The objective of the emergency and proposed permanent rules is to create Section
Tax 2.985, relating to the electronic medical records credit. The rules will implement a program to certify health care providers as eligible for the electronic medical records credit under ss.
71.07 (5i),
71.28 (5i), and
71.47 (5i), Stats., and allocate to certified providers, tax credits for information technology (IT) hardware or software that is used to maintain medical records in electronic form.
Description of Existing Policies Relevant to the Rule and of New Policies Proposed to be Included in the Rule and an Analysis of Policy Alternatives; the History, Background and Justification for the Proposed Rule
Sections
71.07 (5i),
71.28 (5i), and
71.47 (5i), Stats., permit a health care provider, as defined in s.
146.81 (a) to (p), Stats., to claim as a credit, subject to limitations, against taxes imposed under ss.
71.02 and
71.08, Stats., up to the amount of those taxes, an amount equal to 50 percent of the amount the claimant paid in the taxable year beginning after December 31, 2011, for information technology hardware or software that is used to maintain medical records in electronic form.
Section
73.15 (3), Stats., requires the department to promulgate rules to implement a program to certify health care providers as eligible for the electronic medical records credit under ss.
71.07 (5i),
71.28 (5i), and
71.47 (5i), Stats., and to allocate to certified providers, tax credits for information technology (IT) hardware or software that is used to maintain medical records in electronic form.
The department intends to propose rules interpreting the provisions of ss.
71.07 (5i),
71.28 (5i),
71.47 (5i), and
73.15 (1) and
(2), Stats., including addressing activities relating to: (1) eligibility; (2) application and documentation; (3) criteria for certification (4) criteria for allocation of credits; and (5) claiming credits.
Because health care providers may begin claiming the tax credits for amounts paid for IT hardware and software to maintain medical records in electronic form, beginning in taxable year 2012, the department will issue these rules first as emergency rules and then as permanent rules.
The alternative of not promulgating these rules would conflict with a directive in s.
73.15 (3) Stats., which requires the department to promulgate these rules.
Statutory Authority for the Rule (Including the Statutory Citation and Language)
The department is authorized by s.
73.15 (3), Stats., to promulgate rules to comply with the provisions under ss.
73.15 (1) and
(2), Stats., which provide:
73.15 (1) The department of revenue shall implement a program to certify health care providers as eligible for the electronic medical records credit under ss.
71.07 (5i),
71.28 (5i), and
71.47 (5i).
(2) If the department of revenue certifies a health care provider under sub. (1), the department shall determine the amount of credits to allocate to the health care provider. The total amount of electronic medical records credits allocated to health care providers in any year may not exceed $10,000,000.
(3)The department of revenue shall promulgate rules to administer this section.
The department is further authorized by s.
227.11 (2) (a), Stats., to promulgate rules interpreting the provisions of any statute enforced or administered by the agency if the agency believes it necessary to effectuate the purpose of the statutes enforced or administered by the agency. Section
227.11 (2) (a), Stats., provides:
227.11 (2) Rule-making authority is expressly conferred as follows:
(a) Each agency may promulgate rules interpreting the provisions of any statute enforced or administered by the agency, if the agency considers it necessary to effectuate the purpose of the statute, but a rule is not valid if the rule exceeds the bounds of correct interpretation. All of the following apply to the promulgation of a rule interpreting the provisions of a statute enforced or administered by an agency:
1. A statutory or nonstatutory provision containing a statement or declaration of legislative intent, purpose, findings, or policy does not confer rule-making authority on the agency or augment the agency's rule-making authority beyond the rule-making authority that is explicitly conferred on the agency by the legislature.
2. A statutory provision describing the agency's general powers or duties does not confer rule-making authority on the agency or augment the agency's rule-making authority beyond the rule-making authority that is explicitly conferred on the agency by the legislature.
3. A statutory provision containing a specific standard, requirement, or threshold does not confer on the agency the authority to promulgate, enforce, or administer a rule that contains a standard, requirement, or threshold that is more restrictive than the standard, requirement, or threshold contained in the statutory provision.
The department is authorized to promulgate the rules as emergency rules under s.
227.24,
(1) (a), Stats., which provides:
227.24 (1) (a) An agency may promulgate a rule as an emergency rule without complying with the notice, hearing and publication requirements under this chapter if preservation of the public peace, health, safety or welfare necessitates putting the rule into effect prior to the time it would take effect if the agency complied with the procedures.
Estimate of the Amount of Time that State Employees will Spend to Develop the Rule and of Other Resources Necessary to Develop the Rule
The staff time needed to develop the rules is expected to range from 100 to 200 hours, depending upon the associated complexity. This includes research, rule drafting, and processing the rules through public hearings, legislative review, and adoption. There are no other resources necessary to promulgate the rules.
Description of All Entities that may be Impacted by the Rule
Health care providers, as defined in s.
146.81 (1) (a) to
(p), Stats., that incur IT hardware and software costs for maintaining medical records in electronic form.
Summary and Preliminary Comparison of any Existing or Proposed Federal Regulation that is Intended to Address the Activities to be Regulated by the Rule
The federal Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) for Health IT promulgated
45 CFR 170 relating to health IT standards, implementation specifications, and certification criteria and certification programs for health IT. These rules, in addition to the rules for meaningful use of certified EHR technology under
42 CFR 495, are being used by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) to administer an electronic health record incentive payment program. CMS will require health care providers participating in Medicare to adopt and use certified EHR technology or face penalties beginning in 2016.
Contact Person
Dale Kleven (608) 266-8253
Safety and Professional Services —
Optometry Examining Board
This statement of scope was approved by the governor on November 1, 2011.
Rule No.
OPT 5.02
Relating to
Lens prescription.
Description of the Objective of the Rule
The objective is to allow for electronic signatures on a lens prescription.
Description of Existing Policies Relevant to the Rule and of New Policies Proposed to be Included in the Rule and an Analysis of Policy Alternatives; the History, Background and Justification for the Proposed Rule
The current definition for lens prescription states a “written order" which could be interpreted to not allow for an electronic signature. A contact lens prescription does not have the requirement of “written order" and requires a signature. This same section defines signature as a handwritten mark or an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to or logically associated with a record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the record. Modification of the current definition for lens prescription would provide clarity and create a consistency between lens prescriptions and contact lens prescriptions. Health care entities are increasingly utilizing electronic signatures as a way to improve patient safety, inefficiencies and control costs.
Statutory Authority for the Rule Including the Statutory Citation and Language)
Section
15.08 (5) (b) Each examining board: shall promulgate rules for its own guidance and for the guidance of the trade or profession to which it pertains and define and enforce professional conduct and unethical practices not inconsistent with the law relating to the particular trade or profession.
Estimate of the Amount of Time that State Employees will Spend to Develop the Rule and of Other Resources Necessary to Develop the Rule
25 hours
Description of All Entities that may be Impacted by the Rule
Licensees benefit by providing patient safety in an economically advantageous manner.
Consumers have the benefit of increased access and safety as well as reaping the economic impact felt by the licensee.
Summary and Preliminary Comparison of any Existing or Proposed Federal Regulation that is Intended to Address the Activities to be Regulated by the Rule
None.
Contact Person
Sharon Henes, (608) 261-2377
