k. A pharmacist licensed under ch. 450.
L. An acupuncturist certified under ch. 451.
m. A psychologist licensed under ch. 455.
n. A social worker, marriage and family therapist, or professional counselor certified or licensed under ch. 457.
o. A speech-language pathologist or audiologist licensed under subch. II of ch. 459.
p. A massage therapist or bodywork therapist licensed under ch. 460.
2. “Health care facility” means a system, care clinic, care provider, long-term care facility, or any other health care facility where health care services are provided.
3. “Temporary credential” mean a visiting, locum tenens, temporary, or similar non-permanent license or certificate.
(b) Temporary practice; emergency.
1. Notwithstanding ss. 440.982 (1), 441.06 (4), 441.15 (2), 446.02 (1), 447.03 (1), 448.03 (1) (a), (b), and (c) and (1m), 448.51 (1), 448.61, 448.76, 448.961 (1) and (2), 449.02 (1), 450.03 (1), 451.04 (1), 455.02 (1m), 457.04 (4), (5), (6), and (7), 459.02 (1), 459.24 (1), and 460.02, a health care provider may provide services within the scope of the credential that the health care provider previously held if all of the following apply:
a. Practice by the health care provider is necessary for an identified health care facility to ensure the continued and safe delivery of health care services.
b. The identified health care facility's needs reasonably prevented the health care provider from obtaining a credential before beginning to provide health care services at the facility.
c. The health care provider applies for a temporary credential or permanent credential within 10 days of first providing health care services at a health care facility.
d. The health care facility notifies the department of safety and professional services within 5 days of the date on which the health care provider begins providing health care services at the facility.
2. A health care provider who provides services authorized under this subsection shall maintain malpractice insurance that satisfies the requirements of the profession for which the health care provider has been licensed or certified.
3. This subsection does not apply 30 days after the conclusion of the period covered by the public health emergency declared on March 12, 2020, by executive order 72.
(5) Authority to waive fees. Notwithstanding s. 440.05 and the applicable fee provisions in chs. 440 to 480, during the period covered by the public health emergency declared on March 12, 2020, by executive order 72, the department of safety and professional services may waive fees for applications for an initial credential and renewal of a credential for registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, nurse-midwives, dentists, physicians, physician assistants, perfusionists, respiratory care practitioners, pharmacists, psychologists, clinical social workers, independent social workers, social workers, marriage and family therapists, professional counselors, and clinical substance abuse counselors.
(6) Temporary credentials for health care providers from other states during emergency.
(a) Definitions. In this subsection:
1. “Health care provider” means an individual who holds a valid, unexpired license, certificate, or registration granted by another state or territory that authorizes or qualifies the individual to perform acts that are substantially the same as the acts that any of the following are licensed or certified to perform:
a. A nurse licensed under ch. 441.
b. A chiropractor licensed under ch. 446.
c. A dentist licensed under ch. 447.
d. A physician, physician assistant, perfusionist, or respiratory care practitioner licensed or certified under subch. II of ch. 448.
e. A physical therapist or physical therapist assistant licensed under subch. III of ch. 448 or who holds a compact privilege under subch. IX of ch. 448.
f. A podiatrist licensed under subch. IV of ch. 448.
g. A dietitian certified under subch. V of ch. 448.
h. An athletic trainer licensed under subch. VI of ch. 448.
i. An occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant licensed under subch. VII of ch. 448.
j. An optometrist licensed under ch. 449.
k. A pharmacist licensed under ch. 450.
L. An acupuncturist certified under ch. 451.
m. A psychologist licensed under ch. 455.
n. A social worker, marriage and family therapist, or professional counselor certified or licensed under ch. 457.
o. A speech-language pathologist or audiologist licensed under subch. II of ch. 459.
p. A massage therapist or bodywork therapist licensed under ch. 460.
2. “Health care facility” means a system, care clinic, care provider, long-term care facility, or any other health care facility where health care services are provided.
3. “Temporary credential” mean a visiting, locum tenens, temporary, or similar non-permanent license or certificate.
(b) Temporary practice; emergency.
1. Notwithstanding ss. 440.982 (1), 441.06 (4), 441.15 (2), 446.02 (1), 447.03 (1), 448.03 (1) (a), (b), and (c) and (1m), 448.51 (1), 448.61, 448.76, 448.961 (1) and (2), 449.02 (1), 450.03 (1), 451.04 (1), 455.02 (1m), 457.04 (4), (5), (6), and (7), 459.02 (1), 459.24 (1), and 460.02, a health care provider may provide services within the scope of the credential that the health care provider holds if all of the following apply:
a. Practice by the health care provider is necessary for an identified health care facility to ensure the continued and safe delivery of health care services.
b. The identified health care facility's needs reasonably prevented the health care provider from obtaining a credential before beginning to provide health care services at the facility.
c. The health care provider applies for a temporary credential or permanent credential within 10 days of beginning to provide health care services at a health care facility.
d. The health care facility notifies the department of safety and professional services within 5 days of the date on which the health care provider begins providing health care services at the facility.
2. A health care provider who provides services authorized under this subsection shall maintain malpractice insurance that satisfies the requirements of the profession for which the health care provider has been licensed or certified.
3. This subsection does not apply 30 days after the conclusion of the period covered by the public health emergency declared on March 12, 2020, by executive order 72.
(8) Position transfers.
(a) In this subsection:
1. “Emergency period” means the period covered by the public health emergency declared on March 12, 2020, by executive order 72.
2. “State agency” means any office, commission, board, department, or independent agency in the executive branch of state government.
(b) During the emergency period, the secretary of administration may transfer any employee from one state agency to another state agency to provide services for the receiving state agency. The receiving state agency shall pay all salary and fringe benefit costs of the employee during the time he or she is providing services for the receiving state agency. Any action by the secretary under this paragraph shall remain in effect until rescinded by the secretary or 90 days after the public health emergency is terminated, whichever is earliest.
(c) If an employee is transferred under par. (b), the receiving agency may not increase the employee's salary at the time of transfer or during the time he or she is providing services for the receiving agency and the transferring agency may not increase the employee's salary at the time the employee returns to the transferring agency.
(d) The secretary of administration shall submit a report to the joint committee on finance no later than June 1, 2020, and on the first day of each subsequent month during the emergency period, that provides information on all employee transfers under par. (b
). The report shall specify the number of employees transferred, the title of each employee transferred, the title the employee assumed at the receiving agency, and the reasons for each employee transfer.
(9) Loans to municipal utilities.
(a) Definitions. In this subsection:
1. “Board” means the board of commissioners of public lands.
2. “COVID-19 public health emergency” means the public health emergency declared on March 12, 2020, by executive order 72.
3. “Emergency period” means the period covered by the COVID-19 public health emergency, plus 60 days.
4. “Municipal utility” has the meaning given in s. 196.377 (2) (a) 3.
(b) Loans.
1. The board may loan moneys under its control or belonging to the trust funds to a municipal utility to ensure that the municipal utility is able to maintain liquidity during the emergency period. The loan shall be for the sum of money, for the time, and upon the conditions as may be agreed upon between the board and the borrower.
2. The legislature finds and determines that the loans authorized under this subsection serve a public purpose.
(10) Legislative oversight of the Medical Assistance program.
(a) Section 20.940 does not apply to a request for a waiver, amendment to a waiver, or other federal approval from the department of health services submitted to the federal department of health and human services during the public health emergency declared under 42 USC 247d by the secretary of the federal department of health and human services on January 31, 2020, in response to the 2019 novel coronavirus, only if the request is any of the following, relating to the Medical Assistance program:
1. Allowing providers to receive payments for services provided in alternative settings to recipients affected by 2019 novel coronavirus.
2. Waiving preadmission screening and annual resident review requirements when recipients are transferred.
3. Allowing hospitals who hold a state license but have not yet received accreditation from the Joint Commission to bill the Medical Assistance program during the 2019 novel coronavirus public health emergency.
4. Waiving payment of the application fee to temporarily enroll a provider for 90 days or until the termination of the 2019 novel coronavirus public health emergency, whichever is longer.
5. Waiving pre-enrollment criminal background checks for providers that are enrolled in the Medicare program to temporarily enroll the provider in the Medical Assistance program for 90 days or until the termination of the 2019 novel coronavirus public health emergency, whichever is longer.
6. Waiving site visit requirements to temporarily enroll a provider for 90 days or until the termination of 2019 novel coronavirus public health emergency, whichever is longer.
7. Ceasing revalidation of providers who are enrolled in the Medical Assistance program or otherwise directly impacted by the 2019 novel coronavirus public health emergency for 90 days or until termination of the public health emergency, whichever is longer.
8. Waiving the requirement that physicians and other health care professionals be licensed in the state in which they are providing services if they have equivalent licensing in another state or are enrolled in the federal Medicare program.
9. Waiving prior authorization requirements for access to covered state plan or waiver benefits.
10. Expanding the authority under Section 1905 (a) of the federal Social Security Act regarding nonemergency transportation to allow for reimbursement of any eligible individual under the Medical Assistance program, additional vendors, transportation for caregivers going to provide services to recipients, and meal delivery to Medical Assistance recipients.
11. Waiving public notice requirements that would otherwise be applicable to state plan and waiver changes.
12. Modifying the tribal consultation timelines specified in the Medical Assistance state plan to allow for consultation at the next future tribal health director meeting.
13. Modifying the requirement under 42 CFR 430.20 to submit the state plan amendment by March 31, 2020, to obtain an effective date during the first calendar quarter of 2020. The department of health services shall comply with s. 49.45 (2t) for any item included in the state plan amendment that is not specifically described in this subsection.
14. Simplifying program administration by allowing for temporary state plan flexibilities rather than requiring states to go through the state plan amendment submission and approval process.
15. Waiving timely filing requirements for billing under 42 USC 1395cc and 1396a (a) (54) and 42 CFR 424.44 to allow time for providers to implement changes.
16. Expanding hospital presumptive eligibility to include the population over age 65 and disabled.
17. Allowing flexibility for submission of electronic signatures on behalf of a Medical Assistance recipient by application assistors if a signature cannot be captured in person.
18. Waiving requirements for managed care organizations to complete initial and periodic recredentialing of network providers if the providers meet Medical Assistance provider enrollment requirements during the 2019 novel coronavirus public health emergency.
19. Requiring managed care organizations to extend preexisting authorizations through which a Medical Assistance recipient has received prior authorization until the termination of the 2019 novel coronavirus public health emergency.
20. Waiving sanctions under Section 1877 (g) of the Social Security Act relating to limitations on physician referral.
21. Allowing flexibility in how a teaching physician is present with the patient and resident including real-time audio and video or access through a window.
22. Waiving certain equipment requirements in hospital equipment maintenance requirement guidance issued on December 20, 2013, to maintain the health and safety of the hospitals' patients and providers.
23. Creating provisions allowing for additional flexibilities to allow for the use in nursing homes of physician extenders in place of medical directors and attending physicians and telehealth options.
24. Waiving notice of transfers within a nursing home due to medically necessary protection from the 2019 novel coronavirus.
25. Waiving requirements to document sufficient preparation and orientation to residents to ensure a safer and orderly intrafacility nursing home transfer.
