49.45(6z)(a) (a) Notwithstanding sub. (3) (e), from the appropriation accounts under s. 20.435 (4) (b), (gm), (o), and (w), the department may distribute funding in each fiscal year to supplement payment for services to hospitals that enter into indigent care agreements, in accordance with the approved state plan for services under 42 USC 1396a, with relief agencies that administer the medical relief block grant under this chapter, if the department determines that the hospitals serve a disproportionate number of low-income patients with special needs. If no medical relief block grant under this chapter is awarded or if the allocation of funds to such hospitals would exceed any limitation under 42 USC 1396b (i) (3), the department may distribute funds to hospitals that have not entered into indigent care agreements. The department may not distribute funds under this subsection to the extent that the distribution would do any of the following:

49.45(6z)(b) (b) The department need not promulgate as rules under ch. 227 the procedures, methods of distribution and criteria required for distribution under par. (a).

49.45(7)(a)(a) A recipient who is a patient in a public medical institution or an accommodated person and has a monthly income exceeding the payment rates established under 42 USC 1382 (e) may retain $45 unearned income or the amount of any pension paid under 38 USC 5503 (d), whichever is greater, per month for personal needs. Except as provided in s. 49.455 (4) (a), the recipient shall apply income in excess of $45 or the amount of any pension paid under 38 USC 5503 (d), whichever is greater, less any amount deducted under rules promulgated by the department, toward the cost of care in the facility.

49.45(7)(b) (b) Where a facility participating in the medical assistance program has been delegated in writing by a resident within that facility to manage and control the personal funds of the resident including but not limited to those funds identified in par. (a) the facility shall establish for the resident a personal fund account. All deposits and withdrawals of funds shall be documented by the facility to indicate the amount and date of deposit and amount, date and purpose of withdrawal. Such documentation shall be maintained in the resident's records.

49.45(7)(c) (c) Upon the removal of a resident from the facility as a result of death or permanent transfer, the facility shall transfer the balance of the resident's trust account to the personal representative of the resident's estate, the legal guardian of the resident or if appropriate to the resident personally. A copy of the trust account records shall be transferred with the funds. No facility or any of its employees or representatives may benefit from the distribution of a deceased resident's personal funds unless they are specifically named in the resident's will or constitute an heir at law.

49.45(7)(d)1.1. The department shall accept from any person a verified complaint concerning any violation of this subsection. The department shall forward to the accused within 10 days a copy of such complaint. The department, upon such investigation as it deems necessary, may dismiss the complaint or may find probable cause to believe that a violation of this subsection has occurred.

49.45(7)(d)2. 2. If the department finds probable cause to believe that a violation of this subsection has occurred, it may assess a forfeiture of not less than $25 nor more than $500 for each occurrence, and in addition may order that any amount illegally charged against a resident's account be restored. The department shall immediately inform the complainant and respondent of any such decision and the amount of forfeiture or repayment, if any. If the department is not notified in writing that a party wishes to contest a decision within 15 working days after the parties are informed of such decision, the department's determination shall be deemed final and may not be appealed to a court.

49.45(7)(d)4. 4. The department's determination of serious misconduct under this subsection shall be cause for terminating the facility's participation in the state-funded portion of the medical assistance program under this subchapter.

49.45(7)(e) (e) Nursing homes shall adopt a uniform accounting system prescribed by the department for purposes of managing residents personal fund accounts.

49.45(8)(a)(a) In this subsection:

49.45(8)(a)4. 4. “Patient care visit" means a personal contact with a patient that is made by a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, nurse aide, physical therapist, occupational therapist, or speech-language pathologist who is on the staff of or under contract or arrangement with a home health agency, or by a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse practicing independently, to provide a service that is covered under s. 49.46, 49.47, or 49.471. “Patient care visit" does not include time spent by a nurse, therapist, or nurse aide on case management, care coordination, travel, record keeping, or supervision that is related to the patient care visit.

49.45(8)(b) (b) Reimbursement under s. 20.435 (4) (b), (gm), (o), and (w) for home health services provided by a certified home health agency or independent nurse shall be made at the home health agency's or nurse's usual and customary fee per patient care visit, subject to a maximum allowable fee per patient care visit that is established under par. (c).

49.45(8)(c) (c) The department shall establish a maximum statewide allowable fee per patient care visit, for each type of visit with respect to provider, that may be no greater than the cost per patient care visit, as determined by the department from cost reports of home health agencies, adjusted for costs related to case management, care coordination, travel, record keeping and supervision.

49.45(8r) (8r) Payment for certain obstetric and gynecological care. The rate of payment for obstetric and gynecological care provided in primary care shortage areas, as defined in s. 36.60 (1) (cm), or provided to recipients of medical assistance who reside in primary care shortage areas, that is equal to 125 percent of the rates paid under this section to primary care physicians in primary care shortage areas, shall be paid to all certified primary care providers who provide obstetric or gynecological care to those recipients.

49.45(8v) (8v) Incentive-based pharmacy payment system. The department shall establish a system of payment to pharmacies for legend and over-the-counter drugs provided to recipients of medical assistance that has financial incentives for pharmacists who perform services that result in savings to the medical assistance program. Under this system, the department shall establish a schedule of fees that is designed to ensure that any incentive payments made are equal to or less than the documented savings. The department may discontinue the system established under this subsection if the department determines, after performance of a study, that payments to pharmacists under the system exceed the documented savings under the system.