AB977: Bill Text

2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE

2019 Assembly BILL 977

March 2, 2020 - Introduced by Representatives Loudenbeck, Horlacher, Considine, Dittrich, Emerson, Kolste, Rodriguez and Subeck, cosponsored by Senator Bewley. Referred to Committee on Health.

AB977,1,3 An Act to renumber and amend 250.15 (1); and to create 250.15 (1) (b) and 250.15 (2) (d) of the statutes; relating to: funding for free and charitable clinics.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill defines “free and charitable clinics” as health care organizations that use a volunteer and staff model to provide health services to uninsured, underinsured, underserved, economically and socially disadvantaged, and vulnerable populations and that meet criteria specified in the bill. The bill incorporates into statutory language an allocation made in the biennial budget act, 2019 Wisconsin Act 9, that requires the Department of Health Services to give $500,000 in grants annually to free and charitable clinics.

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

AB977,1 Section 1. 250.15 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 250.15 (1) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB977,1,6 250.15 (1) Definition Definitions. (intro.) In this section, “ community:

AB977,2,2 (a) “Community health center" means a health care entity that provides primary health care, health education and social services to low-income individuals.

AB977,2 Section 2. 250.15 (1) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

AB977,2,7 250.15 (1) (b) “Free and charitable clinics” means health care organizations that use a volunteer and staff model to provide health services to uninsured, underinsured, underserved, economically and socially disadvantaged, and vulnerable populations and that meet all of the following criteria:

AB977,2,9 1. The organizations are nonprofit and tax exempt or are a part of a larger nonprofit, tax-exempt organization.

AB977,2,10 2. The organizations are located in this state or serve residents in this state.

AB977,2,13 3. The organizations restrict eligibility to receive services to individuals who are uninsured, underinsured, or have limited or no access to primary, specialty, or prescription care.

AB977,2,14 4. The organizations provide one or more of the following services:

AB977,2,15 a. Medical care.

AB977,2,16 b. Mental health care.

AB977,2,17 c. Dental care.

AB977,2,18 d. Prescription medications.

AB977,2,21 5. The organizations use volunteer health care professionals, nonclinical volunteers, and partnerships with other health care providers to provide the services under subd. 4.

AB977,2,25 6. The organizations are not federally qualified health centers as defined in 42 USC 1396d (l) (2) and do not receive reimbursement from the federal centers for medicare and medicaid services under a federally qualified health center payment methodology.

AB977,3 Section 3. 250.15 (2) (d) of the statutes is created to read:

AB977,3,2 250.15 (2) (d) To free and charitable clinics, $500,000.

AB977,3,3 (End)