Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1173: Relating to: spectacle lens prescriptions provided by optometrists and professional disciplinary actions by the optometry examining board. (FE)

This bill modifies Wisconsin's optometry laws to strengthen penalties for optometrists who fail to provide patients with their eyeglass or contact lens prescriptions at no cost. It creates a new provision requiring that all prescriptions include a measurement of the patient's pupillary distance and allows the optometry examining board to impose fines of up to $1,000 for each violation. The changes directly affect optometrists and their patients by ensuring prescription access and establishing clearer standards for disciplinary actions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill strengthens patient rights by ensuring free prescription access and improves healthcare service standards for optometrists.90% confidence

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failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1100: Relating to: a state-based insurance exchange and making an appropriation. (FE)

This bill establishes a state-based health insurance exchange that will operate on the federal platform by 2029 and transition to a standalone state-run exchange by 2030. It authorizes the state insurance commissioner to collect user fees from insurers offering plans through the exchange, starting at 0.5 percent of monthly premiums for the federal platform phase and adjusting rates for the standalone phase. The legislation also creates a specific appropriation account for exchange operations, with any unspent funds exceeding 10 percent of annual expenditures returning to the state's general fund at the end of each fiscal year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates appropriation account for exchange operations and authorizes fee collection, indicating funding for state health infrastructure.75% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes state-based health insurance exchange to expand coverage access and creates funding mechanism for operations, supporting healthcare infrastructure.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Insurance

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failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1146: Relating to: minimum nurse staffing ratios in hospitals, registered nurses’ right to refuse a work assignment, prohibiting mandatory overtime for registered nurses, and providing a penalty.

This bill establishes minimum nurse-to-patient staffing ratios across various hospital units, requiring hospitals to submit annual staffing plans that specify the maximum number of patients each registered nurse can care for during a shift. It also grants registered nurses the right to refuse work assignments that violate these staffing standards and prohibits mandatory overtime for nurses. Hospitals must create staffing committees with a majority of frontline nurses, post their staffing plans publicly, and maintain detailed records of actual staffing levels for at least three years. The bill includes penalties for non-compliance, including fines for failing to submit plans or follow corrective actions after violations are confirmed.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes minimum nurse staffing ratios, protects nurse rights, and prohibits mandatory overtime, directly improving patient care quality and healthcare worker protections.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill establishes minimum nurse staffing ratios, grants nurses right to refuse unsafe assignments, prohibits mandatory overtime, and creates staffing committees with frontline nurse majority, directly protecting worker rights and workplace safety.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Hospitals Labor Standards

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failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1127: Relating to: coverage of speech therapies as a treatment for stuttering under health insurance policies and plans and the Medical Assistance program and providing speech therapy to a child in need of protection or services. (FE)

This bill requires health insurance policies and self-insured plans in Wisconsin to cover speech therapy as a treatment for stuttering, including both services that help maintain or improve skills and those that restore lost abilities. The law applies to disability insurance policies and health plans offered by the state, counties, cities, towns, villages, and school districts, ensuring coverage regardless of whether the stuttering is developmental or caused by other factors. Key provisions mandate that covered plans cannot impose annual visit limits, deny coverage based on the cause of stuttering, or require prior authorization for speech therapy services. The bill also includes telehealth options and establishes a process for the state insurance commissioner to seek federal waivers if the new requirements would trigger additional state costs under federal healthcare laws.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates health insurance coverage for speech therapy treating stuttering, expanding access to healthcare services and protecting patient treatment options.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Telehealth

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failed · Wisconsin · Senate Apr 7, 2026

SB 1174: Relating to: incorporating awareness about fentanyl and the use of an opioid antagonist into school district educational goals. (FE)

This bill requires school districts to include education about fentanyl and the use of opioid antagonists as part of their drug abuse prevention goals. The law specifically amends state statutes to mandate that awareness of these topics be integrated into school curricula starting in the 2026-27 school year. It affects all public school districts by adding fentanyl and opioid antagonist information to their required educational objectives on drug abuse prevention. The measure does not prescribe specific teaching methods or content beyond requiring this awareness to be included in district educational goals.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates inclusion of fentanyl and opioid antagonist education in school curricula, strengthening drug prevention programs and enhancing student safety education.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates fentanyl and opioid antagonist education in schools, supporting public health initiatives and preventing drug abuse.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 30, 2026

SB 1096: Relating to: allowing private individuals, families, and private employers to elect health care coverage through plans offered by the Group Insurance Board, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE)

This bill allows private individuals, families, and private employers to choose health care coverage through plans offered by the Group Insurance Board, expanding options beyond traditional state employee plans. It creates new statutory provisions for health savings accounts for both state employees and private sector participants who select high-deductible health plans, with separate accounts established to track funds from each group. The legislation grants the Group Insurance Board rule-making authority to manage enrollment, premium collection, and coverage procedures for these expanded options. Additionally, the bill authorizes the collection of administrative fees from state agencies, individuals, and private employers to fund the operation of these health savings account programs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands health care coverage options to private individuals and employers through Group Insurance Board plans and creates health savings accounts, increasing access and funding for healthcare services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1086: Relating to: restoring private individual authority to bring a qui tam claim against a person for making a false claim for medical assistance, actions by the attorney general against a person for making a false claim for medical assistance, and providing a penalty. (FE)

This bill restores the ability for private individuals to file qui tam lawsuits against those who knowingly submit false claims for medical assistance, such as Medicaid fraud. It establishes penalties requiring violators to pay three times the damages caused to the state, while also allowing for reduced penalties if the violator cooperates with the attorney general and reports the fraud promptly. The law outlines procedures for filing complaints, including a 60-day sealing period and the attorney general's option to intervene or take over the case, while also granting the state authority to settle cases with approval from the governor.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill strengthens healthcare integrity by enabling qui tam lawsuits against medical fraud, protecting taxpayer funds and ensuring proper use of medical assistance programs.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1091: Relating to: a premium assistance individual income tax credit and making an appropriation. (FE)

This bill establishes a state premium assistance tax credit for Wisconsin residents who pay monthly premiums for qualified health plans during the 2026 tax year. The credit allows eligible individuals to claim a refund equal to the federal premium assistance amount they would have qualified for between 2021 and 2025, but only if they are not already eligible for similar federal tax credits. The legislation applies only to full-year residents who file claims within the standard tax filing deadline and requires state funding to cover any credit amounts exceeding the taxpayer's tax liability.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes tax credit for health insurance premiums, providing tax relief to residents and funding essential health coverage assistance.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes state premium assistance tax credit for health insurance premiums, expanding access to healthcare coverage for Wisconsin residents.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Income Tax Tax Credits Insurance

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failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1125: Relating to: disrupting access to a reproductive health service facility or place of religious worship and providing a penalty.

This bill creates new criminal penalties for intentionally obstructing access to reproductive health service facilities or places of religious worship. It defines prohibited actions as using force, threats, or physical obstruction to injure, intimidate, or interfere with people seeking or providing reproductive health services, or to damage property at these locations. Violations are classified as a Class A misdemeanor for first offenses and a Class I felony for repeat offenses. The law also establishes civil remedies allowing affected individuals or entities to sue for damages, injunctive relief, and attorney fees, with the option to receive statutory damages of up to $25,000 per violation. Additionally, the bill modifies existing tort claim limitations to exclude cases covered under this new statute.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens criminal justice by creating penalties for obstructing access to reproductive health facilities and places of worship, enhancing protection for individuals seeking services.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects access to reproductive health services by criminalizing obstruction, directly supporting patient access to healthcare.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 27, 2026

AB 1225: Relating to: direct payments for Medical Assistance, Medical Assistance reimbursement rates, care coordination services under the Medical Assistance program, grants for community primary care and outreach, and making an appropriation. (FE)

This bill establishes new funding and administrative provisions for Wisconsin's Medical Assistance program, including grants for community primary care and outreach services. It allocates $41.75 million for 2025-26 and $66.75 million for 2026-27 to support community health centers in hiring health workers, nurses, and social workers to provide care coordination services, particularly for individuals facing barriers like mental illness or homelessness. The legislation also creates a stabilization fund of $20 million for the BadgerCare Direct program, which pays providers directly for services rather than through insurance intermediaries. Additionally, the bill adds requirements for the state to maintain a 24/7 nurse consultation helpline, improve provider recruitment, and explore ways to reduce healthcare costs while ensuring timely access to medically necessary services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $41.75M and $66.75M for Medical Assistance program funding and community health services, directly advancing state budget provisions for public health programs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates $41.75M-$66.75M for community health centers, hiring health workers, nurses, and social workers to expand care coordination services and improve access for vulnerable populations.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill funds health workers and social workers to assist individuals facing homelessness, indirectly supporting housing stability through care coordination services.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Healthcare Workforce Mental Health Primary Care Homelessness

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