Chapter 49

49.45(3m)(b)1.b. b. Subject to subds. 2. and 3., providing an increase to the inpatient fee-for-service base rate for each hospital that qualifies for a disproportionate share hospital payment such that the hospital’s overall fee-for-service add-on percentage under this subsection increases as the hospital’s percentage of Medical Assistance recipient inpatient days increases.

49.45(3m)(b)2. 2. The department shall ensure that the total amount of moneys available to pay hospitals with a disproportionate share of low-income patients is distributed in each fiscal year.

49.45(3m)(b)3. 3. The department shall limit the maximum payment to hospitals such that all of the following are true for disproportionate share hospital payments under this subsection in a fiscal year:

49.45(3m)(b)3.a. a. No single hospital receives more than $4,600,000. Beginning in fiscal year 2021-22, the amount specified under this subd. 3. a. shall equal 6.77 percent of the total amount of the state and federal shares available for disproportionate share hospital payments for the fiscal year.

49.45(3m)(b)3.b. b. The amount of payment is in accordance with federal rules concerning the hospital specific limit.

49.45(3m)(c) (c) If the department needs data to calculate the payments under this subsection other than the data available from the Medicaid Management Information System, the fiscal survey data, or the federal centers for Medicare and Medicaid services public records, the department shall collect the necessary data from hospitals.

49.45(3m)(d) (d) The department shall seek any necessary approval from the federal department of health and human services to implement the hospital payment methodology described under pars. (a) and (b). If approval is necessary and approval from the federal department of health and human services is received, the department shall implement the payment methodology described under pars. (a) and (b). If approval is necessary and the department and the federal department of health and human services negotiate a methodology for making payments to hospitals with a disproportionate share of low-income patients that is different from the methodology described under pars. (a) and (b), the department, before implementing the negotiated payment methodology, shall submit to the joint committee on finance the negotiated payment methodology. If the cochairpersons of the committee do not notify the department within 14 working days after the date of the submittal by the department that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the negotiated payment methodology, the department may implement the negotiated payment methodology. If, within 14 working days after the date of the submittal by the department, the cochairpersons of the committee notify the department that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the negotiated payment methodology, the negotiated payment methodology may be implemented only on approval of the committee.

49.45(3p) (3p) Rural critical care access supplement.

49.45(3p)(a) (a) Subject to par. (c) and notwithstanding sub. (3) (e), from the appropriations under s. 20.435 (4) (b) and (o), in each fiscal year, the department shall pay an amount equal to the sum of $4,500,000, as the state share of payments, and the matching federal share of payments, to hospitals that are not eligible for payments under sub. (3m) but that meet the criteria under sub. (3m) (a) 1. and 2. and that, in the most recent year for which information is available, charged at least 6 percent of overall charges for services to the Medical Assistance program for services provided to Medical Assistance recipients. The department may make a payment to a hospital under this subsection under a calculation method determined by the department that provides a fee-for-service supplemental payment that increases as the percentage of the total amount of the hospital’s overall charges for services that are charges to the Medical Assistance program increases.

49.45(3p)(b) (b) The department shall ensure that the total amount of moneys available to pay hospitals described under this subsection is distributed in each fiscal year.

49.45(3p)(c) (c) The department shall limit the maximum payment to hospitals under this subsection such that the amount of payment is in accordance with federal rules concerning any hospital specific limit.

49.45(3p)(d) (d) The department shall seek any necessary approval from the federal department of health and human services to implement the hospital payment supplement described under par. (a). If approval is necessary and approval from the federal department of health and human services is received, the department shall implement the payment methodology described under par. (a). If approval is necessary and the federal department of health and human services does not approve, the department may not implement the hospital payment supplement under par. (a).

49.45(4) (4) Information restricted. The use or disclosure of any information concerning applicants and recipients of medical assistance not connected with the administration of this section is prohibited.

49.45(4m) (4m) Financial record matching program.

49.45(4m)(a) (a) Definitions. In this subsection:

49.45(4m)(a)1. 1. “Account” means a demand deposit account, checking account, negotiable withdrawal order account, savings account, time deposit account, or money market mutual fund account.

49.45(4m)(a)2. 2. “Applicant” means an individual applying for benefits under this subchapter.

49.45(4m)(a)3. 3. “Financial institution” means any of the following:

49.45(4m)(a)3.a. a. A depository institution, as defined in 12 USC 1813 (c).

49.45(4m)(a)3.c. c. A federal credit union, as defined in 12 USC 1752, or state credit union, as defined in 12 USC 1752.

49.45(4m)(a)3.f. f. A broker-dealer, as defined in s. 551.102 (4).

49.45(4m)(a)4. 4. “Other individual” means an individual whose resources are required by law to be disclosed to determine the eligibility of an applicant or recipient.

49.45(4m)(a)5. 5. “Recipient” means an individual who receives benefits under this subchapter.

49.45(4m)(b) (b) Matching program and agreements.

49.45(4m)(b)1. 1. The department shall operate a financial record matching program under this subsection for the purpose of verifying the assets of applicants, recipients, and other individuals with respect to any program under this subchapter that requires asset verification.

49.45(4m)(b)2. 2. The department shall enter into agreements with financial institutions doing business in this state to operate the financial record matching program under this subsection. An agreement shall require the financial institution to participate in the financial record matching program by electing either the financial institution matching option under par. (c) or the state matching option under par. (d). Any changes to the conditions of the agreement shall be submitted by the financial institution or the department at least 60 days before the effective date of the change. The department shall furnish the financial institution with a signed copy of the agreement.

49.45(4m)(b)3. 3. The department shall reimburse a financial institution up to $125 per calendar quarter for participating in the financial record matching program under this subsection.

49.45(4m)(b)4. 4. To the extent feasible, the information to be exchanged under the matching program shall be provided by electronic data exchange as prescribed by the department in the agreement under subd. 2.

49.45(4m)(c) (c) Financial institution matching option. If a financial institution with which the department has an agreement under par. (b) elects the financial institution matching option under this paragraph, all of the following apply:

49.45(4m)(c)1. 1. At least once each calendar quarter, the department shall provide to the financial institution, in the manner specified in the agreement under par. (b) 2., information regarding applicants, recipients, and other individuals. The information shall include names and social security or other taxpayer identification numbers.

49.45(4m)(c)2. 2. Based on the information received under subd. 1., the financial institution shall take actions necessary to determine whether any applicant, recipient, or other individual has an ownership interest in an account maintained at the financial institution. If the financial institution determines that an applicant, recipient, or other individual has an ownership interest in an account at the financial institution, the financial institution shall provide the department with a notice containing the applicant’s, recipient’s, or other individual’s name, address of record, social security number or other taxpayer identification number, and account information. The account information shall include the account number, the account type, the nature of the ownership interest in the account, and the balance of the account at the time that the record match is made. The notice under this subdivision shall be provided in the manner specified in the agreement under par. (b) 2. and, to the extent feasible, by an electronic data exchange.

49.45(4m)(d) (d) State matching option. If a financial institution with which the department has an agreement under par. (b) elects the state matching option under this paragraph, all of the following apply:

49.45(4m)(d)1. 1. At least once each calendar quarter, the financial institution shall provide the department with information concerning all accounts maintained at the financial institution. For each account maintained at the financial institution, the financial institution shall notify the department of the name and social security number or other tax identification number of each person having an ownership interest in the account, together with a description of each person’s interest. The information required under this subdivision shall be provided in the manner specified in the agreement under par. (b) 2. and, to the extent feasible, by an electronic data exchange.

49.45(4m)(d)2. 2. The department shall take actions necessary to determine whether any applicant, recipient, or other individual has an ownership interest in an account maintained at the financial institution providing information under subd. 1. Upon the request of the department, the financial institution shall provide to the department, for each applicant, recipient, or other individual who matches information provided by the financial institution under subd. 1., the address of record, the account number and account type, and the balance of the account.

49.45(4m)(e) (e) Use of information by financial institution; penalty. A financial institution participating in the financial record matching program under this subsection, and the employees, agents, officers, and directors of the financial institution, may use information received from the department under par. (c) only for the purpose of matching records and may use information provided by the department in requesting additional information under par. (d) only for the purpose of providing the additional information. Neither the financial institution nor any employee, agent, officer, or director of the financial institution may disclose or retain information received from the department concerning applicants, recipients, or other individuals. Any person who violates this paragraph may be fined not less than $50 nor more than $1,000 or imprisoned in the county jail for not less than 10 days or more than one year or both.

49.45(4m)(f) (f) Use of information by department. The department may use information provided by a financial institution under this subsection only for matching records under par. (d), for administering the financial record matching program under this subsection, and for determining eligibility or continued eligibility under this subchapter. The department may not disclose or retain information received from a financial institution under this subsection concerning account holders who are not applicants, recipients, or other individuals.

49.45(4m)(g) (g) Financial institution liability. A financial institution is not liable to any person for disclosing information to the department under this subsection or for any other action that the financial institution takes in good faith to comply with this subsection.

49.45(5) (5) Appeal.

49.45(5)(a) (a) Any person whose application for medical assistance is denied or is not acted upon promptly or who believes that the payments made in the person’s behalf have not been properly determined or that his or her eligibility has not been properly determined may file an appeal with the department pursuant to par. (b). Review is unavailable if the decision or failure to act arose more than 45 days before submission of the petition for a hearing, except as provided in par. (ag) or (ar).

49.45(5)(ag) (ag) A person shall request a hearing within 90 days of the date of receipt of a notice from a care management organization or managed care organization upholding its adverse benefit determination relating to any of the following or within 90 days of the date the care management organization or managed care organization failed to act on the contested matter within the time specified by the department:

49.45(5)(ag)1. 1. Denial or limited authorization of a requested services, including a determination based on the type or level of service, requirement for medical necessity, appropriateness, setting, or effectiveness of a covered benefit.

49.45(5)(ag)2. 2. Reduction, suspension, or termination of a previously authorized service, unless the service was only authorized for a limited amount or duration and that amount or duration has been completed.

49.45(5)(ag)3. 3. Denial, in whole or in part, of payment for a service.

49.45(5)(ag)4. 4. Failure to provide services in a timely manner.

49.45(5)(ag)5. 5. Failure of a care management organization or managed care organization to act within the time frames provided in 42 CFR 438.408 (b) (1) and (2) regarding the standard resolution of grievances and appeals.

49.45(5)(ag)6. 6. Denial of an enrollee’s request to dispute financial liability, including copayments, premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, other cost sharing, and other member financial liabilities.

49.45(5)(ag)7. 7. Denial of an enrollee, who is a resident of a rural area with only one care management organization or managed care organization, to obtain services outside the organization’s network of contracted providers.

49.45(5)(ar) (ar) If a federal regulation specifies a different time limit to request a hearing than par. (a) or (ag), the time limit in the federal regulation shall apply.

49.45(5)(b) (b)

49.45(5)(b)1. 1. Upon receipt of a timely petition under par. (a) the department shall give the applicant or recipient reasonable notice and opportunity for a fair hearing. The department may make such additional investigation as it considers necessary. Notice of the hearing shall be given to the applicant or recipient and, if a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, or 46.23 is responsible for making the medical assistance determination, to the county clerk of the county. The county may be represented at such hearing. The department shall render its decision as soon as possible after the hearing and shall send a copy of its decision to the applicant or recipient, to the county clerk, and to any county officer charged with administration of the Medical Assistance program. The decision of the department shall have the same effect as an order of a county officer charged with the administration of the Medical Assistance program. The decision shall be final, but may be revoked or modified as altered conditions may require. The department shall deny a petition for a hearing or shall refuse to grant relief if:

49.45(5)(b)1.a. a. The petitioner withdraws the petition in writing.

49.45(5)(b)1.b. b. The sole issue in the petition concerns an automatic payment adjustment or change that affects an entire class of recipients and is the result of a change in state or federal law.

49.45(5)(b)1.c. c. The petitioner abandons the petition. Abandonment occurs if the petitioner fails to appear in person or by representative at a scheduled hearing without good cause, as determined by the department.

49.45(5)(b)1.d. d. The issue is an adverse benefit determination described in par. (ag) 1. to 7. made by a care management organization or managed care organization and the person requesting the hearing has not exhausted the internal appeal procedure with the organization.

49.45(5)(b)2. 2. If a recipient requests a hearing within the timely notice period specified in 42 CFR 431.231 (c), medical assistance coverage shall not be suspended, reduced, or discontinued until a decision is rendered after the hearing but medical assistance payments made pending the hearing decision may be recovered by the department if the contested decision or failure to act is upheld. If a county department is responsible for making the medical assistance determination, the department shall notify the county department of the county in which the recipient resides that the recipient has requested a hearing. Medical assistance coverage shall be suspended, reduced, or discontinued if:

49.45(5)(b)2.a. a. The recipient is contesting a state or federal law or a change in state or federal law and not the determination of the payment made on the recipient’s behalf.

49.45(5)(b)2.b. b. The recipient is notified of a change in his or her medical assistance coverage while the hearing decision is pending but the recipient fails to request a hearing on the change.

49.45(5)(b)3. 3. The recipient shall be promptly informed in writing if medical assistance is to be suspended, reduced or terminated pending the hearing decision.

49.45(5g) (5g) Payments to tribes.

49.45(5g)(a) (a) Tribal care coordination agreements. A tribal health care provider’s care coordination agreement with a nontribal health care provider shall meet federal requirements, including that a service provided by the nontribal health care provider be at the request of the tribal health care provider on behalf of a tribal member who remains in the tribal health care provider’s care according to the care coordination agreement; that both the tribal health care provider and nontribal health care provider are providers, as defined in s. 49.43 (10); that an established relationship exists between the tribal health care provider and the tribal member; and that the care be provided pursuant to a written care coordination agreement.

49.45(5g)(b) (b) Amount and distribution of payments.

49.45(5g)(b)1. 1. From the appropriation account under s. 20.435 (4) (b), the department shall make payments to eligible governing bodies of federally recognized American Indian tribes or bands or tribal health care providers in an amount and manner determined by the department. The department shall determine payment amounts on the basis of the difference between the state share of medical assistance payments paid for services rendered to tribal members for whom a care coordination agreement with nontribal health care providers is in place and the state share of medical assistance payments that would have been paid for those services absent a care coordination agreement with nontribal partners.

49.45(5g)(b)2. 2. The department shall withhold from the payments under subd. 1. the state share of administrative costs associated with carrying out this subsection, up to 10 percent of the amounts calculated in subd. 1.

49.45(5g)(b)3. 3. Federally recognized American Indian tribes or bands may use funds paid under this subsection for health-related purposes. The department shall consult biennially with tribes to determine the timing and distribution of payments.

49.45(5m) (5m) Supplemental funding for rural hospitals.

49.45(5m)(am) (am) Notwithstanding sub. (3) (e), from the appropriation accounts under s. 20.435 (4) (b), (gm), (o), (w) and (xc), the department shall distribute not more than $5,000,000 in each fiscal year, to provide supplemental funds to rural hospitals that, as determined by the department, have high utilization of inpatient services by patients whose care is provided from governmental sources, except that the department may not distribute funds to a rural hospital to the extent that the distribution would exceed any limitation under 42 USC 1396b (i) (3).

49.45(5m)(b) (b) The supplemental funding for rural hospitals under par. (am) shall be based on the utilization, by recipients of medical assistance, of the total inpatient days of a rural hospital in relation to that utilization in other rural hospitals.

49.45(5r) (5r) Supplemental funding for uncompensated care. Notwithstanding sub. (3) (e), from the appropriation account under s. 20.435 (4) (w), the department shall distribute $3,000,000 in each fiscal year to the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics for care that is not otherwise compensated, except that the department may not make payments that exceed limitations based on customary charges under 42 USC 1396b (i) (3).

49.45(6b) (6b) Centers for the developmentally disabled. From the appropriation under s. 20.435 (2) (gk), the department may reimburse the cost of services provided by the centers for the developmentally disabled. Beginning in fiscal year 2009-10, following each placement made under s. 46.275 that involves a relocation from a center for the developmentally disabled, the department shall reduce the reimbursement to the center by an amount, as determined by the department for each placement, that is equal to the nonfederal share of the costs for the placement under s. 46.275.

49.45(6c) (6c) Preadmission screening and resident review.

49.45(6c)(a) (a) Definitions. In this subsection:

49.45(6c)(a)1. 1. “Active treatment for developmental disability” means a continuous program for an individual who has a developmental disability that includes aggressive, consistent implementation of specialized and generic training, treatment, health services and related services, that is directed toward the individual’s acquiring behaviors necessary for him or her to function with as much self-determination and independence as possible and that is directed toward preventing or decelerating regression or loss of the individual’s current optimal functional status. “Active treatment for developmental disability” does not include services to maintain generally independent individuals with developmental disability who are able to function with little supervision or in the absence of active treatment for developmental disability.

49.45(6c)(a)2. 2. “Active treatment for mental illness” means the implementation of an individualized plan of care for an individual with mental illness that is developed under and supervised by a physician licensed under ch. 448 and other qualified mental health care providers and that prescribes specific therapies and activities for the treatment of the individual while the individual experiences an acute episode of severe mental illness which necessitates supervision by trained mental health care providers.

49.45(6c)(a)3. 3. “County department” means a department under s. 46.21, 46.23, 51.42 or 51.437.

49.45(6c)(a)4. 4. “Developmental disability” means any of the following:

49.45(6c)(a)4.a. a. Significantly subaverage general intellectual functioning that is concurrent with an individual’s deficits in adaptive behavior and that manifested during the individual’s developmental period.

49.45(6c)(a)4.b. b. A severe, chronic disability that meets all of the conditions for individuals with related conditions as specified in 42 CFR 435.1009.

49.45(6c)(a)5. 5. “Facility” has the meaning given under 42 USC 1396r (a).

49.45(6c)(a)6. 6. “Facility care” means services provided in a facility that are in conformity with 42 USC 1396r and that are payable under sub. (6m).

49.45(6c)(a)6m. 6m. “Intermediate facility” has the meaning given in s. 46.279 (1) (b).

49.45(6c)(a)7. 7. “Mental illness” has the meaning given in 42 USC 1396r (e).

49.45(6c)(b) (b) Preadmission screening. Except as provided in par. (e), every individual who applies for admission to a facility or to an institution for mental diseases shall be screened to determine if the individual has developmental disability or mental illness. The department or an entity to which the department has delegated authority shall screen every individual who has been identified as having a developmental disability or mental illness to determine if the individual needs facility care. If the individual is determined to need facility care, the department or an entity to which the department has delegated authority shall also assess the individual to determine if he or she requires active treatment for developmental disability or active treatment for mental illness. If the department or entity determines that the individual requires active treatment for developmental disability, the department or entity shall determine whether the level of care required by the individual that is provided by a facility could be provided safely in an intermediate facility or under a plan that is developed under s. 46.279 (4).

49.45(6c)(c) (c) Resident review. Except as provided in par. (e), the department or an entity to which the department has delegated authority shall review every resident of a facility or institution for mental diseases who has a developmental disability or mental illness and who has experienced a significant change in his or her physical or mental condition to determine all of the following:

49.45(6c)(c)1. 1. Whether the resident needs facility care.

49.45(6c)(c)2. 2. Whether the resident requires active treatment for developmental disability or active treatment for mental illness.

49.45(6c)(c)3. 3. If the department or entity determines under subd. 1. that the resident needs facility care and under subd. 2. that the resident requires active treatment for developmental disability, whether the level of care required by the resident that is provided by a facility could be provided safely in an intermediate facility or under a plan that is developed under s. 46.279 (4).

49.45(6c)(d) (d) Payment for facility care.

49.45(6c)(d)1. 1. No payment may be made under sub. (6m) to a facility or to an institution for mental diseases for the care of an individual who is otherwise eligible for medical assistance under s. 49.46, 49.47, or 49.471, who has developmental disability or mental illness and for whom under par. (b) or (c) it is determined that he or she does not need facility care, unless it is determined that the individual requires active treatment for developmental disability or active treatment for mental illness and has continuously resided in a facility or institution for mental diseases for at least 30 months prior to the date of the determination. If that individual requires active treatment and has so continuously resided, he or she shall be offered the choice of receiving active treatment for developmental disability or active treatment for mental illness in the facility or institution for mental diseases or in an alternative setting. A facility resident who has developmental disability or mental illness, for whom under par. (c) it is determined that he or she does not need facility care and who has not continuously resided in a facility for at least 30 months prior to the date of the determination, may not continue to reside in the facility after December 31, 1993, and shall, if the department so determines, be relocated from the facility after March 31, 1990, and before December 31, 1993. The county department shall be responsible for securing alternative residence on behalf of an individual who is required to be relocated from a facility under this subdivision, and the facility shall cooperate with the county department in the relocation.

49.45(6c)(d)2. 2. Payment may be made under sub. (6m) to a facility or institution for mental diseases for the care of an individual who is otherwise eligible for medical assistance under s. 49.46, 49.47, or 49.471 and who has developmental disability or mental illness and is determined under par. (b) or (c) to need facility care, regardless of whether it is determined under par. (b) or (c) that the individual does or does not require active treatment for developmental disability or active treatment for mental illness.