Healthcare

signed · Wisconsin · Senate Aug 11, 2025

SB 14: Relating to: pelvic exams on unconscious patients and creating an administrative rule related to hospital requirements for pelvic exams on unconscious patients.

This bill requires hospitals to obtain written permission from patients before performing pelvic exams for educational purposes on patients who are unconscious (e.g., under anesthesia). It directly affects hospitals, medical staff, and patients undergoing such exams during medical training. The key provision mandates that hospitals create written policies ensuring patients provide explicit, prior consent for these specific exams. The law, now Wisconsin Act 22, applies to all facilities conducting such educational procedures on unconscious individuals.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires written patient consent for pelvic exams on unconscious patients, protecting patient rights and autonomy in medical procedures per Wisconsin Act 22.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 198: Relating to: emergency medical services education, tuition and materials reimbursement for emergency medical responders and emergency medical services practitioners, and a live 911 pilot program. (FE)

AB 198 creates two key programs: (1) grants for technical colleges offering emergency medical services (EMS) training, provided they don't give admission priority based on residency; and (2) a reimbursement program for individuals or their employers who paid tuition/materials for initial EMS certification/licensure as an emergency medical responder or practitioner. Eligible applicants must complete required courses, pass exams, and obtain their license/certification through the Department of Health Services. The bill also establishes a "live 911" pilot program allowing grants for real-time video communication during emergency calls, requiring a performance report by October 2027. This directly affects EMS students, practitioners, their employers, and public safety answering points.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds EMS training grants and tuition reimbursement, strengthening emergency medical services workforce and improving access to critical healthcare responders.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentReimbursement for EMS certification tuition/materials directly supports worker training and career advancement in healthcare employment, aligning with labor/employment strengthening indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Professional Licensing Tags Public Safety

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failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 327: Relating to: emotional support animals in housing; falsely claiming that an animal is a service animal; and providing a penalty. (FE)

SB 327 ensures landlords cannot deny housing to tenants with emotional support animals based solely on the animal's presence. It requires tenants to provide a letter or prescription from a healthcare provider to verify their need for the animal. The bill also establishes penalties for individuals who falsely claim their pet is a service animal to gain housing access. This directly affects landlords, tenants, and housing providers across the state.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires healthcare provider verification for emotional support animals, enabling housing access tied to mental health needs and protecting tenant rights under healthcare services.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingPrevents housing discrimination against tenants with emotional support animals by requiring verification and penalizing false claims, strengthening tenant protections.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

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failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 538: Relating to: use of certain statements as evidence in prosecution for prostitution.

SB 538 prevents law enforcement from using statements about prostitution as evidence in prosecution if those statements were gathered while someone sought medical care or reported another crime (not prostitution). It protects individuals who contact police, medical providers, or emergency services for reasons unrelated to prostitution, as well as those reporting crimes or seeking care on behalf of others. The bill creates a clear rule that statements obtained during these unrelated interactions cannot be used to prosecute a person for prostitution. This change directly affects people interacting with authorities for medical or non-prostitution-related crime reporting, ensuring such statements remain inadmissible in prostitution cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects defendants' rights by preventing use of statements from unrelated medical/crime reports as evidence, reducing unwarranted prostitution prosecutions.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents law enforcement from using medical care interactions as evidence in prostitution cases, removing barriers to seeking healthcare and protecting patient rights during medical visits.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

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failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 50: Relating to: health care costs omnibus, granting rule-making authority, making an appropriation, and providing a penalty. (FE)

SB 50 establishes a Prescription Drug Affordability Review Board to address prescription drug costs, requiring it to meet quarterly and include balanced representation from pharmaceutical manufacturers, health insurers, healthcare providers, and the public. The bill allocates $500,000 annually for state operations related to this board and funds a pilot project to create value-based diabetes medication arrangements with pharmacy benefit managers. It also modifies Medicaid copayment rules to prevent providers from denying care due to inability to pay copays, while creating a new tool for prescribers to disclose drug costs to patients. Additionally, the bill authorizes partnerships with out-of-state drug repositories and allows pharmacists to count free clinic volunteer hours toward continuing education requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $500,000 annually for Prescription Drug Board operations and funds diabetes pilot project, directly advancing state budget allocation for healthcare initiatives.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates Prescription Drug Affordability Review Board to lower costs, allocates $500k for operations/pilot, modifies Medicaid copays to improve affordability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Medicaid Prescription Drugs Primary Care

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signed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 9, 2026

AB 700: Relating to: an appropriation for refundable long-term care insurance assessment credits and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 700 appropriates state funds to cover refundable credits for Wisconsin taxpayers who pay long-term care insurance assessments. It directly affects residents who pay these assessments by ensuring they receive the full credit amount through a dedicated budget appropriation. The bill amends statute 20.835(2)(de) to specify the funding needed for credits under existing laws (sections 71.07(12)(d)2., 71.28(12)(d)2., 71.47(12)(d)2., and 76.633(4)). This creates a permanent funding mechanism for the credits rather than relying on annual budget adjustments.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates state funds to cover refundable tax credits for long-term care assessments, providing direct tax relief to eligible residents through dedicated budget funding.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill funds refundable credits for long-term care insurance assessments, ensuring full taxpayer benefits and directly supporting healthcare access/affordability through dedicated budget appropriation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 432: Relating to: transparency and regulation of prior authorization requirements under health insurance plans. (FE)

AB 432 regulates prior authorization processes for health insurance plans in Wisconsin. It requires insurance companies to follow specific transparency rules when denying coverage for medical services (called "adverse determinations"), mandating that these decisions be made by qualified health providers like physicians or nurse practitioners under medical directors' oversight. The bill defines key terms like "prior authorization" (pre-approval for services) and "urgent health care service" (requiring faster decisions), and sets deadlines for non-urgent cases. It directly affects health insurance plans, self-insured employer plans, and enrollees who seek covered services. The law aims to make the approval process clearer and more timely for patients.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates transparent prior authorization processes with qualified providers, reducing arbitrary denials and improving patient access to covered services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Insurance

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signed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SB 264: Relating to: coverage of breast cancer screenings by the Medical Assistance program and health insurance policies and plans. (FE)

SB 264 requires health insurance plans and the Medical Assistance program to cover specific breast cancer screenings without out-of-pocket costs for enrollees. It defines two key types of screenings: "diagnostic breast examinations" (used to evaluate symptoms or abnormalities, like mammograms) and "supplemental breast screening examinations" (for high-risk individuals without symptoms, using MRI or ultrasound). The bill prohibits cost-sharing (such as copays) for all diagnostic screenings and for the first supplemental screening per year, while allowing limited cost-sharing for additional supplemental screenings in the same year. This directly affects individuals with health insurance or Medical Assistance who require these screenings, particularly those at higher risk for breast cancer.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates no-cost breast cancer screenings coverage, expanding access and removing financial barriers for patients under Medical Assistance and insurance plans.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 76: Relating to: creating an individual income tax deduction for certain income earned by an individual from the practice of psychiatry or from providing psychiatric or mental health services. (FE)

AB 76 creates a state income tax deduction for Wisconsin psychiatrists and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners. It allows eligible professionals to deduct up to $100,000 annually from their taxable income if they practice outside medically underserved areas, or up to $200,000 if they work in such areas (as defined by statute). The deduction applies only to income earned from their specific practice in Wisconsin and is limited to 5 consecutive taxable years, starting within 2 years of beginning or returning to practice in the state. To qualify, practitioners must be licensed and certified as specified in the bill, with the higher deduction requiring service in designated underserved regions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates tax deduction for psychiatrists, reducing taxable income and providing targeted tax relief, aligning with support indicators for Budget & Taxes.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill provides tax deductions for psychiatrists/mental health professionals to encourage practice, particularly in underserved areas, directly supporting mental health service access and provider retention.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Healthcare Workforce Mental Health

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failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 178: Relating to: expanding the treatment alternatives and diversion programs. (FE)

AB 178 creates a new state grant program to fund county and tribal programs that offer treatment alternatives to jail for people facing criminal charges related to substance use or mental health issues. It requires these programs to use evidence-based treatment, integrate mental health services, and include graduated incentives for participants. The bill directly affects criminal defendants with substance use disorders or mental illness who qualify for these programs, as well as counties and tribes receiving grants. Key provisions include mandating collaboration between courts, prosecutors, public defenders, and health agencies to develop and oversee the programs, while exempting participants in approved programs from losing good time credit in jail.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds evidence-based treatment alternatives to jail for substance use/mental health cases, reducing incarceration and promoting rehabilitation through diversion programs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates state grant program for evidence-based mental health/substance use treatment, expanding access to healthcare services through diversion from jail.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Mental Health Substance Abuse

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