Summary of Comments:
No comments were reported.
2.
Architects, Landscape Architects, Professional Geologists, Professional Engineers, Designers and Land Surveyors Examining Board
(CR 95-136)
Chs. A-E 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 & 10 - Examination review procedure, renewal of credentials, requirements for registration as a professional engineer and education as an experience equivalent for registration as a professional engineer.
Summary of Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis:
The proposed rules will have no significant economic impact on small businesses, as defined in s. 227.114 (1) (a), Stats.
Summary of Comments:
No comments were reported.
S. HSS 157.035 - Fees for registration of ionizing radiation installations.
Summary of Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis:
About 2,824 out of the 4,631 radiation installations in the state are small businesses, as “small business” is defined in s. 227.114 (1) (a), Stats. The small businesses are mainly dentists but there are also chiropractors, podiatrists and veterinarians, single physician offices and a few small industrial firms that do testing with radioactive material.
The rules increase the annual registration renewal fee. This is done to cover increased costs of the program and is authorized by s. 254.35 (3) (g), Stats.
This regulatory program is financed by fee revenues. The Department cannot charge small businesses a lower registration renewal fee per x-ray device when the lower fee is unrelated to lower inspection costs without unfairly shifting program costs to radiation installations that are not small businesses.
No new reporting, bookkeeping or other procedures are required for compliance with the rules, nor are new professional skills requires for compliance with the rules.
No comments were received from small businesses about the fee increases during public review of the proposed rules.
Summary of Comments of Legislative Standing Committees:
No comments were received.
4.
Industry, Labor & Human Relations
(CR 94-132)
Chs. ILHR 2 & 13 - Compressed natural gas.
Summary of Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis:
Sections 101.02 (1) and (15) (a) and 101.12 (1), Stats., give the department authority to adopt rules for the design, construction, location, installation, operation, repair and maintenance of compressed natural gas equipment and systems. The proposed rules of Clearinghouse Rule No. 94-132 are minimum requirements to provide the needed level of safety, and any exceptions from compliance would be contrary to the statutory objectives which are the basis for the rules.
Summary of Comments of Legislative Standing Committees:
The rules were reviewed by the Assembly Committee on Labor and Employment and the Senate Committee on Human Resources, Labor, Tourism, Veterans and Military Affairs. No comments were received.
S. Ins 3.25 - Credit insurance rates and underwriting.
Summary of Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis:
The Office of the Commissioner of Insurance has determined that this rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small businesses and therefore a final regulatory flexibility analysis is not required.
Summary of Comments of Legislative Standing Committees:
The legislative standing committees had no comments on this rule.
Chs. Ins 3, 4, 5, & 18 - Administrative procedures for contested cases under the jurisdiction of OCI and related boards.
Summary of Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis:
The Office of the Commissioner of Insurance has determined that this rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small businesses and therefore a final regulatory flexibility analysis is not required.
Summary of Comments:
The legislative standing committees had no comments on this rule.
Ch. Med 19 - Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants.
Summary of Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis:
These proposed rules will have no significant economic impact on small businesses, as defined in s. 227.14 (1) (a), Stats.
S. NR 165.06 - Interest rate subsidy for the small loan program.
Summary of Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis:
The rules do not regulate small business; therefore a final regulatory flexibility analysis is not required.
Summary of Comments by Legislative Review Committees:
The rules were reviewed by the Assembly Committee on Environment and Utilities and the Senate Committee on Environment and Energy. There were no comments.
S. NR 212.40 - Fox River wasteload allocation.
Summary of Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis:
The proposed rule does not affect any small business. Therefore, a final regulatory flexibility analysis is not required.
Summary of Comments by Legislative Review Committees:
The rules were reviewed by the Assembly Committee on Environment and Utilities and the Senate Committee on Environment and Energy. On January 11, 1996, the Senate Committee on Environment and Energy held a public hearing. No request for modifications was received.
S. Trans 106.01 - Certification of traffic safety programs and instructions.
Summary of Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis:
This rule will have no adverse impact on small businesses.
Summary of Comments:
No comments were reported.
S. Trans 4.06 - Urban Mass Transit Operating Assistance Program.
Summary of Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis:
This rule should have no significant adverse impact on small businesses.
Summary of Comments:
No comments were reported.
P u b l i c N o t i c e
Public Notice
Health & Social Services
(Medical Assistance Reimbursement of Nursing Homes)
The State of Wisconsin reimburses nursing homes for long-term health care services provided to low income persons under the authority of Title XIX of the Federal Social Security Act and ss. 49.43 to 49.47, Wisconsin Statutes. This program, administered by the State's Department of Health and Social Services, is called Medical Assistance (MA) or Medicaid. Federal Statutes and regulations require that a state plan be developed that provides the methods and standards for setting payment rates for covered nursing home services. A plan that describes the nursing home reimbursement systems (methods of payment for costs incurred by efficiently and economically operated providers) is now in effect.
The Department is proposing changes in the methods of payment to nursing homes and, therefore, in the plan describing the nursing home reimbursement system. The changes are effective April 1, 1996.
The proposed changes would give the Department authority to make special payments to nursing facilities to cover the extraordinary costs associated with natural or man-made disasters. The changes would apply only to instances of total nursing facility evacuation and would allow coverage of the costs associated with caring for the evacuated residents at any utilized evacuation locations.
The estimated increase in annual aggregate expenditures attributable to these changes for nursing homes serving MA residents is approximately $1.3 million all funds, including patient liability. This will permit an average net increase in nursing home rates of 0% percent over the previous rate period.
The proposed changes are being implemented to address emergency funding situations brought about by natural or man-made disasters.
Copies of the Proposed Changes
Copies of the proposed changes are available free of charge by writing to:
Bureau of Health Care Financing
Division of Health
P.O. Box 309
Madison, WI 53701-0309
or the proposed changes may be reviewed at the main office at any county department of social services or human services.
Written Comments
Written comments on the proposed changes may be sent to the Bureau of Health Care Financing, Division of Health, at the above address. The comments will be available for public review between the hours of 7:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. daily in Room 250 of the State Office Building, 1 West Wilson Street, Madison, Wisconsin. The proposed changes may be modified based on comments received.