AB648: Bill Text

TJD:amn

2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE

2019 Assembly BILL 648

December 5, 2019 - Introduced by Representatives Nygren, Novak, Born, Snyder, Petersen, Quinn, Felzkowski, Edming, Kulp, Magnafici, Plumer, Horlacher, Rohrkaste, Knodl, Tusler, Petryk, Tranel, Thiesfeldt, Jagler, Mursau, Ramthun and Billings, cosponsored by Senators Bernier, Olsen and Wanggaard. Referred to Committee on Health.

AB648,1,3 An Act to create 49.46 (2) (b) 21. and 49.46 (2) (bv) of the statutes; relating to: physical health services and acupuncture under Medical Assistance program and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill increases the Joint Committee on Finance's supplemental appropriation by $500,000 in each fiscal year of the biennium for the purpose of increasing reimbursement rates for physical health services under the Medical Assistance program. Physical health services are nonpharmacologic interventions used for treatment or mitigation of pain, including chiropractic methods and physical therapy. To obtain the supplement, the Department of Health Services must submit a proposal for the reimbursement rate increase to and receive approval of the proposal from JCF.

The bill also includes acupuncture provided by a certified acupuncturist as a reimbursable benefit under the Medical Assistance program. The bill requires DHS to submit to the federal government any request for federal approval necessary to provide the reimbursement for an acupuncture benefit under the Medical Assistance program.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB648,1 Section 1. 49.46 (2) (b) 21. of the statutes is created to read:

AB648,2,3 49.46 (2) (b) 21. Subject to par. (bv), acupuncture provided by an acupuncturist who holds a certificate under ch. 451.

AB648,2 Section 2 . 49.46 (2) (bv) of the statutes is created to read:

AB648,2,11 49.46 (2) (bv) The department shall submit to the federal department of health and human services any request for a state plan amendment, waiver, or other federal approval necessary to provide reimbursement for the benefit par. (b) 21. If the federal department approves the request or if no federal approval is necessary, the department shall provide the benefit and reimbursement under par. (b) 21. If the federal department disapproves the request, the department may not provide the benefit or reimbursement for the benefit described under par. (b) 21.

AB648,3 Section 3 . Nonstatutory provisions.

AB648,2,13 (1) Physical health services reimbursement.

AB648,2,16 (a) Definitions. In this subsection, “physical health services” means nonpharmacologic interventions used for the treatment or mitigation of pain, including chiropractic methods and physical therapy.

AB648,3,2 (b) Proposal required. To obtain supplemental funding under this act, the department of health services shall submit under s. 13.10 to the joint committee on finance a proposal to increase reimbursement rates under the Medical Assistance program for physical health services. The joint committee on finance may supplement the appropriation under s. 20.435 (4) (b) from the appropriation under s. 20.865 (4) (a) if the joint committee on finance approves the proposal submitted under this paragraph. Notwithstanding s. 13.101 (3), the joint committee on finance may make a supplementation under this subsection without finding that an emergency exists. If the joint committee on finance approves the proposal, the department of health services shall increase reimbursement rates for physical health services as approved.

AB648,4 Section 4. Fiscal changes.

AB648,3,12 (1) Physical health services reimbursement. In the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) for the appropriation to the joint committee on finance under s. 20.865 (4) (a), the dollar amount for fiscal year 2019-20 is increased by $500,000 to increase reimbursement rates for physical health services under the Medical Assistance program under Section 3 (1) of this act. In the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) for the appropriation to the joint committee on finance under s. 20.865 (4) (a), the dollar amount for fiscal year 2020-21 is increased by $500,000 to increase reimbursement rates for physical health services under the Medical Assistance program under Section 3 (1) of this act.

AB648,3,13 (End)