The other state programs that might be expected to request medical records are Food Stamp Certification, Worker's Compensation, W-2 Transitions, and Vocational Rehabilitation. The Worker's Compensation program will not be affected under this rule change. It operates under its own fee limits established in s.
102.13 (2) (b), Stats. and is therefore exempt from this rule. The Vocational Rehabilitation program, administered by the Department of Workforce Development, uses medical records in vocational assessments. The proposed increase in allowable medical record fees could increase DWD Division of Vocational Rehabilitation costs by $230,000 AF ($49,000 GPR) annually.
The W-2 Transitions and Food Stamp Certification programs are state programs administered by local agencies, including county and tribal run agencies. Local agencies request medical records to identify utilization of medical services by W-2 applicants and establish exemptions from food stamp work requirements. Costs for record requests are reimbursed with other administrative costs within set contract amounts provided to local agencies. Local agencies' W-2 costs are reimbursed through the W-2 contract, which is administered by DWD. County agency food stamp administrative costs are reimbursed through the Income Maintenance contract, administered by DHFS. The proposed increase in allowable medical record fees could increase costs for local agencies if contract amounts were not increased. Since medical record request costs are not reported under the W-2 and IM contracts as a separate cost items, increased costs to counties and tribes under this proposed change cannot be estimated.
Other possible increased costs to local units of government due the proposed change are unknown.
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
When an agency, such the Department, proposes a rule that may have an effect on small businesses (defined as entities that are independently owned and operated and not dominant in their field, and employ fewer than 25 full-time employees or have gross annual sales of less than $2.5 million), section
227.114, Stats., requires that agency to consider several methods for reducing the effect of the proposed rule on those small businesses. The revision of ch.
HFS 117 will affect many small businesses, principally law firms that request health care records on behalf of clients, and small health provider offices that maintain and supply their patients' health care records to those authorized to request those records. The fee limits specified in ch.
HFS 117 also will effect a small number of businesses that reproduce medical records on behalf of health care providers and transmit those records to authorized record requesters.
Chapter
HFS 117 does not require compliance with any reporting, bookkeeping or other procedures. Nor does the proposed rule impose new requirements for professional skills that are not currently required to comply with requests for copies of health care records. Given that the proposed rules do not require reporting, bookkeeping or other procedures and skills, the question of exempting particular small businesses from some or all of HFS 117's provisions is moot.
The Department also cannot estimate the effect of the proposed rule on the above small businesses other than to note that the fee limits the Department proposes to specify in HFS 117 are higher than those specified in the existing HFS 117 rules. The Department believes that exempting certain law firms and health care providers from the rule's applicability would be contrary to the legislature's intent that the rule, to the extent possible, specify a single fee limit for all parties. Similarly, the Department believes that specifying a lower fee limit for particular law firms (or a higher fee limit for particular health care providers) would also be contrary to legislative intent.
Notice of Hearings
Natural Resources
(Fish, Game, etc., Chs.
NR 1—)
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to s.
227.11 (2) (a), Stats., interpreting s.
350.09 (7), Stats., the Department of Natural Resources will hold public hearings on revisions to ss.
NR 6.03 and
6.08, Wis. Adm. Code, relating to snowmobile noise testing procedures. Current statutes require snowmobiles to meet certain noise levels. For snowmobiles that are manufactured and sold or offered for sale in Wisconsin, the noise limit has been set at 78 decibels since 1975. For snowmobiles that are operated by the consumer in Wisconsin, noise emissions are limited to excessive or unusual levels.
The rule revisions are being proposed in order to provide a field-friendly test procedure (stationary test) for testing snowmobile noise emissions on consumer machines. The test procedures that are outlined in the proposed rule have been adopted by the Society of Automotive Engineers for law enforcement as a means to identify loud and obnoxious snowmobiles in the field. The proposed rule changes will also provide a definition for excessive or unusual noise that is referenced in statute and which is currently undefined.
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to s.
227.114, Stats., it is not anticipated that the proposed rule will have an economic impact on small businesses.
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the Department has made a preliminary determination that this action does not involve significant adverse environmental effects and does not need an environmental analysis under ch.
NR 150, Wis. Adm. Code. However, based on the comments received, the Department may prepare an environmental analysis before proceeding with the proposal. This environmental review document would summarize the Department's consideration of the impacts of the proposal and reasonable alternatives.
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the hearings will be held on:
Monday, December 15, 2003 at 11:00 a.m.
Room 100 (Terrace Room)
UW Marathon Co. Center
518 7th Avenue
Wausau
Thursday, December 18, 2003 at 1:30 p.m.
Room 511, GEF #2
101 South Webster St.
Madison
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodations, including the provision of informational material in an alternative format, will be provided for qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. Please call Karl Brooks at (608) 267-7455 with specific information on your request at least 10 days before the date of the scheduled hearing.
Written comments on the proposed rule may be submitted to Mr. Karl Brooks, Bureau of Law Enforcement, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707 no later than December 30, 2003. Written comments will have the same weight and effect as oral statements presented at the hearings. A copy of the proposed rule [LE-40-03] and fiscal estimate may be obtained from Mr. Brooks.
Notice of Hearing
Natural Resources
(Fish, Game, etc., Chs.
NR 1—)
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to ss.
29.014 (1),
29.041,
29.519 (1) (b) and
227.11 (2) (a), Stats., interpreting ss.
29.014 (1),
29.041 and
29.519 (1) (b), Stats., the Department of Natural Resources will hold public hearings on amendments to ss.
NR 20.20 (73) (j) 1. a. and
3. a. and
25.06 (2) (b) 1., Wis. Adm. Code, relating to fishing for yellow perch in Green Bay. The proposed rule postpones by 3 years the date when the sport fishing daily bag limit for yellow perch reverts from 10 fish to 25 fish and the annual total allowable commercial harvest of yellow perch from zone 1 reverts from 20,000 pounds to 200,000 pounds.
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to s.
227.114, Stats., the proposed rule may have an impact on small businesses.
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
a. Types of small businesses affected: Yellow perch commercial fishers in Green Bay.
b. Description of reporting and bookkeeping procedures required: No new procedures.
c. Description of professional skills required: No new skills.
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the Department has made a preliminary determination that this action does not involve significant adverse environmental effects and does not need an environmental analysis under ch.
NR 150, Wis. Adm. Code. However, based on the comments received, the Department may prepare an environmental analysis before proceeding with the proposal. This environmental review document would summarize the Department's consideration of the impacts of the proposal and reasonable alternatives.
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the hearings will be held on:
Thursday, December 11, 2003 at 1:30 p.m.
Council Chambers, Peshtigo Municipal Bldg.
331 French St.
Peshtigo
Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary
1660 E. Shore Drive
Green Bay
at 5:30 p.m.
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodations, including the provision of informational material in an alternative format, will be provided for qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. Please call Bill Horns at (608) 266-8782 with specific information on your request at least 10 days before the date of the scheduled hearing.
Written comments on the proposed rule may be submitted to Mr. Bill Horns, Bureau of Fisheries Management and Habitat Protection, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707 no later than December 21, 2003. Written comments will have the same weight and effect as oral statements presented at the hearing. A copy of the proposed rule [FH-36-03] and fiscal estimate may be obtained from Mr. Horns.
Notice of Hearing
Natural Resources
(Fish, Game, etc., Chs.
NR 1—)
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to ss.
29.041,
29.014 (1),
29.519 (1) (b) and
227.11 (2) (a), Stats., interpreting ss.
29.041,
29.014 (1),
29.516 (2) (d) and
29.519 (1) (b), Stats., the Department of Natural Resources will hold a public hearing on the creation of s.
NR 25.09(2)(b)2.f., Wis. Adm. Code, relating to trap net marking requirements. The proposed rule creates net marking requirements for commercial trap nets set in Lake Michigan and Green Bay from April 1 to October 25.
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to s.
227.114, Stats., the proposed rule may have an impact on small businesses.
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
a. Types of small businesses affected: Commercial trap net fishers in Lake Michigan and Green Bay.
b. Description of reporting and bookkeeping procedures required: No new procedures.
c. Description of professional skills required: No new skills.
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the Department has made a preliminary determination that this action does not involve significant adverse environmental effects and does not need an environmental analysis under ch.
NR 150, Wis. Adm. Code. However, based on the comments received, the Department may prepare an environmental analysis before proceeding with the proposal. This environmental review document would summarize the Department's consideration of the impacts of the proposal and reasonable alternatives.
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the hearing will be held on:
Friday, December 12, 2003 at 11:00 a.m.
Room 027, GEF #2
101 South Webster Street
Madison
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodations, including the provision of informational material in an alternative format, will be provided for qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. Please call Bill Horns at (608) 266-8782 with specific information on your request at least 10 days before the date of the scheduled hearing.
Written comments on the proposed rule may be submitted to Mr. Bill Horns, Bureau of Fisheries Management and Habitat Protection, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707 no later than December 21, 2003. Written comments will have the same weight and effect as oral statements presented at the hearing. A copy of the proposed rule [FH-35-03] and fiscal estimate may be obtained from Mr. Horns.
Notice of Hearing
Natural Resources
(Environmental Protection-General, Chs.
NR 100—)
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to ss.
87.30 (1) and
227.11 (2) (a), Stats., interpreting s.
87.30 (1), Stats., the Department of Natural Resources will hold a public hearing on the creation of s.
NR 116.03 (6m) and the amendment of s.
NR 116.15 (1) (a), Wis. Adm. Code, relating to decks on nonconforming structures in floodplains. The proposed rule will define a deck and provide that a deck may be added to a nonconforming building or a building with a nonconforming use in a floodplain.
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to s.
227.114, Stats., it is not anticipated that the proposed rule will have an economic impact on small businesses.
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the Department has made a preliminary determination that this action does not involve significant adverse environmental effects and does not need an environmental analysis under ch.
NR 150, Wis. Adm. Code. However, based on the comments received, the Department may prepare an environmental analysis before proceeding with the proposal. This environmental review document would summarize the Department's consideration of the impacts of the proposal and reasonable alternatives.
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the hearing will be held on:
Monday, December 15, 2003 at 1:00 p.m.
Video conference participation will be available at:
Room 021, GEF #2 Bldg, 101 South Webster St., Madison
Room B29, State Office Bldg, 3550 Mormon Coulee Road,
La Crosse
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodations, including the provision of informational material in an alternative format, will be provided for qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. Please call Gary Heinrichs at (608) 266-3093 with specific information on your request at least 10 days before the date of the scheduled hearing.
Written comments on the proposed rule may be submitted to Mr. Gary Heinrichs, Bureau of Watershed Management, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707 no later than December 29, 2003. Written comments will have the same weight and effect as oral statements presented at the hearing. A copy of the proposed rule [WT-39-03] and fiscal estimate may be obtained from Mr. Heinrichs.
Notice of Hearings
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN That pursuant to ss.
115.28 (7),
(7m),
(15) and
(17),
118.19 (11),
121.02 (1) (a), and
227.11 (2) (a), Stats., and interpreting ss.
115.28 (7),
118.19 and
118.192, Stats., the Department of Public Instruction will hold public hearings as follows to consider the amending of Chapter
PI 5, relating to high school equivalency diplomas and certificates of general educational development.
The hearings will be held as follows:
December 11, 2003, 3:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Oshkosh
Fox Valley Technical College
150 N. Campbell Road
Room 133
December 15, 2003, 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.
