AB924: Bill Text

Also, the bill changes the educational requirements for a nursing home administrator license. Under the bill, a person may not take the examination for that license unless he or she has received a bachelor's degree in nursing home administration or has completed an educational program that the board determines is substantially equivalent to receiving such a degree.

In addition, the bill makes the following changes:

1. The bill requires a person who applies to renew a hospital administrator license to submit evidence that he or she completed at least 24 hours of continuing education during the preceding two-year period. Although current law requires a nursing home administrator to complete continuing education requirements, current law does not specify a minimum number of hours.

2. The bill requires the board to promulgate rules establishing a code of ethics governing the professional conduct of hospital and nursing home administrators. The rules may establish separate codes for each profession.

3. The bill allows the board to grant hospital administrator licenses to persons licensed as hospital administrators in other states. The board has similar authority under current law with respect to nursing home administrator licenses.

4. The board's authority to take disciplinary action is expanded so that the board may also take such action against persons licensed as hospital administrators. Therefore, for example, the board may take disciplinary action if a hospital administrator is incompetent or acts in a manner inconsistent with the health and safety of the patients in a hospital, or if the hospital that he or she administers has a pattern of serious violations of federal or state laws.

5. The bill changes the membership of the board, which consists of the following members under current law: five nursing home administrators, two public members, one physician, one nurse, and, as a nonvoting member, the secretary of health and family services or his or her designee. This bill eliminates two of the nursing home administrators and replaces them with three hospital administrators. In addition, the bill adds another nurse member to the board and requires one of the nurse members to be employed in a nursing home and the other nurse member to be employed in a hospital.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB924, s. 1 Section 1. 14.405 (7m) (c) of the statutes is created to read:

AB924,3,4 14.405 (7m) (c) One of the members appointed under par. (a) 4. must be employed in a nursing home and the other member appointed under par. (a) 4. must be employed in a hospital.

AB924, s. 2 Section 2. 15.08 (1m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB924,4,10 15.08 (1m) (b) The public members of the chiropractic examining board, the dentistry examining board, the hearing and speech examining board, the medical examining board, the respiratory care practitioners examining council and, the council on physician assistants, the board of nursing, the hospital and nursing home administrator examining board, the veterinary examining board, the optometry examining board, the pharmacy examining board, the examining board of social workers, marriage and family therapists and professional counselors , and the psychology examining board shall not be engaged in any profession or occupation concerned with the delivery of physical or mental health care.

AB924, s. 3 Section 3. 15.405 (7m) of the statutes is renumbered 15.405 (7m) (a) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB924,4,18 15.405 (7m) (a) (intro.) Nursing Hospital and nursing home administrator examining board. There is created a hospital and nursing home administrator examining board in the department of regulation and licensing consisting of 9 members appointed for staggered 4-year terms and the secretary of health and family services or a designee, who shall serve as a nonvoting member . Five, and the following members appointed for 4-year terms:

AB924,4,20 1. Three members shall be who are nursing home administrators licensed in this state under ch. 456.

AB924,4,21 3. One member shall be who is a physician. One member shall be a nurse

AB924,4,22 4. Two members who are nurses licensed under ch. 441.

AB924,4,23 5. Two public members shall be public members.

AB924,4,25 (b) No more than 2 members appointed under par. (a) 1. to 5. may be officials or full-time employees of this state.

AB924, s. 4 Section 4. 15.405 (7m) (a) 2. of the statutes is created to read:

AB924,5,3 15.405 (7m) (a) 2. Three members who are hospital administrators licensed under ch. 456.

AB924, s. 5 Section 5. 46.21 (1m) (am) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB924,5,16 46.21 (1m) (am) The county executive shall appoint under ss. 63.01 to 63.17 an administrator of the county hospital. The appointment shall be made on the basis of recognized and demonstrated public interest in and knowledge of the problems of delivery of medical care and treatment, and with due regard to training, experience, executive and administrative ability and efficiency, and general qualifications and fitness for performing the duties of the office. An administrator may not be appointed under this paragraph unless he or she is licensed as a hospital administrator under ch. 456. The administrator shall file an official oath and bond in the amount determined by the county board of supervisors. The county board of supervisors may create positions to assist the administrator. The administrator shall be appointed by the county executive in the unclassified civil service, and the appointment is subject to confirmation by the county board of supervisors under s. 59.17 (2) (bm).

AB924, s. 6 Section 6. 50.04 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB924,6,3 50.04 (2) (a) No nursing home within the state may operate except under the supervision of an administrator licensed under ch. 456 by the hospital and nursing home administrators administrator examining board. If the holder of a nursing home license is unable to secure a new administrator because of the departure of an administrator, such license holder may, upon written notice to the department and upon the showing of a good faith effort to secure a licensed administrator, place the nursing home in the charge of an unlicensed individual subject to conditions and time limitations established by the department, with advice from the hospital and nursing home administrator examining board. An unlicensed individual who administers a nursing home as authorized under this subsection is not subject to the penalty provided under s. 456.09.

AB924, s. 7 Section 7. 59.79 (10) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB924,6,16 59.79 (10) County hospital. Determine policy for the operation, maintenance, and improvement of the county hospital under s. 49.71 (2) and, notwithstanding the powers and duties specified under s. 46.21 (2) (k), (3r), and (6) with respect to the county hospital and the administrator and specified under s. 46.21 (2) (b), (L), (m), (n), (nm), (o), (p), and (q) and (3g), provide for the management of the county hospital as the board considers appropriate, except that the employee positions at the hospital will be county employee positions and except that the board may not employ a person as a hospital administrator unless he or she is licensed as such under ch. 456. If the board acts under this subsection, the board may not discontinue operation, maintenance, and improvement of the county hospital under s. 49.71 (2) and shall exercise the duties under s. 46.21 (4m). This subsection does not apply if the board acts under s. 46.21 with respect to the county hospital under s. 49.71 (2).

AB924, s. 8 Section 8. 440.08 (2) (a) 38k. of the statutes is created to read:

AB924,6,19 440.08 (2) (a) 38k. Hospital administrator: July 1 of each even-numbered year; $53.

AB924, s. 9 Section 9. Chapter 456 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB924,6,23 CHAPTER 456 hospital and nursing home administrator examining board

AB924, s. 10 Section 10. 456.01 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB924,7,2 456.01 (1) "Examining board" means the hospital and nursing home administrator examining board.

AB924, s. 11 Section 11. 456.01 (1g) of the statutes is created to read:

AB924,7,4 456.01 (1g) "Hospital" has the meaning given in s. 50.33 (2).

AB924, s. 12 Section 12. 456.01 (1r) of the statutes is created to read:

AB924,7,9 456.01 (1r) "Hospital administrator" means any individual responsible for planning, organizing, directing, and controlling the operation of a hospital, or who in fact performs such functions, whether or not such functions are shared by one or more other persons.

AB924, s. 13 Section 13. 456.01 (3m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB924,7,12 456.01 (3m) "Practice of hospital administration" means the planning, organizing, directing, and controlling of the operation of a hospital.

AB924, s. 14 Section 14. 456.01 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB924,7,15 456.01 (4) "Practice of nursing home administration" means the planning, organizing, directing, and control controlling of the operation of a nursing home.

AB924, s. 15 Section 15. 456.01 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB924,7,18 456.01 (5) "Provisional license" is a temporary license issued to a provisional hospital or nursing home administrator under this chapter.

AB924, s. 16 Section 16. 456.01 (5m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB924,7,21 456.01 (5m) "Provisional hospital administrator" means an individual who has been licensed as such under this chapter.

AB924, s. 17 Section 17. 456.02 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB924,8,3 456.02 (1) Develop, impose, and enforce standards which must be met by individuals in order to receive a license as a hospital or nursing home administrator, which standards shall be designed to insure that hospital or nursing home administrators will be individuals who are of good character and are otherwise suitable, and who, by training or experience in the field of institutional administration, are qualified to serve as hospital or nursing home administrators;

AB924, s. 18 Section 18. 456.02 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB924,8,7 456.02 (4) Establish and carry out procedures designed to insure that individuals licensed as hospital or nursing home administrators will, during any period that they serve as such, comply with the requirements of such standards;

AB924, s. 19 Section 19. 456.02 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB924,8,13 456.02 (5) Subject to the rules promulgated under s. 440.03 (1), receive, investigate, and take appropriate action with respect to, any charge or complaint filed with the examining board to the effect that any individual licensed as a hospital or nursing home administrator has failed to comply with the requirements of such standards;

AB924, s. 20 Section 20. 456.02 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB924,8,20 456.02 (6) In cooperation with other agencies and appropriate organizations, conduct a continuing study of the practice of hospital and nursing home administration within the state with a view to the improvement of the standards imposed for the licensing of such administrators and of procedures and methods for the enforcement of such standards with respect to administrators of hospitals or nursing homes who have been licensed as such;.

AB924, s. 21 Section 21. 456.03 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB924,9,3 456.03 Licenses. An applicant for a license as a hospital or nursing home administrator who has successfully complied with the requirements for licensure under this chapter and passed the examination shall be granted a license by the examining board, certifying that the applicant, depending on the license granted, has met the requirements of the laws and rules entitling the applicant to serve, act, practice, and otherwise hold himself or herself out as a duly licensed hospital or nursing home administrator.

AB924, s. 22 Section 22. 456.04 (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB924,9,7 456.04 Examination requirements. (intro.) The examining board shall allow any person to take the examination for licensure as a hospital or nursing home administrator who satisfies all of the following requirements:

AB924, s. 23 Section 23. 456.04 (4) of the statutes is repealed.

AB924, s. 24 Section 24. 456.04 (5) of the statutes is created to read:

AB924,9,13 456.04 (5) For licensure as a nursing home administrator, received a bachelor's degree in nursing home administration or has completed an educational program that the examining board determines is substantially equivalent to receiving a bachelor's degree in nursing home administration.

AB924, s. 25 Section 25. 456.04 (6) of the statutes is created to read:

AB924,9,19 456.04 (6) Except as provided in s. 456.072 (1), for licensure as a hospital administrator, received a bachelor's degree in administration of health care facilities or programs or has completed an educational program that the examining board determines is substantially equivalent to receiving a bachelor's degree in administration of health care facilities or programs.

AB924, s. 26 Section 26. 456.05 (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB924,9,25 456.05 Examinations. (intro.) The examining board shall determine the subjects of examination for applicants for licensure as hospital or nursing home administrators, and the scope, content, and format of such examinations. The Depending on the license applied for, the examinations shall include examination of the applicant's knowledge of each of the following:

AB924, s. 27 Section 27. 456.05 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB924,10,4 456.05 (1) The laws governing the operation of hospitals or long-term care facilities and the protection of the interests, safety, and well-being of the patients or residents therein; and.

AB924, s. 28 Section 28. 456.05 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB924,10,7 456.05 (2) The elements of proper and effective administration of hospitals or long-term care facilities; and.

AB924, s. 29 Section 29. 456.05 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB924,10,10 456.05 (3) The psychological, physical, medical, and social needs of persons served in such hospitals or long-term care facilities.

AB924, s. 30 Section 30. 456.05 (4) of the statutes is created to read:

AB924,10,13 456.05 (4) The requirements and procedures of federal and state health care reimbursement programs.

AB924, s. 31 Section 31. 456.07 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB924,10,18 456.07 (1) Every individual who holds a license as a hospital or nursing home administrator issued by the department shall biennially apply to the examining board for a new certificate of registration and report any facts requested by the examining board on forms provided for such purpose.

AB924, s. 32 Section 32. 456.07 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB924,11,3 456.07 (2) The application for a new certificate of registration shall include the applicable renewal fee specified under s. 440.08 (2) (a) and, except as provided in sub. (2m) and s. 456.072 (2), evidence satisfactory to the examining board that during the biennial period immediately preceding application for registration the applicant has attended a continuation continuing education program or course of study. During the time between initial licensure and commencement of a full 2-year licensure period new licensees shall not be required to meet continuing education requirements. All registration fees are payable on or before the applicable renewal date specified under s. 440.08 (2) (a).

AB924, s. 33 Section 33. 456.07 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB924,11,9 456.07 (2m) The examining board may not issue a certificate of registration under sub. (3) to an applicant for renewal of a hospital administrator license unless the applicant submits evidence satisfactory to the examining board that he or she has completed at least 24 hours of continuing education programs or courses of study during the biennial period immediately preceding the application.

AB924, s. 34 Section 34. 456.07 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB924,11,13 456.07 (3) Upon approval of an application for registration the examining board shall issue a certificate of registration to the hospital or nursing home administrator.

AB924, s. 35 Section 35. 456.07 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB924,11,17 456.07 (4) The license of a hospital or nursing home administrator who fails to comply with this section, and who continues to act as a hospital or nursing home administrator, may be suspended or revoked by the examining board.

AB924, s. 36 Section 36. 456.07 (6) of the statutes is created to read:

AB924,11,25 456.07 (6) Except as provided in s. 456.12, only an individual who has qualified as a licensed and registered hospital administrator under this chapter and who holds a valid current registration certificate under this section for the current registration period may use the title "Hospital Administrator" and the abbreviation "H.A." after the person's name. No other person may use or be designated by such title or such abbreviation or any other words, letters, sign, card, or device tending to or intended to indicate that the person is a licensed and registered hospital administrator.

AB924, s. 37 Section 37. 456.072 of the statutes is created to read:

AB924,12,8 456.072 Educational waiver for hospital administrators. (1) If a person takes the examination for licensure as a hospital administrator before the first day of the 60th month beginning after the effective date of this subsection .... [revisor inserts date], the examining board shall waive the requirement under s. 456.04 (6) if the person submits evidence satisfactory to the examining board that, on the effective date of this subsection .... [revisor inserts date], the person was primarily employed as a hospital administrator.

AB924,12,16 (2) The examining board may not renew a hospital administrator license that expires on July 1, 2008, of a person who receives a waiver under sub. (1) unless that person submits evidence satisfactory to the examining board, in addition to the evidence specified in s. 456.07 (2), that the person has received a bachelor's degree in administration of health care facilities or programs or has completed an educational program that the examining board determines is substantially equivalent to receiving a bachelor's degree in administration of health care facilities or programs.