S. ETF 10.12 - Withdrawal of funds invested in the Public Employe Trust Fund by a separate retirement system as permitted by s. 40.03 (1) and (2) (q), Stats.
Summary of Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis:
The Department anticipates that the provisions of this proposed rule will have no direct adverse effect on small businesses.
Summary of Comments:
No comments were reported.
S. ETF 10.08 - Defining terminations of employment for purposes of eligibility for benefits administered by the department of Employe Trust Funds.
Summary of Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis:
The proposed rule itself does not directly affect small businesses as defined in s. 227.114 (1), Stats.
Summary of Comments:
No comments were reported.
S. ETF 10.65 - Department of Employe Trust Funds refunding contributions to the Wisconsin Retirement System that exceeds the contributions limits set forth in the internal revenue code and the Wisconsin Statutes.
Summary of Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis:
The Department anticipates that the provisions of this proposed rule will have no direct adverse effect on small businesses.
Summary of Comments:
No comments were reported.
S. ETF 10.79 - Department of Employe Trust Funds procedures for locating missing participants and transferring the balances of abandoned accounts to the annuity reserve.
Summary of Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis:
The Department anticipates that the provisions of this proposed rule will have no direct adverse effect on small businesses.
Summary of Comments:
No comments were reported.
S. NR 20.13 - Ice fishing shelters on the Fox River.
Summary of Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis:
The proposed rules do not regulate small businesses; therefore, a final regulatory flexibility analysis is not required.
Summary of Comments by Legislative Review Committees:
The rules were reviewed by the Assembly Natural Resources Committee and the Senate Agriculture and Environmental Resources Committee. There were no comments.
Ch. NR 149 - Laboratory certification and registration.
Summary of Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis:
Approximately 29 of the 550 regulated laboratories would fit the definition of “small business”. Many of the proposed changes are routine clarifications of the code and will not create new requirements. However, the proposed fee changes, reference sample changes and test category changes may have an effect on small businesses. The proposed rule does not require any new reports to be submitted by small businesses. As in the past, laboratories will need to submit reference sample results for renewal and corrective action reports when they fail reference samples. The cost of preparing these reports depends on the number of analytes included in the reference sample study and the laboratory's capabilities.
Summary of Comments by Legislative Review Committees:
The rules were reviewed by the Assembly Natural Resources committee and the Senate Agriculture and Environmental Resources Committee. There were no comments.
12.
Physical Therapists Affiliated Credentialing Board
(CR 97-133)
Chs. PT 1-4, 6 & 8 - Application requirements, examinations, temporary licenses, unprofessional conduct and biennial license renewals of physical therapists.
Summary of Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis:
These 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.
13.
Wisconsin State Fair Park
(CR 98-3)
Chs. SFP 2 & 7 - Ages at state fair park and the state fair park bond schedule.
Summary of Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis:
This rule proposal has minimal effect on small businesses in Wisconsin. To the extent that it does effect small businesses, it grants them additional rights without imposing any additional costs.
This rule changes several references in SFP rules from 18 years of age to 17 years of age. This means that if something was previously prohibited for persons under 18 years of age, it is now prohibited for persons under 17 years of age. There is one exception to this lowering of age. Current rules require persons serving, selling or vending alcoholic beverages to be 18 years of age or older, That provision was not changed. These changes do not have a negative impact on small businesses.
The other thing this rule does is establish a bond schedule for persons who violate provisions of SFP 1-6. Since this will only apply to persons who violate the rules, it is not anticipated that this will have an effect on small businesses. While it is true that small businesses may be faced with paying a forfeiture, that is completely within their control because they are able to determine whether they will violate the rules and, therefore, whether they will be subject to the bond.
Summary of Comments from Legislative Committees:
On March 23, 1998, the Board submitted the above rule for legislative committee review. On March 24, 1998, the rule was referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environmental Resources. On April 21, 1998, the rule was withdrawn from the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environmental Resources and reassigned to the Senate Committee on Transportation, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs. On April 1, 1998, the rule was referred to the Assembly Committee on Tourism and Recreation. Neither the Senate Committees nor the Assembly Committee took any action during their review periods.
SS. Tour 1.02, 1.03 and 1.05 - Relating to the joint effort marketing program.
Summary of Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis:
These 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.
Ch. Trans 512 - Transportation Infrastructure Loan Program.
Summary of Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis:
This proposed rule will have no significant adverse impact on small businesses.
Summary of Comments:
No comments were reported.
E x e c u t i v e O r d e r s
The following is a listing of recent Executive Orders issued by the Governor.
Executive Order 333. Relating to a Proclamation that the Flag of the United States and the Flag of the State of Wisconsin be Flown at Half-Staff on Memorial Day.
Executive Order 334. Relating to the Repeal and Re-Establishment of the State Interagency Coordinating Council.
Executive Order 335. Relating to the Creation of the Governor's Blue Ribbon Task Force on Aquaculture.
Executive Order 336. Relating to a Proclamation that the Flag of the United States and the Flag of the State of Wisconsin be Flown at Half-Staff as a Mark of Respect for the Memory of the Late Barry M. Goldwater, Former United States Senator from the State of Arizona.
Executive Order 337. Relating to a Proclamation of a State of Emergency.
Public Notices
Public Notice
Health & Family Services
(Medical Assistance Reimbursement of Nursing Homes)
State of Wisconsin Medicaid Nursing Facility Payment Plan: FY 98-99
The State of Wisconsin reimburses Medicaid-certified nursing facilities for long-term care and health care services provided to eligible 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 Family 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 nursing facility services covered by the payment system. A plan that describes the nursing home reimbursement system for Wisconsin is now in effect as approved by the Federal Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA).
The Department is proposing changes in the methodology for establishing rates of payment to nursing homes in the plan describing the nursing home reimbursement system. The changes will be effective July 1, 1998. The proposed changes that comprise this plan amendment will not be finalized until the public comment period is concluded. The public comment period will continue until at least September 1, 1998. The plan amendment's changes will be effective retroactive to July 1, 1998. Rates for facilities will be final only after they are set pursuant to the methodologies that are ultimately adopted. A computer model is used to ensure that the methods conform to the budget. A printout of the budgetary impact of the methods as a whole and rates in aggregate is generated. Individuals and organizations may obtain or review copies of the draft proposed changes covered by the plan amendment, draft copies of the model printout, and a worksheet that may be used to calculate approximate individual facility rates based on the proposed methodologies (i.e., the proposed rates). Opportunity to comment on the proposed changes will be provided in public meetings. See the end of this notice for information about the public meetings and where to send for or to review copies of the draft proposed changes and the printout.
The proposed changes would update the payment system and make various payment-related policy changes. Some of the changes are necessary to implement policies that were included in the Wisconsin 1997-99 Budget Act; some of the changes are technical in nature; some clarify various payment plan provisions.
The estimated increase in annual aggregate expenditures attributable to these changes for nursing homes serving MA recipients is approximately $30,322,500 all funds ($18,193,500 federal), excluding patient liability.
Proposed Changes
Proposed changes are as follows:
1. Modify the methodology to distribute approximately 3.5% or $30,322,500 (all funds), excluding patient liability, whichever is less, in the payment rate year of July 1, 1998, through June 30, 1999. Specifically, we will create Section 7.00 to provide the methods for an increase for all rate elements except capital. Section 7.00 will contain a sample rate calculation included as part of the plan amendment, the policy on applicable formula maximums drafted to clarify the implementation of the Section 7.00 rate on rate payment system, and references to other sections of the plan. The Department will update the parameters for calculating the capital rates.
