Chapter 150

150.31(2r) (2r) 

150.31(2r)(a) (a) The department may, on July 1, 1998, increase the statewide bed limit in sub. (1) by not more than 6 beds to permit the permanent and complete closure of a hospital and its partial conversion to a nursing home if the hospital seeking partial conversion:

150.31(2r)(a)1. 1. Had, on January 1, 1998, an approved bed capacity of not more than 50 beds.

150.31(2r)(a)2. 2. Is located north of USH 8.

150.31(2r)(a)3. 3. Ceases to exist as an acute care hospital by July 1, 1998.

150.31(2r)(b) (b) The department shall decrease the number of beds authorized for increase under par. (a) by the amount of any addition in the actual number of available beds within the limit specified in sub. (1), up to 6 beds, that exists on July 1, 1998.

150.31(2r)(c) (c) The application to the department governing the permanent and complete closure of a hospital and partial conversion to a nursing home under par. (a) is exempt from the procedural requirements of this chapter.

150.31(3) (3) The department may decrease the statewide bed limit specified in sub. (1) to account for nursing home beds that are not set up or not staffed due to life safety code or physical plant requirements under s. 50.04, but that have not been permanently removed from the nursing home’s bed capacity. In addition, the department may decrease the statewide bed limit specified in sub. (1) to account for beds closed under a medical assistance waiver, as specified in 42 USC 1396n (c) or under other medical assistance waivers specified in 42 USC 1396 to 1396n.

150.31(4) (4) The department may decrease the statewide bed limit in facilities primarily serving the developmentally disabled in order to account for any decreased use of beds at the state centers for the developmentally disabled due to the community integration program under s. 46.275.

150.31(5) (5) The department may decrease the statewide bed limits specified in sub. (1) to account for any reduction of available beds not included under sub. (3) or (4), in accordance with criteria promulgated by rule.

150.31(5m) (5m) The department shall decrease the statewide bed limit specified in sub. (1) to account for any reduction in the approved bed capacity of a skilled nursing facility operated by the department of veterans affairs under s. 45.50, as specified in s. 45.50 (10).

150.31(5r) (5r) The department shall decrease the statewide bed limit specified in sub. (1) by the number of any beds that a nursing home shall agree to reduce in order to convert a separate area of its total area to a residential care apartment complex under s. 50.034 (4).

150.31(5t) (5t) The department shall decrease the statewide bed limits specified in sub. (1) to account for any reduction in the licensed bed capacity of a nursing home that has relinquished use of a bed, as specified in s. 49.45 (6m) (ap) 4.

150.31(6) (6) The department may adjust the statewide bed limits specified in sub. (1) to account for the partial or total conversion of nursing homes to facilities primarily serving the developmentally disabled or of facilities primarily serving the developmentally disabled to nursing homes. The department may promulgate rules limiting the number of nursing home beds converted under this subsection, allocating the beds so converted, and establishing standards for the limitation and allocation.

150.31(7) (7) The department may not approve or license any additional nursing home beds if the addition of those beds would exceed the limits established under subs. (1) to (6).

150.31(8) (8) The department may allocate or distribute nursing home beds in a manner, developed by rule, that is consistent with the criteria specified in sub. (1) (a) to (f) and s. 150.39.

150.31 History History: 1983 a. 27; 1985 a. 29; 1987 a. 27; 1989 a. 336; 1995 a. 20, 27; 1997 a. 13, 27, 36, 237, 252; 1999 a. 63; 2005 a. 22; 2011 a. 32.

150.32 150.32 Distinct-part facilities primarily serving the developmentally disabled.

150.32(1) (1) Upon application to the department, the department may approve the operation for a period of time not to exceed 4 years of a distinct part of a nursing home as a facility primarily serving the developmentally disabled. Renewals of approvals initially granted under this subsection may be granted for periods of time not to exceed 4 years and only if all of the following conditions are met by the renewal applicant:

150.32(1)(a) (a) Continued operation of the facility primarily serving the developmentally disabled meets the review criteria and standards under ss. 150.31 (6) and 150.39.

150.32(1)(b) (b) There is continued need, as determined by the department, for the facility primarily serving the developmentally disabled in the health planning area in which the facility is located.

150.32(1)(c) (c) Community-based services, including services developed under s. 46.278, are inappropriate for the individuals served in the facility primarily serving the developmentally disabled.

150.32(2) (2) The department may require that a nursing home seeking approval or a facility primarily serving the developmentally disabled seeking renewal under sub. (1) agree to reduce the size of the facility primarily serving the developmentally disabled, under a plan submitted by the facility and approved by the department, during the approval or renewal period, in order to reflect reduced service need or increased availability of community-based services providing long-term care.

150.32(3) (3) Notwithstanding s. 150.31 (6), the department may waive any minimum size limits established under s. 150.31 (6) for a facility with an approved plan under sub. (2).

150.32(4) (4) Notwithstanding s. 150.29, if initial approval of a facility primarily serving the developmentally disabled is not renewed under sub. (1) or if approval or renewal is conditioned upon the requirement of sub. (2), reconversion to nursing home beds of beds which may not be operated as part of a facility primarily serving the developmentally disabled does not require approval under s. 150.29.

150.32 History History: 1987 a. 27.

150.33 150.33 Applications for available beds.

150.33(1) (1) At least once each year the department shall publish a class 2 notice under ch. 985 concerning the number of nursing home beds and beds in facilities primarily serving the developmentally disabled, if any, that are available under s. 150.31 or 150.40 in each of its health planning areas. The department shall promulgate rules defining the boundaries of these areas. The notice shall state the procedures by which any person may apply for approval for those beds.

150.33(2) (2) An application for approval of beds under sub. (1) shall state the applicant’s per diem operating and capital rates, which are the maximum allowable reimbursement that may be granted by the department for the first 12 months following licensure of the new beds. If the medical assistance facility payment formula under s. 49.45 (6m) generates per diem operating and capital rates that are less than those stated in the application under review, the department shall use the lower rates.

150.33(3) (3) The department shall provide forms for submitting applications but may only accept applications submitted within 60 days after it publishes a notice under sub. (1).

150.33(3m) (3m) The department shall review each application it receives for completeness. If the department finds that the application is incomplete, it shall notify the applicant of the information required within 10 working days after receiving the application. Each applicant shall provide any required additional information within 30 days following the closing date for accepting applications specified in sub. (3). The department may not accept for review any incomplete application if it fails to receive the additional information within this 30-day period until it issues another public notice soliciting applications under sub. (1). The department shall declare the application complete on the date on which the department receives all the required information.

150.33(4) (4) The department shall issue a class 2 notice under ch. 985 within 20 days after the date on which it declares all applications complete under sub. (3m), listing all applicants and describing their applications.

150.33 History History: 1983 a. 27; 1987 a. 27 ss. 1868 to 1871, 1874; 1987 a. 399; 1993 a. 290.

150.34 150.34 Other applications.

150.34(1) (1) Any person intending to engage in activities subject to this subchapter not specified under s. 150.33 shall notify the department in writing of this intent at least 30 days prior to submitting an application for review. An application expires unless the department declares the application complete under sub. (2) within 365 days after the date the department receives notice of the applicant’s intent to engage in the activity. The department shall provide forms for submitting applications under this section.

150.34(2) (2) The department shall review each application it receives for completeness. If the department finds that the application is incomplete, it shall notify the applicant of the information required within 10 working days after receiving the application. The department shall declare the application complete on the date on which the department receives all the required information.

150.34(3) (3) The department shall issue a class 2 notice under ch. 985 on or before the 20th day of the month following the month in which it declares an application complete under sub. (2), listing the applicant and describing the applicant’s proposed activity.

150.34 History History: 1987 a. 27, 399; 1989 a. 56.

150.345 150.345 Nursing home bed transfers.

150.345(1) (1) Notwithstanding ss. 150.33 and 150.34, a nursing home may transfer a licensed bed to another nursing home, if all of the following apply:

150.345(1)(a) (a) The receiving nursing home is within the same area for allocation of nursing home beds, as determined by the department, as is the transferring nursing home, or is in a county adjoining that area.

150.345(1)(b) (b) The transferring nursing home and the receiving nursing home are owned by corporations that are owned by the same person.

150.345(1)(c) (c) The transferring and receiving nursing homes notify the department of the proposed transfer within 30 days before the transfer occurs.

150.345(1)(d) (d) The department reviews and approves the transfer.

150.345(2) (2) Upon receiving the notification specified in sub. (1) (c), the department shall adjust the allocation of licensed beds under s. 150.31 for each nursing home in accordance with the transfer that was made.

150.345 History History: 2001 a. 16.

150.35 150.35 Review procedures.

150.35(2) (2) The department shall hold a public meeting upon the request of an affected party to review applications under s. 150.33 or 150.34, at which all affected parties may present testimony. The department shall keep minutes or other record of testimony presented at the public meeting and shall, based on the testimony, consider the record in determining whether the applicant has met the review criteria under s. 150.39.

150.35(3) (3) Except as provided under sub. (3m), the department shall issue an initial finding to approve or reject the application within 75 days after the date it publishes its notice under s. 150.33 (4) or 150.34 (3), unless all applicants consent to an extension of this period. The department may extend by 60 days the review cycle of all applications being concurrently reviewed if it finds that completing the reviews within 75 days after the date it publishes its notice under s. 150.33 (4) or 150.34 (3) is not practicable due to the volume of applications received. The department shall base its initial finding on a comparative analysis of applications, relying on the criteria specified in s. 150.39. The applicant has the burden of proving, by a preponderance of the evidence, that each criterion specified in s. 150.39 has been met or does not apply to the project. The department may approve fewer additional nursing home beds than allowed by the statewide bed limit if the cost of adding those beds exceeds the medical assistance allocation for new beds projected in s. 150.31 (1) (e). Unless an adversely affected applicant makes a timely request for a public hearing under sub. (4), the department’s initial finding under this subsection is its final action.

150.35(3m) (3m) 

150.35(3m)(a) (a) The department may receive any of the following applications:

150.35(3m)(a)1. 1. An application which was developed under a plan of correction, as defined in s. 50.01 (4r), previously approved by the department and which does not add beds to the current licensed bed capacity.

150.35(3m)(a)2. 2. Any application involving a cost overrun submitted under s. 150.11 (3).

150.35(3m)(a)3. 3. All applications for activities that are specified in s. 150.21 (3).

150.35(3m)(b) (b) Subsection (2) does not apply to the applications under par. (a). Within 60 days after it receives a completed application, the department shall, according to procedures it promulgates by rule, review the application and issue its initial finding. No public meeting need be held on any project submitted under this subsection.

150.35(3m)(c) (c) Unless an adversely affected applicant makes a timely request for a public hearing under sub. (4), the department’s initial finding under this subsection is its final decision.

150.35(4) (4) 

150.35(4)(a) (a) Any applicant whose project is rejected may request a public hearing to review the department’s initial finding under sub. (3) or (3m), if the request is submitted in writing within 10 days after the department’s decision. The department shall commence the hearing within 30 days after receiving a timely request, unless all parties consent to an extension of this period.

150.35(4)(b) (b) Sections 227.42 to 227.50 do not apply to hearings under this subsection. The department shall promulgate rules to establish:

150.35(4)(b)1. 1. Procedures for scheduling hearings under this subsection.

150.35(4)(b)2. 2. Procedures for conducting hearings under this subsection, including methods of presenting arguments, cross-examination of witnesses and submission of exhibits.

150.35(4)(b)3. 3. Procedures following the completion of a hearing under this subsection, including the establishment of time limits for issuance of a decision.

150.35(4)(b)4. 4. Standards relating to ex parte communication in hearings under this subsection.

150.35(4)(b)5. 5. Procedures for reconsideration and rehearing.

150.35(4)(c) (c) The department shall issue all decisions in writing.

150.35(4)(d) (d) Each applicant at any hearing under this subsection has the burden of proving, by clear and convincing evidence, that the department’s initial finding was contrary to the weight of the evidence on the record when considered as a whole, arbitrary and capricious or contrary to law.

150.35 History History: 1983 a. 27; 1985 a. 182 s. 57; 1987 a. 27, 399; 1989 a. 173; 1993 a. 290; 1997 a. 27.

150.39 150.39 Review criteria and standards. The department shall use the following criteria in reviewing each application under this subchapter, plus any additional criteria it develops by rule. The department shall consider cost containment as its first priority in applying these criteria, and shall consider the comments of affected parties. The department may not approve any project under this subchapter unless the applicant demonstrates:

150.39(1) (1) The medical assistance funds appropriated are sufficient to reimburse the applicant for providing the nursing home care.

150.39(2) (2) The cost of providing an equal number of nursing home beds or of an equal expansion would be consistent with the cost at similar nursing homes, and the applicant’s per diem rates would be consistent with those of similar nursing homes.

150.39(3) (3) The project does not conflict with the statewide bed limit under s. 150.31.

150.39(4) (4) A need for additional beds in the health planning area where the project would be located.

150.39(5) (5) The project is consistent with local plans for developing community-based services to provide long-term care.

150.39(6) (6) Health care personnel, capital and operating funds and other resources needed to provide the proposed services are available.

150.39(7) (7) The project can be undertaken within the period of validity of the approval and completed within a reasonable period thereafter.

150.39(8) (8) Appropriate methods alternative to providing nursing home care in the health planning area are unavailable.

150.39(10) (10) The quality of care to be provided is satisfactory, as determined by:

150.39(10)(a) (a) The department’s investigations.

150.39(10)(b) (b) Materials submitted by the applicant, including independent evaluations of performance in nursing homes owned or operated by the applicant and patient satisfaction surveys.

150.39(10)(c) (c) Recommendations from affected parties concerning the quality of care provided in nursing homes owned or operated by the applicant.

150.39(11) (11) For a project that would result in the relocation of nursing home beds, there are other adequate and appropriate resources available in the counties served by the nursing home to serve the nursing home residents who would be displaced by the relocation.

150.39 History History: 1983 a. 27; 1987 a. 399; 1993 a. 27, 290; 1997 a. 27.

150.40 150.40 Redistribution of closed beds.

150.40(1) (1) The department shall redistribute within a county the nursing home beds made available as a result of a nursing home closure within that county if all of the following apply at the time of the closure:

150.40(1)(a) (a) The number of other nursing home beds for each 1,000 persons 65 years of age or over in the county is less than 80 percent of the statewide average of nursing home beds for each 1,000 persons 65 years of age or over.

150.40(1)(b) (b) The total occupancy level for the other nursing homes in the county is equal to or more than the statewide average nursing home occupancy rate.

150.40(2) (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to the following:

150.40(2)(a) (a) Nursing home beds closed under a plan approved by the department under s. 46.277 (3) (b) or 46.278 (4) (b) 1., as a result of the relocation of former residents to community-based settings.

150.40(2)(b) (b) Facilities primarily serving the developmentally disabled.