scale for patient liability by January 1, 1994, and shall, every 3 years thereafter by January 1, review and, if necessary, revise the sliding scale.
SECTION 1484. 49.775 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.775 (4) PAYMENT AMOUNT. The payment under sub. (2) is $100 $250 per month per for one dependent child and $150 per month for each additional dependent child.
SECTION 1486j. 49.854 (2) (e) of the statutes is created to read:
49.854 (2) (e) Date that support lien docket is operational. The department shall publish a notice in the Wisconsin Administrative Register that states the date on which the statewide support lien docket is first operational. The department shall publish the notice stating the date as soon as possible after the statewide support lien docket begins operating or, if the department is able to determine with certainty the date on which the statewide support lien docket will begin operating, as soon as possible after the department determines that date.
SECTION 1486k. 49.854 (2) (e) of the statutes, as created by 1999 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed.
SECTION 1487. 49.855 (7) of the statutes is repealed.
SECTION 1489. 49.89 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.89 (2) SUBROGATION. The department of health and family services, the department of workforce development, a county or an elected tribal governing body that provides any public assistance under this chapter or under s. 253.05 as a result of the occurrence of an injury, sickness or death that creates a claim or cause of action, whether in tort or contract, on the part of a public assistance recipient or beneficiary or the estate of a recipient or beneficiary against a 3rd party, including an insurer, is subrogated to the rights of the recipient, beneficiary or estate and may make a claim or maintain an action or intervene in a claim or action by the recipient, beneficiary or estate against the 3rd party. Subrogation under this subsection because of the provision of medical assistance under subch. IV constitutes a lien, equal to the amount of the medical assistance provided as a result of the injury, sickness or death that gave rise to the claim. The lien is on any payment resulting from a judgment or settlement that may be due the obligor. A lien under this subsection continues until it is released and discharged by the department of health and family services.
SECTION 1490. 49.89 (3m) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:
49.89 (3m) (bm) A person against whom a claim that is subrogated under sub. (2) or assigned under sub. (3) is made, or that person's attorney or insurer, shall provide notice under par. (c), if that person, attorney or insurer knows, or could reasonably determine, that the claimant is a recipient or former recipient of medical assistance under subch. IV, or is the estate of a former recipient of medical assistance under subch. IV.
SECTION 1491. 49.89 (7) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.89 (7) (c) The incentive payment shall be an amount equal to 15% of the amount recovered because of benefits paid under s. 49.19, 49.20, s. 49.20, 1997 stats., and 49.30 or 253.05. The incentive payment shall be taken from the state share of the sum recovered, except that the incentive payment for an amount recovered because of benefits paid under s. 49.19 shall be considered an administrative cost under s. 49.19 for the purpose of claiming federal funding.
SECTION 1493. 50.02 (2) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
