JR1 AB1: Bill Text

For further information see the state and local 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:

AB1, s. 1 Section 1. 146.38 (1) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 146.38 (1) (b) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB1,9,6 146.38 (1) (b) (intro.) "Health care provider" includes an ambulance service provider, as defined in s. 256.01 (3), an emergency medical technician, as defined in s. 256.01 (5), and a first responder, as defined in s. 256.01 (9). means any of the following:

AB1, s. 2 Section 2. 146.38 (1) (b) 1. of the statutes is created to read:

AB1,9,8 146.38 (1) (b) 1. A person specified in s. 146.81 (1) (a) to (hp), (r), or (s).

AB1, s. 3 Section 3. 146.38 (1) (b) 2. of the statutes is created to read:

AB1,10,3 146.38 (1) (b) 2. A facility, association, or business entity, as specified in s. 146.81 (1) (i) to (q).

AB1, s. 4 Section 4. 146.38 (1) (b) 3. of the statutes is created to read:

AB1,10,6 146.38 (1) (b) 3. A person working under the supervision of or in collaboration with a person specified in subd. 1.

AB1, s. 5 Section 5. 146.38 (1) (b) 4. of the statutes is created to read:

AB1,10,9 146.38 (1) (b) 4. A parent, subsidiary, or affiliate organization of a facility, association, or business entity, as specified in subd. 2.

AB1, s. 6 Section 6. 146.38 (1) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:

AB1,10,15 146.38 (1) (bm) "Incident or occurrence report" means a written or oral statement that is made to notify a person, organization, or an evaluator who reviews or evaluates the services of health care providers or charges for such services of an incident, practice, or other situation that becomes the subject of such a review or evaluation.

AB1, s. 7 Section 7. 146.38 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1,10,20 146.38 (1m) No person who participates in the review or evaluation of the services of health care providers or facilities or charges for such services may disclose an incident or occurrence report or any information acquired in connection with such review or evaluation except as provided in sub. (3) or (3m).

AB1, s. 8 Section 8. 146.38 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1,11,14 146.38 (2) All persons, organizations , or evaluators reviewing or evaluating, whether from one or more entities, who review or evaluate the services of health care providers in order to help improve the quality of health care, to avoid improper utilization of the services of health care providers, or to determine the reasonable charges for such services shall keep a record of their investigations, inquiries, proceedings and conclusions. No such record may be released to any person under s. 804.10 (4) or otherwise except as provided in sub. (3) or (3m). No such record may be used in any civil or criminal action for personal injuries against the health care provider or facility or any other health care provider; however, except for incident or occurrence reports or records from other persons, organizations, or evaluators reviewing or evaluating health care providers, information, documents or records presented during the review or evaluation may not be construed as immune from discovery under s. 804.10 (4) or use in any civil or criminal action merely because they were so presented. Any person who testifies during or participates in the review or evaluation may testify in any civil or criminal action as to matters within his or her knowledge, but may not testify as to information obtained through his or her participation in the review or evaluation, nor as to any conclusion of such review or evaluation.

AB1, s. 9 Section 9. 146.38 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB1,11,17 146.38 (2m) An incident or occurrence report may not be used in any civil or criminal action against a health care provider.

AB1, s. 10 Section 10. 146.38 (3) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1,11,23 146.38 (3) (intro.) Information acquired in connection with the review and evaluation of health care services shall be disclosed and records of such review and evaluation shall be released, with the identity of any patient whose treatment is reviewed being withheld unless the patient has granted permission to disclose identity except as permitted under s. 146.82, in the following circumstances:

AB1, s. 11 Section 11. 146.38 (3) (a), (b) and (c) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB1,12,2 146.38 (3) (a) To the health care provider or facility whose services are being reviewed or evaluated, upon the request of such provider or facility;

AB1,12,4 (b) To any person with the consent of the health care provider or facility whose services are being reviewed or evaluated;

AB1,12,8 (c) To the person requesting the review or evaluation, for use solely for the purpose of improving the quality of health care, avoiding the improper utilization of the services of health care providers and facilities, and determining the reasonable charges for such services;

AB1, s. 12 Section 12. 146.38 (3) (d) of the statutes is repealed.

AB1, s. 13 Section 13. 146.38 (3) (e) of the statutes is repealed.

AB1, s. 14 Section 14. 146.38 (3m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB1,12,17 146.38 (3m) (a) Information acquired in connection with the review and evaluation of health care services may be disclosed, and records of such review and evaluation may be released, in statistical form with the consent of the person authorizing or with the authority to authorize the review or evaluation. Information disclosed or records released under this subsection shall not reveal the identity of any patient except as permitted under s. 146.82.

AB1,12,21 (b) Information acquired in connection with the review or evaluation of health care services may be disclosed, and the records of such a review or evaluation released, to any of the following persons, with the consent of the person authorizing or with the authority to authorize the review or evaluation:

AB1,12,22 1. The employer of a health care provider, as defined in sub. (1) (b) 1. and 3.

AB1,12,24 2. The parent, subsidiary, or affiliate organization of a health care provider, as defined in sub. (1) (b) 2.

AB1,13,2 3. The parent, subsidiary, or affiliate organization of the employer of a health care provider, as defined in sub. (1) (b) 1. and 3.

AB1, s. 15 Section 15. 146.38 (3t) of the statutes is created to read:

AB1,13,7 146.38 (3t) A record described under sub. (2) or an incident or occurrence report disclosed either under sub. (3) or (3m) or in violation of this section remains confidential and may not be used in any civil or criminal action against the health care provider or any other health care provider.

AB1, s. 16 Section 16. 146.38 (6) of the statutes is created to read:

AB1,13,13 146.38 (6) Health care provider specific information acquired by an administrative agency in order to help improve the quality of health care, to avoid the improper utilization of services of health care providers, or to determine the reasonable charges for health care services is exempt from inspection, copying, or receipt under s. 19.35 (1).

AB1, s. 17 Section 17. 153.05 (3m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB1,13,17 153.05 (3m) The entity under contract under sub. (2m) (a) may report quality indicators identifying individual hospitals based on data the entity collects under this subchapter.

AB1, s. 18 Section 18. 230.85 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1,14,5 230.85 (3) (b) If, after hearing, the division of equal rights finds that the respondent did not engage in or threaten a retaliatory action it shall order the complaint dismissed. The division of equal rights shall order the employee's appointing authority to insert a copy of the findings and orders into the employee's personnel file and, if the respondent is a natural person, order the respondent's appointing authority to insert such a copy into the respondent's personnel file. If the division of equal rights finds by unanimous vote that the employee filed a frivolous complaint it may order payment of the respondent's reasonable actual attorney fees and actual costs. Payment may be assessed against either the employee or the employee's attorney, or assessed so that the employee and the employee's attorney each pay a portion. To find a complaint frivolous the division of equal rights must find that s. 802.05 (2) or 895.044 has been violated.

AB1, s. 19 Section 19. 802.10 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1,14,8 802.10 (7) Sanctions. Violations of a scheduling or pretrial order are subject to ss. 802.05, 804.12 and, 805.03, and 895.044.

AB1, s. 20 Section 20. 809.103 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1,14,10 809.103 (2) (a) Is frivolous, as determined under s. 802.05 (2) or 895.044.

AB1, s. 21 Section 21. 814.04 (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1,14,16 814.04 Items of costs. (intro.) Except as provided in ss. 93.20, 100.195 (5m) (b), 100.30 (5m), 106.50 (6) (i) and (6m) (a), 111.397 (2) (a), 115.80 (9), 281.36 (2) (b) 1., 767.553 (4) (d), 769.313, 802.05, 814.245, 895.035 (4), 895.044, 895.443 (3), 895.444 (2), 895.445 (3), 895.446 (3), 895.506, 943.212 (2) (b), 943.245 (2) (d), 943.51 (2) (b), and 995.10 (3), when allowed costs shall be as follows:

AB1, s. 22 Section 22. 814.29 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1,14,24 814.29 (3) (a) A request for leave to commence or defend an action, proceeding, writ of error or appeal without being required to pay fees or costs or to give security for costs constitutes consent of the affiant and counsel for the affiant that if the judgment is in favor of the affiant the court may order the opposing party to first pay the amount of unpaid fees and costs, including attorney fees under ss. 802.05 and, 804.12 (1) (c), and 895.044 and under 42 USC 1988 and to pay the balance to the plaintiff.

AB1, s. 23 Section 23. 893.555 of the statutes is created to read:

AB1,15,2 893.555 Limitation of damages; long-term care providers. (1) In this section:

AB1,15,3 (a) "Long-term care provider" means any of the following:

AB1,15,4 1. An adult family home, as defined in s. 50.01 (1).

AB1,15,5 2. A residential care apartment complex, as defined in s. 50.01 (1d).

AB1,15,6 3. A community-based residential facility, as defined in s. 50.01 (1g).

AB1,15,7 4. A home health agency, as defined in s. 50.01 (1r).

AB1,15,8 5. A nursing home, as defined in s. 50.01 (3).

AB1,15,9 6. A hospice, as defined in s. 50.90 (1).

AB1,15,10 (b) "Noneconomic damages" has the meaning given in s. 893.55 (4) (a).

AB1,15,14 (2) Except as provided in sub. (3), an action to recover damages for injury arising from any treatment or operation performed by, or from any omission by, a long-term care provider, regardless of the theory on which the action is based, shall be commenced within the later of:

AB1,15,15 (a) Three years from the date of the injury .

AB1,15,19 (b) One year from the date the injury was discovered or, in the exercise of reasonable diligence should have been discovered, except that an action may not be commenced under this paragraph more than 5 years from the date of the act or omission.

AB1,15,24 (3) If a long-term care provider conceals from a patient a prior act or omission of the provider that has resulted in injury to the patient, an action shall be commenced within one year from the date the patient discovers the concealment or, in the exercise of reasonable diligence, should have discovered the concealment or within the time limitation provided by sub. (2), whichever is later.

AB1,16,9 (4) The total noneconomic damages recoverable for bodily injury arising from care or treatment performed, or from any omission, by a long-term care provider, including any action or proceeding based on contribution or indemnification and any action for a claim by a person other than the injured person for noneconomic damages recoverable for bodily injury, may not exceed the limit under s. 893.55 (4) (d) for each occurrence on or after the effective date of this subsection .... [LRB inserts date], from all long-term care providers and all employees of long-term care providers acting within the scope of their employment and providing long-term care services who are found negligent.

AB1,16,18 (5) A court in an action tried without a jury shall make a finding as to noneconomic damages without regard to the limit under s. 893.55 (4) (d). If noneconomic damages in excess of the limit are found, the court shall make any reduction required under s. 895.045 and shall award as noneconomic damages the lesser of the reduced amount or the limit. If an action is before a jury, the jury shall make a finding as to noneconomic damages without regard to the limit under s. 893.55 (4) (d). If the jury finds that noneconomic damages exceed the limit, the jury shall make any reduction required under s. 895.045 and the court shall award as noneconomic damages the lesser of the reduced amount or the limit.

AB1,16,25 (6) Notwithstanding the limits on noneconomic damages under this section, damages recoverable against a long-term care provider, and an employee of a long-term care provider acting within the scope of his or her employment and providing long-term care services, for wrongful death are subject to the limit under s. 895.04 (4). If damages in excess of the limit under s. 895.04 (4) are found, the court shall make any reduction required under s. 895.045 and shall award the lesser of the reduced amount or the limit under s. 895.04 (4).

AB1,17,4 (7) Damages recoverable under this section against a long-term care provider, and an employee of a long-term care provider acting within the scope of his or her employment and providing long-term care services, are subject to the provisions of s. 895.045.

AB1,17,9 (8) Evidence of any compensation for bodily injury received from sources other than the defendant to compensate the claimant for the injury is admissible in an action to recover damages for negligence by a long-term care provider. This section does not limit the substantive or procedural rights of persons who have claims based upon subrogation.

AB1, s. 24 Section 24. 895.043 (3) of the statutes is renumbered 895.043 (3) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB1,17,15 895.043 (3) Standard of conduct. (intro.) The plaintiff may receive punitive damages if evidence is submitted showing that the defendant acted maliciously toward the plaintiff or in an intentional disregard of the rights of the plaintiff. did any of the following:

AB1, s. 25 Section 25. 895.043 (3) (a) of the statutes is created to read:

AB1,17,18 895.043 (3) (a) Acted with the intent to cause injury to a particular person or persons.

AB1, s. 26 Section 26. 895.043 (3) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

AB1,17,21 895.043 (3) (b) Knew that the defendant's action that resulted in injury to one or more persons was practically certain to result in injury to one or more persons.

AB1, s. 27 Section 27. 895.043 (6) of the statutes is created to read:

AB1,18,3 895.043 (6) Unavailable defense. A voluntarily produced intoxicated or drugged condition is not a defense to liability for punitive damages if, had the actor not been in that intoxicated or drugged condition, he or she would have known that his or her action that resulted in injury to one or more persons, done while in the intoxicated or drugged condition, was practically certain to result in injury to one or more persons.

AB1, s. 28 Section 28. 895.044 of the statutes is created to read:

AB1,18,8 895.044 Damages for maintaining certain claims and counterclaims. (1) A party or a party's attorney may be liable for costs and fees under this section for commencing, using, or continuing an action, special proceeding, counterclaim, defense, cross complaint, or appeal to which any of the following applies:

AB1,18,11 (a) The action, special proceeding, counterclaim, defense, cross complaint, or appeal was commenced, used, or continued in bad faith, solely for purposes of harassing or maliciously injuring another.

AB1,18,15 (b) The party or the party's attorney knew, or should have known, that the action, special proceeding, counterclaim, defense, cross complaint, or appeal was without any reasonable basis in law or equity and could not be supported by a good faith argument for an extension, modification, or reversal of existing law.

AB1,18,20 (2) Upon either party's motion made at any time during the proceeding or upon judgment, if a court finds, upon clear and convincing evidence, that sub. (1) (a) or (b) applies to an action or special proceeding commenced or continued by a plaintiff or a counterclaim, defense, or cross complaint commenced, used, or continued by a defendant, the court:

AB1,19,5 (a) May, if the party served with the motion withdraws, or appropriately corrects, the action, special proceeding, counterclaim, defense, or cross complaint within 21 days after service of the motion, or within such other period as the court may prescribe, award to the party making the motion, as damages, the actual costs incurred by the party as a result of the action, special proceeding, counterclaim, defense, or cross complaint, including the actual reasonable attorney fees the party incurred, including fees incurred in any dispute over the application of this section. In determining whether to award, and the appropriate amount of, damages under this paragraph, the court shall take into consideration the timely withdrawal or correction made by the party served with the motion.

AB1,19,10 (b) Shall, if a withdrawal or correction under par. (a) is not timely made, award to the party making the motion, as damages, the actual costs incurred by the party as a result of the action, special proceeding, counterclaim, defense, or cross complaint, including the actual reasonable attorney fees the party incurred, including fees incurred in any dispute over the application of this section.

AB1,19,14 (3) If a party makes a motion under sub. (2), a copy of that motion and a notice of the date of the hearing on that motion shall be served on any party who is not represented by counsel only by personal service or by sending the motion to the party by registered mail.

AB1,19,18 (4) If an award under this section is affirmed upon appeal, the appellate court shall, upon completion of the appeal, remand the action to the trial court to award damages to compensate the successful party for the actual reasonable attorney fees the party incurred in the appeal.

AB1,19,24 (5) If the appellate court finds that sub. (1) (a) or (b) applies to an appeal, the appellate court shall, upon completion of the appeal, remand the action to the trial court to award damages to compensate the successful party for all the actual reasonable attorney fees the party incurred in the appeal. An appeal is subject to this subsection in its entirety if any element necessary to succeed on the appeal is supported solely by an argument that is described under sub. (1) (a) or (b).

AB1,20,5 (6) The costs and fees awarded under subs. (2), (4), and (5) may be assessed fully against the party bringing the action, special proceeding, cross complaint, defense, counterclaim, or appeal or the attorney representing the party, or both, jointly and severally, or may be assessed so that the party and the attorney each pay a portion of the costs and fees.