Rules adopted revising
ch. HFS 107, relating to benefits covered by the Wisconsin Medical Assistance program, and affecting small businesses.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Health and Family Services finds that an emergency exists and that the adoption of an emergency rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public, health, safety and welfare. The facts constituting the emergency are as follows:
A recent revision to s.
HFS 107.07 (2), the prior authorization subsection of the dental services section of the Medicaid Administrative Code, caused a result which was not intended by the Department. To correct this error, the Department is promulgating rules to clarify that the Department's intent is to require prior authorization for orthodontia and other services provided under early and periodic screening, diagnosis and treatment (EPSDT) services. The medical necessity of these services is determined by the Department based on information submitted by the provider. Thus, it is necessary to require prior authorization to determine the appropriateness of providing these services to an individual recipient.
In the previous rulemaking (
Clearinghouse Rule 05-033) the prior authorization requirement was removed for most procedures that had high rates of approval (greater than 75%). The change was intended to reduce the staff time required for dental offices to process prior authorization requests. The Department did not intend to remove the requirement for prior authorization for orthodontia and other services. The Department specifically stated, in
Clearinghouse Rule 05-033, that "Procedures where appropriate pricing requires a high degree of clinical knowledge (e.g., orthodontics and TMJ surgery), and procedures with strict time limitations (e.g., dentures) are also proposed to retain prior authorization."
The language that was adopted, however, has been interpreted by at least one dentist to mean that prior authorization is no longer required to provide orthodontia to recipients. This interpretation was upheld by an administrative law judge in an administrative hearing. The Department believes that the interpretation of the administrative law judge could open up the Department to being required to pay for procedures that are purely cosmetic. Because the intent of the Department and the language adopted, as recently interpreted, had opposite effects, the Department is promulgating rules to revise section s.
HFS 107.07 to clarify the intent of the rule.
A basic concept of the Medicaid program is that services must be medically necessary to be reimbursable. Allowing the existing rule language to remain in its present form could require reimbursement for orthodontia that is not medically justified.
Publication Date:
April 30, 2007
Effective Date:
April 30, 2007
Expiration Date:
September 27, 2007
Natural Resources (5)
(Fish and Game, etc., Chs.
NR 1—)
1.
Rules adopted amending
s. NR 1.21 and creating
s. NR 1.26, relating to contracting for timber sale establishment services on state land.
Exemption From Finding of Emergency
As provided in section
13 of
2005 Wis. Act 166, “Notwithstanding section
227.24 (1) (a) and
(3) of the statutes, the department is not required to provide a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated under this subsection."
Section 1 of the proposed rule distinguishes between timber sales related tasks that can be contracted and functions that Department staff must perform to protect the resource and assure compliance with regulations and property master plans. The purpose is to divide technical activities that are appropriate for contracting from administration of finance, policy and compliance issues. The rule defines bidding and payment procedures for the contracted services, including prequalification of bidders based on experience with timber sales and related forest inventory work. Section 2 makes technical corrections in the definition of educational requirements for cooperating foresters. The change would make educational requirements for cooperating foresters and department foresters identical, including the allowance of training equivalent to that obtained at a college accredited by the Society of American Foresters.
Publication Date:
February 6, 2007
Effective Date:
February 6, 2007
Expiration Date:
July 6, 2007
Hearing Date:
March 21, 2007
2.
Rules adopted creating
s. NR 45.075, relating to declaring natural emergencies on forested lands owned by the state and under the jurisdiction of the department.
Exemption From Finding of Emergency
As provided in section
13 of
2005 Wis. Act 166, notwithstanding s.
227.24, Stats., the Department is not required to provide a finding of emergency for this rule and the emergency rule will remain in effect until a permanent rule is promulgated.
Rule FR-11-07(E) specifies those emergencies on forested land under the jurisdiction of the department over which the chief state forester shall have management authority. This rule describes causes of unforeseen damage or threat of damage to trees that could lead the chief state forester to declare an emergency and assume management authority. Included in the list of damaging agents that could lead to the declaration of an emergency are those required by the legislature: invasive species, pest infestation, disease, and damage to timber from fire, snow, hail, ice, or wind. The rule states that when declaring and responding to an emergency, the chief state forester shall consider the purpose of and management plan for the affected property in his or her decisions. This rule, however, would allow the chief state forester to take actions not described in the management plan for a property if that were the most appropriate response to the emergency. Finally, this rule describes the processes by which the declaration of the state of emergency shall be made effective, canceled or modified.
Publication Date:
February 6, 2007
Effective Date:
February 6, 2007
Expiration Date:
July 6, 2007
Hearing Date:
March 21, 2007
3.
Rules adopted revising
chs. NR 19 and 20, relating to the control of fish diseases and invasive species.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Natural Resources finds that an emergency exists and rules are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety or welfare. A statement of facts constituting the emergency is:
The World Health Organization for Animal Health (OIE) lists viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) as a "notifiable" disease, meaning that outbreaks must be reported immediately. VHS has been discovered in the Great Lakes, and is moving from the lower lakes (Ontario and Erie), where it has already caused large-scale fish kills, via Huron, where it has been present since 2005, to the upper lakes (Michigan and Superior). Lake Michigan is connected to the Mississippi River by the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal and Illinois River, allowing fish and fish diseases to reach the Mississippi drainage. Twenty-seven species of Wisconsin fish have been identified as susceptible by the OIE or USDA APHIS, including most of our most important recreational and commercial species. The VHS virus can be transported from affected areas to areas where it is not yet present via live fish, fish eggs, refrigerated or frozen dead fish, or water where infected fish have been present. The presence of VHS virus in the Great Lakes is therefore a threat to the public health or safety or to the environment.
Publication Date:
April 8, 2007
Effective Date:
April 8, 2007
Expiration Date:
September 5, 2007
Hearing Date:
May 3, 10 and 17, 2007
4.
Rules adopted revising
chs. NR 19 and 20, relating to the control of fish diseases and invasive species.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Natural Resources finds that an emergency exists and the foregoing rules are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety or welfare. A statement of facts constituting the emergency is:
The World Health Organization for Animal Health (OIE) lists viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) as a "notifiable" disease, meaning that outbreaks must be reported immediately. VHS has been discovered in the Great Lakes, and is moving from the lower lakes (Ontario and Erie), where it has already caused large-scale fish kills, via Huron, where it has been present since 2005, to the upper lakes (Michigan and Superior). Lake Michigan is connected to the Mississippi River by the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal and Illinois River, allowing fish and fish diseases to reach the Mississippi drainage. Twenty-seven species of Wisconsin fish have been identified as susceptible by the OIE or USDA APHIS, including most of our most important recreational and commercial species. The VHS virus can be transported from affected areas to areas where it is not yet present via live fish, fish eggs, refrigerated or frozen dead fish, or water where infected fish have been present. The presence of VHS virus in the Great Lakes is therefore a threat to the public health or safety or to the environment.
This emergency rule clarifies and expands the emergency rules put into effect on April 8, 2007.
Publication Date:
May 2, 2007
Effective Date:
May 2, 2007
Expiration Date:
September 5, 2007
Hearing Date:
June 11, 2007
5.
Rules adopted revising emergency rules affecting
chs. NR 19 and 20 relating to control of fish diseases and invasive species.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Natural Resources finds that an emergency exists and the rules are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety or welfare. A statement of facts constituting the emergency is:
The World Health Organization for Animal Health (OIE) lists viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) as a “notifiable" disease, meaning that outbreaks must be reported immediately. On May 11, the Department received notice that freshwater drum collected from Little Lake Butte des Morts were infected with the VHS virus. Earlier VHS had been discovered in the Great Lakes, and was known to be moving from the lower lakes (Ontario and Erie), where it has already caused large-scale fish kills, via Huron, where it has been present since 2005, to the upper lakes (Michigan and Superior). Lake Michigan is connected to the Mississippi River by the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal and Illinois River, allowing fish and fish disease to reach the Mississippi drainage basin. Twenty-seven species of Wisconsin fish have been identified as susceptible by the OIE or USDAAPHIS, including most of our most important recreational and commercial species. The VHS virus can be transported from infected areas to areas where it is not yet present via live fish, fish eggs, refrigerated or frozen dead fish, or water where infected fish have been present. The presence of VHS virus in Wisconsin is therefore a threat to the public health or safety or to the environment.
Publication Date:
May 27, 2007
Effective Date:
May 27, 2007
Expiration Date:
September 5, 2007
Hearing Date:
July 11, 2007
Natural Resources
(Environmental Protection - Water Regulation, Chs.
NR 300-)
Rules adopted revising
ch. NR 345, relating to general permits for dredging in Great Lakes navigable waterways.
Finding of Emergency
The emergency rule procedure, pursuant to s.
227.24, Stats., is necessary and justified in establishing rules to protect the public health, safety and welfare. The Wisconsin Legislature enacted
2003 Wisconsin Act 118 to streamline the regulatory process for activities in public trust waters. The state has an affirmative duty to administer the law in a manner consistent with the public trust responsibilities of the State of Wisconsin under Article IX, Section I of the Wisconsin Constitution.
Act 118 identifies certain activities that may be undertaken under a general permit. There are no statutory general permits for dredging, including operation of a motor vehicle, on the beds of the Great Lakes to remove algae, mussels, dead fish and similar large plant and animal nuisance deposits. Without emergency rules to create general permits, all dredging, including operation of a motor vehicle, on the beds of the Great Lakes to remove plant and animal nuisance deposits require an individual permit with an automatic 30-day public notice. The required 30-day comment period will unnecessarily delay projects that otherwise could go ahead with prescribed conditions established in a general permit. To carry out the intention of Act 118 to speed decision-making but not diminish the public trust in state waters, these emergency rules are required to establish general permits to be in effect for the 2007 summer season, with specific standards for operation of a motor vehicle, on the beds of the Great Lakes to remove plant and animal nuisance deposits.
Publication Date:
June 10, 2007
Effective Date:
June 10, 2007
Expiration Date:
November 7, 2007
Hearing Date:
July 10, 2007
Workforce Development (2)
(Workforce Solutions, Chs.
DWD 11 to
59)
1.
Rules adopted revising
s. DWD 56.06, relating to child care rates and affecting small businesses.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Workforce Development finds that an emergency exists and that a rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare. A statement of facts constituting the emergency is:
The child care subsidy budget estimates that the child care subsidy program will have a tight budget by the end of fiscal year 06-07. This is due to flat federal funding, rising caseload, and increased provider costs. To begin to address the tight budget, the Department will not increase the child care subsidy maximum rates for 2007. This emergency rule will maintain the maximum rates at 2006 levels.
Publication Date:
January 22, 2007
Effective Date:
January 22, 2007
Expiration Date:
June 21, 2007
Hearing Date:
May 7, 2007
2.
Rules adopted revising
ch. DWD 56, relating to child care enrollment underutilization.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Workforce Development finds that an emergency exists and a rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare. A statement of facts constituting the emergency is:
The child care subsidy budget is expected to have a substantial deficit by the end of state fiscal year 2006-07. While many factors will have an impact on the program's final fiscal balance, current spending patterns at current rates suggest that the program will exceed its 06-07 budget authorization by approximately $46 million. This rule will provide for more efficient use of the program's limited funding.
Publication Date:
April 1, 2007
Effective Date:
April 1, 2007
Expiration Date:
August 29, 2007
