DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES
TO ADOPT PERMANENT RULES
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services proposes an order to repeal DHS 68.02 (3) and 68.05 (2); to amend DHS 68 (title), 68.01 (1) and (2), 68.02 (4), (6), (8), (10) and (13), 68.04 (4), (5) (intro.), (a), (b), (c) (intro.), (c) 1. through 4., 68.05 (1) (title) and (1), 68.06 (1) (intro.) and (a) through (d), (3) (a), 68.07, 68.09 (1) through (4), and 68.10 (1) (a) through (e); to repeal and recreate DHS 68.02 (1), 68.03, 68.04 (1) and (3), 68.06 (2) (b), and 68.08; and to create DHS 68.02 (6m), (17) through (21), and, 68.06 (4), relating to Support for Persons with Alzheimer’s Disease and their Caregivers.
RULE SUMMARY
Statutes interpreted
Statutory authority
Explanation of agency authority
The Department’s authority to promulgate rules establishing criteria for participation in the Alzheimer’s Family and Caregiver Support Program, for contracting with service providers to develop new programs or expand services, and to allocate funds for administering and implementing the program, are provided by the Wisconsin State Legislature in various statutes listed in “Statutory authority.”
Related statutes or rules
None.
Plain language analysis
2015 Wisconsin Act 273 amended eligibility requirements, increased appropriation levels and included tribes or bands as local administrators for the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Family Caregiver Support Program (AFCSP). Revisions to ch. DHS 68 conform the rule to 2015 Act 273. Revisions also correct outdated terminology, update the range of caregiver support services that can be provided by the program, reconsider the program’s cost-share requirement, and establish a funding formula that includes tribes or bands as entities contracted to administer the AFCSP at the local level. Specific revisions in terminology include a shift from use of the term “Alzheimer’s disease” to the more general term “dementia.” The statutory provision defines “Alzheimer’s disease” to include other irreversible deteriorations of intellectual faculties. The terminology in the proposed rule is accordingly being updated to use the broader term “dementia” to include both Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of neurocognitive disorder. Summary of, and comparison with, existing or proposed federal regulations
There appears to be no existing or proposed federal regulations that address these activities to be regulated by the proposed rules.
Comparison with rules in adjacent states
Illinois
Illinois does not have a state-funded Alzheimer’s Family and Caregiver Support Program.
Iowa
Iowa does not have a state-funded Alzheimer’s Family and Caregiver Support Program.
Michigan
Michigan does not have a state-funded Alzheimer’s Family and Caregiver Support Program.
Minnesota
Minnesota does not have a state-funded Alzheimer’s Family and Caregiver Support Program.
Summary of factual data and analytical methodologies
The department established an advisory committee formed of interested persons or representatives of the public to advise it with respect to proposed revisions to the rule. In addition, the department solicited comments from the public through its website and through the Wisconsin State Legislature’s administrative rules website. No additional factual data was relied upon by the department because revisions conform the rule to statute.
Analysis and supporting documents used to determine effect on small business
The rule is being promulgated to conform an existing rule to statute. The rule is anticipated to have little to no economic impact if it is promulgated.
Effect on small business
The proposed rule is anticipated to have little to no effect on small business if it is promulgated.
Agency contact person
Lynn Gall
Alzheimer’s & Family Caregiver Coordinator
Emergency Preparedness & Tribal Liaison
Wisconsin Department of Health Services
1 West Wilson Street, Room 551,
Madison, WI 53701-2659
(608) 266-5743
Statement on quality of agency data
The department complied with s. 227.14 (2m), Stats., for any data used to draft the rules and analyses. Place where comments are to be submitted and deadline for submission
Comments may be submitted to the agency contact person that is listed above until the deadline given in the upcoming notice of public hearing. The notice of public hearing and deadline for submitting comments will be published in the Wisconsin Administrative Register and to the department’s website, at https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/rules/permanent.htm. Comments may also be submitted through the Wisconsin Administrative Rules Website, at: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/chr/active. RULE TEXT
SECTION 1. Chapter DHS 68 (title) is amended to read: SUPPORT FOR PERSONS WITH ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE DEMENTIA AND THEIR CAREGIVERS
SECTION 2. DHS 68.01 (1) and (2) are amended to read:
DHS 68.01 (1) Authority and purpose. This chapter is promulgated pursuant to ss. 46.87 and 227.11 (2) (a), Stats., and section 3023 (28m) of 1985 Wis. Act 29, and 2015 Wis. Act 273 to establish procedures and criteria for distributing funds to county boards and private nonprofit organizations for the provision of service payments, goods and services to persons with Alzheimer’s disease dementia and to their caregivers. The payments, goods and services provided in accordance with this chapter are intended to help make available a diverse array of community services directed at preventing or delaying institutionalization of persons who have Alzheimer’s disease dementia and enhancing the quality of their lives, and to provide assistance to family members and others who take care of persons with Alzheimer’s disease dementia without compensation. DHS 68.01 (2) To whom the chapter applies. The chapter applies to the department, county boards, administering agencies designated by county boards under s. 46.87 (3) (c), Stats., tribes, and private nonprofit organizations selected by the department under s. DHS 68.04. SECTION 3. DHS 68.02 (1) is repealed and recreated to read:
DHS 68.02 (1) “Administering agency” means any of the following:
(a) The county agency selected by the county board under s. 46.87 (3) (c), Stats.. (b) The agency selected by a tribal government under s. 46.87(3)(d), Stats.. (c) A private nonprofit organization selected by the department under s. DHS 68.04.
SECTION 4. DHS 68.02 (3) is repealed.
SECTION 5. DHS 68.02 (4) and (6) are amended to read:
DHS 68.02 (4) “Caregiver” has the meaning prescribed in s. 46.87 (1) (b), Stats., namely, means any person other than a paid provider who provides care for a person with Alzheimer’s disease dementia. DHS 68.02 (6) “County agency” means an agency designated by a county board under s. 46.87 (3) (c), Stats., to administer the program, namely, a county department of social services created under s. 46.215 or 46.22, Stats., a county department of community programs created under s. 51.42, Stats., a county department of developmental disabilities services created under s. 51.437, Stats., a county department of human services created under s. 46.23, Stats., or a county aging unit, or a resource center authorized under s. 46.283, stats., and DHS 10.
