Chapter 256

256.155(3)(b) (b) An ambulance service provider, emergency medical services practitioner, or emergency medical responder is immune from civil or criminal liability from declining to render first aid to a domestic animal.

256.155 History History: 2017 a. 166.

256.17 256.17 Denial, nonrenewal and suspension of license, training permit or certification based on certain delinquency in payment.

256.17(1) (1) Except as provided in sub. (1m), the department shall require each applicant to provide the department with the applicant’s social security number, if the applicant is an individual, as a condition of issuing or renewing any of the following:

256.17(1)(a) (a) A license under s. 256.15 (5) (a).

256.17(1)(b) (b) A training permit under s. 256.15 (5) (b).

256.17(1)(c) (c) A certification under s. 256.15 (6g) (a) or (8) (a).

256.17(1m) (1m) If an individual who applies for or to renew a license, training permit or certification under sub. (1) does not have a social security number, the individual, as a condition of obtaining the license, training permit or certification, shall submit a statement made or subscribed under oath or affirmation to the department that the applicant does not have a social security number. The form of the statement shall be prescribed by the department of children and families. A license, training permit or certification issued or renewed in reliance upon a false statement submitted under this subsection is invalid.

256.17(2) (2) The department of health services may not disclose any information received under sub. (1) to any person except to the department of children and families for the purpose of making certifications required under s. 49.857.

256.17(3) (3) The department of health services shall deny an application for the issuance or renewal of a license, training permit or certification specified in sub. (1), shall suspend a license, training permit or certification specified in sub. (1) or may, under a memorandum of understanding under s. 49.857 (2), restrict a license, training permit or certification specified in sub. (1) if the department of children and families certifies under s. 49.857 that the applicant for or holder of the license, training permit or certification is delinquent in the payment of court-ordered payments of child or family support, maintenance, birth expenses, medical expenses or other expenses related to the support of a child or former spouse or fails to comply, after appropriate notice, with a subpoena or warrant issued by the department of children and families or a county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) and related to paternity or child support proceedings.

256.17 History History: 1997 a. 191; 1999 a. 9; 2007 a. 20 ss. 2863 to 2865, 9121 (6) (a); 2007 a. 130 ss. 105 to 110; Stats. 2007 s. 256.17.

256.17 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also chs. DHS 110, Wis. adm. code.

256.18 256.18 Denial, nonrenewal, and revocation of license, certification, or permit based on delinquent taxes or unemployment insurance contributions.

256.18(1) (1) Except as provided in sub. (1m), the department shall require each applicant to provide the department with his or her social security number, if the applicant is an individual, or the applicant’s federal employer identification number, if the applicant is not an individual, as a condition of issuing or renewing any of the following:

256.18(1)(a) (a) A license under s. 256.15 (5) (a) or (7).

256.18(1)(b) (b) A training permit under s. 256.15 (5) (b).

256.18(1)(c) (c) A certificate under s. 256.15 (6g) (a) or (8) (a) or (f).

256.18(1m) (1m) If an individual who applies for or to renew a license, training permit or certificate under sub. (1) does not have a social security number, the individual, as a condition of obtaining the license, training permit or certificate, shall submit a statement made or subscribed under oath or affirmation to the department that the applicant does not have a social security number. The form of the statement shall be prescribed by the department of children and families. A license, training permit or certificate issued or renewed in reliance upon a false statement submitted under this subsection is invalid.

256.18(2) (2) The department may not disclose any information received under sub. (1) to any person except to the department of revenue for the sole purpose of requesting certifications under s. 73.0301 and to the department of workforce development for the sole purpose of requesting certifications under s. 108.227.

256.18(3) (3) Except as provided in sub. (1m), the department shall deny an application for the issuance or renewal of a license, certificate or permit specified in sub. (1) if the applicant does not provide the information specified in sub. (1).

256.18(4) (4) The department shall deny an application for the issuance or renewal of a license, certificate or permit specified in sub. (1) or shall revoke a license, certificate or permit specified in sub. (1), if the department of revenue certifies under s. 73.0301 that the applicant for or holder of the license, certificate or permit is liable for delinquent taxes.

256.18(4m) (4m) The department shall deny an application for the issuance or renewal of a license, certificate, or permit specified in sub. (1) or shall revoke a license, certificate, or permit specified in sub. (1), if the department of workforce development certifies under s. 108.227 that the applicant for or holder of the license, certificate, or permit is liable for delinquent unemployment insurance contributions.

256.18(5) (5) An action taken under sub. (3), (4), or (4m) is subject to review only as provided under s. 73.0301 (2) (b) and (5) or 108.227 (5) and (6), whichever is applicable.

256.18 History History: 1997 a. 237; 1999 a. 9; 2007 a. 20; 2007 a. 130 ss. 111 to 116; Stats. 2007 s. 256.18; 2013 a. 36.

256.18 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also chs. DHS 110, Wis. adm. code.

256.205 256.205 Community paramedics.

256.205(1) (1) Definition. In this section, “community paramedic” means an individual who has obtained an approval issued under sub. (2).

256.205(2) (2) Departmental approval. No person may use the title “community paramedic” unless he or she obtains an approval from the department issued under this section to provide services as a community paramedic. To be eligible for an approval by the department as a community paramedic, an individual shall meet all of the following criteria:

256.205(2)(a) (a) The individual is licensed as a paramedic, that license is not suspended or revoked, and the individual is not the subject of an action under s. 256.15 (11).

256.205(2)(b) (b) The individual has the equivalent of 2 years of service as a paramedic.

256.205(2)(c) (c) The individual successfully completes a training program that has been approved by the department under sub. (3).

256.205(2)(d) (d) The individual submits an application for the approval on a form specified by the department.

256.205(2)(e) (e) The individual satisfies any other requirements established by the department.

256.205(3) (3) Training program. The department shall, after consulting the board, approve training programs for community paramedics that include clinical experience, that provide flexibility in addressing local service needs, and that meet any other criteria established by the department.

256.205(4) (4) Affiliation. A community paramedic may provide services under sub. (6) only if he or she is a volunteer for or an employee of a community emergency medical services provider, as defined in s. 256.215 (1) (a), or if he or she is an employee of or under contract with a hospital, clinic, or physician.

256.205(5) (5) Requirements.

256.205(5)(a) (a) A community paramedic shall follow any protocols and supervisory standards established by the department or by a medical director.

256.205(5)(b) (b) A community paramedic is subject to certification, disciplinary, complaint, and other regulatory requirements that apply to emergency medical services practitioners under s. 256.15.

256.205(6) (6) Services provided. Notwithstanding the actions authorized for emergency services under s. 256.15 (6n), a community paramedic may provide services for which he or she is trained under a training program approved by the department under sub. (3), that are not duplicative of services already being provided to a patient, and that are approved by the hospital, clinic, or physician for which the community paramedic is an employee or contractor or are incorporated in the patient care protocols under s. 256.215 (2) (b).

256.205 History History: 2017 a. 66.

256.21 256.21 Community emergency medical services practitioners.

256.21(1) (1) Definition. In this section, “community emergency medical services practitioner” means an individual who has obtained an approval issued under sub. (2).

256.21(2) (2) Departmental approval. No person may use the title “community emergency medical services practitioner” unless he or she obtains an approval from the department issued under this section to provide services as a community emergency medical services practitioner. To be eligible for an approval by the department as a community emergency medical services practitioner, an individual shall meet all of the following criteria:

256.21(2)(a) (a) The individual is licensed as an emergency medical services practitioner of any level, that license is not suspended or revoked, and the individual is not the subject of an action under s. 256.15 (11).

256.21(2)(b) (b) The individual has the equivalent of 2 years of service as an emergency medical services practitioner at any level.

256.21(2)(c) (c) The individual successfully completes a training program that has been approved by the department under sub. (3).

256.21(2)(d) (d) The individual submits an application for the approval on a form specified by the department.

256.21(2)(e) (e) The individual satisfies any other requirements established by the department.

256.21(3) (3) Training program. The department shall, after consulting the board, approve training programs for community emergency medical services practitioners that include clinical experience, that provide flexibility in addressing local service needs, and that meet any other criteria established by the department.

256.21(4) (4) Affiliation. A community emergency medical services practitioner may provide services under sub. (6) only if he or she is a volunteer for or an employee of a community emergency medical services provider, as defined in s. 256.215 (1) (a), or if he or she is an employee of or under contract with a hospital, clinic, or physician.

256.21(5) (5) Requirements.

256.21(5)(a) (a) A community emergency medical services practitioner shall follow any protocols and supervisory standards established by the department or by a medical director.

256.21(5)(b) (b) A community emergency medical services practitioner is subject to certification, disciplinary, complaint, and other regulatory requirements that apply to emergency medical services practitioners under s. 256.15.

256.21(6) (6) Services provided. Notwithstanding the actions authorized for emergency services under s. 256.15 (6n), a community emergency medical services practitioner may provide services for which he or she is trained under a training program approved by the department under sub. (3), that are not duplicative of services already being provided to a patient, and that are approved by the hospital, clinic, or physician for which the community emergency medical services practitioner is an employee or contractor or are incorporated in the patient care protocols under s. 256.215 (2) (b).

256.21 History History: 2017 a. 66.

256.215 256.215 Providers of community emergency medical services.

256.215(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

256.215(1)(a) (a) “Community emergency medical services provider” means an emergency medical services provider that has approval from the department for its personnel to provide community emergency medical services under sub. (2).

256.215(1)(b) (b) “Community emergency medical services practitioner” has the meaning given under s. 256.21 (1).

256.215(1)(c) (c) “Community paramedic” has the meaning given under s. 256.205 (1).

256.215(1)(d) (d) “Emergency medical services provider” means an emergency medical services program under s. 256.12 that provides services as a nontransporting emergency medical services practitioner provider or an ambulance service provider licensed under s. 256.15 (5).

256.215(2) (2) Approval. No emergency medical services provider may advertise as providing community emergency medical services or may advertise having community paramedics or community emergency medical services practitioners unless the emergency medical services provider has approval from the department under this subsection. To be eligible for approval to provide community emergency medical services, an emergency medical services provider shall satisfy all of the following criteria:

256.215(2)(a) (a) The emergency medical services provider is licensed by the department at any emergency medical services level.

256.215(2)(b) (b) The emergency medical services provider establishes, submits to the department, and maintains patient care protocols corresponding to the appropriate service level to be used by a community paramedic or a community emergency medical services practitioner. The emergency medical services provider may include in a patient care protocol only those services that do not require a license, certificate, or other credential under subch. II, III, IV, or VII of ch. 448 or subch. I of ch. 457 or ch. 441, 446, 447, 449, 450, 451, 455, or 459 to provide.

256.215(2)(c) (c) The emergency medical services provider agrees to provide to the department a list identifying each community paramedic and community emergency medical services practitioner providing community emergency medical services as a volunteer or employee of that emergency medical services provider. If the emergency medical services provider is approved under this subsection as a community emergency medical services provider, the emergency medical services provider shall provide and update its list of community paramedics and community emergency medical services practitioners.

256.215(2)(d) (d) The emergency medical services provider meets other requirements as specified by the department.

256.215 History History: 2017 a. 66; 2023 a. 55.

256.23 256.23 Ambulance service provider fee.

256.23(1) (1) In this section:

256.23(1)(a) (a) “Eligible ambulance service provider” means any privately owned ambulance service provider. “Eligible ambulance service provider” does not include any ambulance service provider that is owned by any municipality or group of municipalities regardless of whether or not the ambulance service provider is organized as a nonprofit corporation.

256.23(1)(b) (b) “Emergency ambulance transport” means all of the following:

256.23(1)(b)1. 1. Each ground emergency ambulance transport that requires the delivery of life support services, including basic life support or advanced life support, by an emergency medical responder or emergency medical services practitioner at any practice level.

256.23(1)(b)2. 2. Any other ambulance transport that is designated by the department to be subject to the fee under sub. (2).

256.23(2) (2) For the privilege of doing business in this state, there is imposed on each eligible ambulance service provider a fee that is equal to a uniform percentage, as determined under sub. (3), of the eligible ambulance service provider’s net patient revenues from emergency ambulance transports. Except as provided in sub. (4), each eligible ambulance service provider shall pay the fee under this subsection in a manner determined by the department acting in collaboration with the Professional Ambulance Association of Wisconsin, or its successor organization, no more frequently than quarterly. An eligible ambulance service provider cannot increase rates it charges for its services because of the imposition of the fee under this subsection.

256.23(3) (3) The department shall establish the uniform percentage of the eligible ambulance service provider’s net patient revenues so that the total amount of fees collected from an eligible ambulance service provider under sub. (2) in a state fiscal year is an amount not less than one quarter of 1 percent lower than the maximum limit for a provider fee under 42 CFR 433.68 (f) but does not exceed the maximum limit.

256.23(4) (4) The department may allow an eligible ambulance service provider that is unable to make a payment of the fee by the date specified under sub. (2) to make a delayed payment.

256.23(5) (5) In accordance with s. 20.940, the department shall submit to the federal department of health and human services a request for any state plan amendment, waiver or other approval that is required to implement this section and s. 49.45 (3) (em). If federal approval is required, the department may not implement the collection of the fee under sub. (2) until it receives approval from the federal government to obtain federal matching funds.

256.23(6) (6) In each fiscal year, the secretary of administration shall transfer from the ambulance service provider trust fund under s. 25.776 to the appropriation under s. 20.435 (4) (jw) an amount equal to the annual costs of administering the ambulance assessment as specified under this section and making supplemental reimbursements to ambulance service providers under s. 49.45 (3) (em).

256.23 History History: 2021 a. 228; 2023 a. 30.

256.25 256.25 Statewide trauma care system.

256.25(1g) (1g) In this section, “performance improvement” means a method of evaluating and improving processes of trauma patient care that emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach to problem solving.

256.25(1r) (1r) The department shall develop and implement a statewide trauma care system. The department shall seek the advice of the statewide trauma advisory council under s. 15.197 (25) in developing and implementing the system, and, as part of the system, shall develop regional trauma advisory councils.

256.25(2) (2) The department shall promulgate rules to develop and implement the system. The rules shall include a method by which to classify all hospitals as to their respective emergency care capabilities. The classification rule shall be based on standards developed by the American College of Surgeons. Within 180 days after promulgation of the classification rule, and every 3 years thereafter, each hospital shall certify to the department the classification level of trauma care services that is provided by the hospital, based on the rule. The department may require a hospital to document the basis for its certification. The department may not direct a hospital to establish a certain level of certification. Confidential injury data that is collected under this subsection shall be used for confidential review relating to performance improvements in the trauma care system, and may be used for no other purpose.

256.25(3) (3) Except as provided in sub. (4), all information and documents provided by a hospital under sub. (2) and all information and documents procured by or furnished to the department, the statewide trauma advisory council, or regional trauma advisory councils with respect to performance improvement activities, certifications by hospitals under sub. (2), and documentation of the bases for hospitals’ certifications under sub. (2) are immune from discovery under ch. 804, confidential, and privileged and may not be used or admitted into evidence in a civil action. With respect to a communication made by a staff member of the department or by an individual serving on the statewide trauma advisory council or a regional trauma advisory council, and to a finding or recommendation made under this section by the department, the statewide trauma advisory council, or a regional trauma advisory council, all of the following apply:

256.25(3)(a) (a) The staff member or individual may not be examined in an action for civil damages with respect to the communication, finding, or recommendation.

256.25(3)(b) (b) The staff member or individual has immunity from civil liability, with respect to the communication, finding, or recommendation, for any of the following:

256.25(3)(b)1. 1. An action taken or omitted by the staff member or individual in an official capacity.

256.25(3)(b)2. 2. A statement made in good faith by the staff member or individual in an official capacity.

256.25(4) (4) Subsection (3) does not apply to the release of information and documents specified in sub. (3) created apart from a performance improvement activity or apart from a certification by a hospital under sub. (2) that are maintained by or for a hospital, the department, the statewide trauma advisory council, or a regional trauma advisory council for the particular purpose of diagnosing, treating, or documenting care provided to a particular patient or for another purpose, upon a showing by clear and convincing evidence that the information or documents are otherwise unavailable.