summary
Introduced
03/21/2025
03/21/2025
In Committee
03/21/2025
03/21/2025
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 LRB-0506/1 JPC:cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 139 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 proposes to repeal section 150.345 of Wisconsin statutes, which currently governs the transfer of nursing home beds. Under the existing law, nursing homes were allowed to transfer licensed beds to another nursing home under specific conditions, such as being within the same geographical area or in an adjoining county, having common ownership, and receiving approval from the Department of Health Services (DHS). By repealing this section, the bill eliminates the current mechanism for nursing home bed transfers. Instead, closed nursing home beds will be redistributed according to existing procedures, which include DHS redistributing beds within a county if the number of beds per 1,000 residents aged 65 and over is less than 80% of the statewide average and the county's nursing home occupancy meets certain criteria. DHS will continue to publish an annual notice of available beds in each health planning area, and nursing homes can apply for these beds. The department will review applications using statutorily defined criteria and additional rules it has developed.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (9)
Rachael Cabral-Guevara (R)*,
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),
Last Action
Read first time and referred to Committee on Licensing, Regulatory Reform, State and Federal Affairs (on 03/21/2025)
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/sen/bill/sb139 |
| BillText | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/SB139.pdf |
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