summary
Introduced
03/11/2025
03/11/2025
In Committee
03/11/2025
03/11/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Under current law, the Department of Health Services licenses nursing home beds and beds in facilities primarily serving the developmentally disabled and enforces a maximum limit on the number of these licensed beds in the state. A nursing home may transfer a licensed bed to another nursing home under certain circumstances, including that the receiving nursing home is within the same area for allocation of nursing home beds as is the transferring home, or is in a county adjoining that area, that the transferring nursing home and the receiving nursing home are owned by corporations that are owned by the same person, and that DHS reviews and approves the transfer. This bill repeals the transfer of nursing home beds. Instead, closed nursing home beds will be made available for distribution under procedures specified under current law. Under current law, DHS is required to redistribute nursing home beds within a county if the number of other nursing home beds for each 1,000 persons 65 years of age or over in the county is less than 80 percent of the statewide average and the total occupancy level for the other nursing homes in the county is equal to or more than the statewide average nursing home occupancy rate. Further, DHS must publish a notice at least once per year describing the number of beds that are available in each health planning area of the state. Nursing homes may then apply for any available beds. DHS is responsible for reviewing each application it receives and making decisions on each application using criteria specified by statute and any further criteria that DHS develops by rule.
AI Summary
This bill repeals section 150.345 of Wisconsin statutes, which previously governed the transfer of nursing home beds between facilities. Under the current law, nursing homes could transfer licensed beds to another nursing home under specific conditions, such as being located in the same or adjoining areas and being owned by the same corporate entity, with approval from the Department of Health Services (DHS). By repealing this section, the bill eliminates the existing mechanism for transferring nursing home beds between facilities. Instead, closed nursing home beds will now be redistributed according to existing procedures, which include DHS publishing an annual notice of available beds in each health planning area and allowing nursing homes to apply for these beds. The redistribution process is guided by criteria such as the number of beds per 1,000 residents aged 65 and older and the county's nursing home occupancy rates. This change aims to modify how nursing home bed allocation is managed across the state, potentially making the process more standardized and transparent.
Committee Categories
Health and Social Services
Sponsors (9)
Elijah Behnke (R)*,
Robert Brooks (R)*,
Barbara Dittrich (R)*,
Joel Kitchens (R)*,
Dave Murphy (R)*,
Jeff Mursau (R)*,
Jerry O'Connor (R)*,
William Penterman (R)*,
Rachael Cabral-Guevara (R),
Last Action
Read first time and referred to Committee on Health, Aging and Long-Term Care (on 03/11/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/reg/asm/bill/ab119 |
| BillText | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/AB119.pdf |
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