Chapter 50

50.60(3)(a) (a) A privately owned facility where a majority of the health care providers, practicing within the scope of their licenses, devotes a majority of their practices to the treatment of pain syndromes through the practice of pain medicine or interventional pain medicine.

50.60(3)(b) (b) A privately owned facility that advertises or otherwise holds itself out as providing pain medicine or interventional pain medicine services and that has one or more employees or contractors who prescribe opioids or opiates, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, or carisoprodol as chronic therapy for pain syndromes.

50.60(4) (4) “Pain medicine” means the branch of medicine devoted to the diagnosis and treatment of pain syndromes through treatments, including prescription of a monitored prescription drug, as defined in s. 961.385 (1) (ag).

50.60(5) (5) “Pain syndrome” means any of the following:

50.60(5)(a) (a) Pain that is reasonably anticipated to persist, or has persisted, beyond the time frame for normal healing.

50.60(5)(b) (b) Pain that is reasonably anticipated to persist, or has persisted, for more than 3 months.

50.60 History History: 2015 a. 265.

50.65 50.65 Pain clinics.

50.65(1) (1) Certification required.

50.65(1)(a) (a) Except as provided under par. (g), no pain clinic may operate unless it holds a certificate to operate issued by the department.

50.65(1)(b) (b) A pain clinic shall submit to the department an application, on a form prescribed by the department, for a certificate. A business entity that owns more than one pain clinic may apply for a single certificate for all pain clinics it owns, but the business entity assuming responsibility for the pain clinics shall submit with the application a listing of each pain clinic site, the number of days each week each pain clinic site operates, and the health care providers who are working on each day of operation at each site. The department may charge an applicant a fee for applying for a certificate.

50.65(1)(c) (c) A certified pain clinic that undergoes a change of majority ownership shall submit a new application for a certificate.

50.65(1)(d) (d) A pain clinic shall have a medical director who is a physician that practices in this state. In the event that the medical director no longer meets the requirements of holding the position of medical director, the pain clinic shall notify the department within 10 business days of the identity of a physician who meets the requirements of medical director and who acts as medical director at that pain clinic. Failure to notify the department of an acting medical director within 10 days of the departure of the previous medical director may be a basis for the department to suspend the pain clinic’s certification.

50.65(1)(e) (e) The department shall issue a certificate of operation to a pain clinic if the department finds that the pain clinic meets the requirements of this section, has paid any application fee required by the department, and meets any requirements established by the department. The department may not issue a certificate of operation to a pain clinic if the owner has been convicted of a felony or found guilty of a misdemeanor related to the distribution of an illegal prescription drug or controlled substance.

50.65(1)(f) (f) Subject to sub. (2), a certificate issued under this subsection is valid for 3 years and may be renewed.

50.65(1)(g) (g) A pain clinic at which health care providers do not regularly prescribe monitored prescription drugs, as defined in s. 961.385 (1) (ag), to a patient for more than 90 days in a 12-month period is not required to obtain a certificate to operate under this subsection.

50.65(2) (2) Penalty for violation.

50.65(2)(a) (a) If the department finds that a pain clinic which was issued a certificate under this section no longer meets any requirement of this section or rules promulgated under this section or of requirements established by the department, the department may do any of the following:

50.65(2)(a)1. 1. Suspend the certificate of the pain clinic until the department determines that the pain clinic demonstrates compliance.

50.65(2)(a)2. 2. Revoke the certificate of the pain clinic.

50.65(2)(a)3. 3. Impose a forfeiture of up to $1,000 per day for each day of continued violation.

50.65(2)(b) (b) A pain clinic subject to a penalty under par. (a) is entitled to an appeal and a hearing under ch. 227.

50.65(3) (3) Payment method.

50.65(3)(a) (a) In this subsection, “traceable” means capable of allowing a person to ascertain, retain, and verify personally identifiable information, including, at a minimum, the first and last name, home address, and date of birth, of a payer in connection with a payment.

50.65(3)(b) (b) A pain clinic may only accept payment by insurance coverage, credit, a credit card, a check, a draft, or another form of payment that is traceable to the individual seeking treatment at the pain clinic and shall retain records of payment. An individual seeking treatment for which a claim is submitted to an insurance company may pay to the pain clinic any insurance copayment, coinsurance, or deductible with cash or another payment method that is not traceable.

50.65(4) (4) Direct dispensing. A pain clinic may not directly dispense, as defined in s. 450.01 (7), a monitored prescription drug, as defined in s. 961.385 (1) (ag), that is administered orally, unless any of the following are true:

50.65(4)(a) (a) The pain clinic is licensed as a pharmacy under s. 450.06.

50.65(4)(b) (b) The pain clinic is treating an individual under ch. 102 for a condition or complaint reasonably related to a condition for which the individual claims worker’s compensation under ch. 102.

50.65(5) (5) Applicability. This section does not apply to any of the following:

50.65(5)(a) (a) A medical or dental school, nursing school, physician assistant training program, or outpatient clinic associated with any of the schools or training programs specified in this paragraph.

50.65(5)(b) (b) A hospital, as defined in s. 50.33 (2).

50.65(5)(c) (c) Hospice, as defined in s. 50.90 (1).

50.65(5)(d) (d) A nursing home, as defined in s. 50.01 (3).

50.65(6) (6) Rules. The department, after consulting with the medical examining board, may promulgate rules to govern the operation of pain clinics as the department finds necessary to provide safety to the public. The department may promulgate other rules it determines are necessary to implement this section.

50.65(7) (7) Regulation of professions. Nothing in this section confers authority on the department of health services to regulate the profession or practice of a health care provider whose profession is regulated by the department of safety and professional services or an examining board attached to the department of safety and professional services.

50.65 History History: 2015 a. 265.

subch. VI of ch. 50 SUBCHAPTER VI

HOSPICES

50.90 50.90 Definitions. In this subchapter:

50.90(1) (1) “Hospice” means any of the following:

50.90(1)(a) (a) An organization that primarily provides palliative care and supportive care to an individual with terminal illness where he or she lives or stays and, if necessary to meet the needs of an individual with terminal illness, arranges for or provides short-term inpatient care and treatment or provides respite care.

50.90(1)(b) (b) A program, within an organization, that primarily provides palliative care and supportive care to an individual with terminal illness where he or she lives or stays, that uses designated staff time and facility services, that is distinct from other programs of care provided, and, if necessary to meet the needs of an individual with terminal illness, that arranges for or provides short-term inpatient care and treatment or respite care.

50.90(1)(c) (c) A place, including a freestanding structure or a separate part of a structure in which other services are provided, that primarily provides palliative and supportive care and a place of residence to individuals with terminal illness and provides or arranges for short-term inpatient care as needed.

50.90(1m) (1m) “Managing employee” means a general manager, business manager, administrator, director or other individual who exercises operational or managerial control over, or who directly or indirectly conducts, the operation of the hospice.

50.90(2) (2) “Organization” means a public agency, as defined in s. 46.856 (1) (b), a nonprofit corporation, a for-profit stock corporation, a cooperative, an unincorporated cooperative association, a partnership, a limited liability company or a sole proprietorship.

50.90(3) (3) “Palliative care” means management and support provided for the reduction or abatement of pain, for other physical symptoms and for psychosocial or spiritual needs of individuals with terminal illness and includes physician services, skilled nursing care, medical social services, services of volunteers and bereavement services. “Palliative care” does not mean treatment provided in order to cure a medical condition or disease or to artificially prolong life.

50.90(3g) (3g) “Respite care” means care provided to a terminally ill individual in order to provide temporary relief to the primary caregiver.

50.90(3m) (3m) “Short-term care” means care provided to a terminally ill individual in an inpatient setting for brief periods of time for the purpose of pain control or acute or chronic symptom management.

50.90(4) (4) “Supportive care” means services provided during the final stages of an individual’s terminal illness and dying and after the individual’s death to meet the psychosocial, social and spiritual needs of family members of the terminally ill individual and other individuals caring for the terminally ill individual. “Supportive care” includes personal adjustment counseling, financial counseling, respite services, bereavement counseling and follow-up services provided by volunteers or other persons.

50.90(5) (5) “Terminal illness” means a medical prognosis that an individual’s life expectancy is less than 12 months.

50.90 History History: 1989 a. 199; 1993 a. 112; 2003 a. 33; 2005 a. 441.

50.91 50.91 Departmental powers and duties. The department shall provide uniform, statewide licensing, inspection and regulation of hospices as specified in this subchapter.

50.91 History History: 1989 a. 199.

50.92 50.92 Licensing requirements.

50.92(1) (1) No person may conduct, maintain, operate or otherwise participate in conducting, maintaining or operating a hospice unless the hospice is licensed by the department.

50.92(2) (2) The department shall issue a license if the department finds that the applicant is fit and qualified and that the hospice meets the requirements of this subchapter and the rules promulgated under this subchapter.

50.92(3) (3) The department or the department’s designated representative shall inspect or investigate a hospice prior to issuance of a license for the hospice except as provided in sub. (4) and may inspect or investigate a hospice as the department deems necessary, including conducting home visits or a review of health care records of any individuals with terminal illness served by the hospice, to determine if any person is in violation of this subchapter.

50.92(3m) (3m) The department may conduct plan reviews of all capital construction and remodeling of structures that are owned or leased for operation of a hospice. The department shall promulgate rules that establish a fee schedule for its services in conducting the plan reviews under this subsection.

50.92(4) (4) 

50.92(4)(a) (a) In lieu of inspecting or investigating a hospice under sub. (3) prior to issuance of a license, the department may accept evidence that a hospice applying for licensure under s. 50.93 has been inspected under and is currently certified as meeting the conditions for medicare participation under 42 USC 1395 to 1395ccc. If a hospice fails to meet the conditions for medicare participation under 42 USC 1395 to 1395ccc, the department shall inspect or investigate the hospice under sub. (3) before initially issuing a license for the hospice.

50.92(4)(b) (b) In lieu of inspecting or investigating a hospice under sub. (3) prior to issuance of a license, the department may accept evidence that a hospice applying for licensure under s. 50.93 has accreditation as a hospice from an organization that is approved by the federal centers for Medicare and Medicaid services and that meets any requirements established by the department. A hospice shall provide the department with a copy of the report by the accreditation organization of each periodic review the organization conducts of the hospice.

50.92(5) (5) The past record of violations of applicable laws or regulations of the United States or of state statutes or rules of this or any other state, in the operation of any health-related organization, by an operator, managing employee or direct or indirect owner of a hospice or of an interest of a hospice is relevant to the issue of the fitness of an applicant for a license. The department or the department’s designated representative shall inspect and investigate as necessary to determine the conditions existing in each case under this subsection and shall prepare and maintain a written report concerning the investigation and inspection.

50.92 History History: 1989 a. 199; 1997 a. 27; 2015 a. 55; 2017 a. 59.

50.925 50.925 Use of name or advertising prohibited. No entity that is not a hospice licensed under this subchapter or an applicant for a license or a provisional license under this subchapter may designate itself as a “hospice” or use the word “hospice” to represent or tend to represent the entity as a hospice or services provided by the entity as services provided by a hospice.

50.925 History History: 1989 a. 199.

50.93 50.93 Licensing procedure.

50.93(1) (1) Application. The application for a license or for a provisional license shall:

50.93(1)(a) (a) Be in writing on a form provided by the department.

50.93(1)(b) (b) Contain such information as the department requires.

50.93(1)(c) (c) Include licensing fee payment, unless the licensing fee is waived by the department on a case-by-case basis under criteria for determining financial hardship established in rules promulgated by the department. An initial licensing fee is $300, except that, for a hospice that is a nonprofit corporation and that is served entirely by uncompensated volunteers or employs persons in not more than 1.5 positions at 40 hours of employment per week, the initial licensing fee is $25. The annual fee thereafter is an amount equal to 0.15 percent of the net annual income of the hospice, based on the most recent annual report of the hospice under sub. (3m), or $200, whichever is greater, and if the amount equal to 0.15 percent of the net annual income of the hospice is greater than $1,000, the fee is $1,000, except that for a hospice that is a nonprofit corporation and that is served entirely by uncompensated volunteers or employs persons in not more than 1.5 positions at 40 hours of employment per week the annual fee is $10. The amount of the provisional licensing fee shall be established under s. 50.95 (2). The initial licensing fee for a hospice, including the initial licensing fee for a hospice that is a nonprofit corporation and that is served entirely by uncompensated volunteers or employs persons in not more than 1.5 positions at 40 hours of employment per week, issued after September 1 may be prorated.

50.93(2) (2) Issuance of license.

50.93(2)(a) (a) A hospice license is valid until suspended or revoked.

50.93(2)(c) (c) Each license shall be issued only for the applicant named in the application and may not be transferred or assigned.

50.93(2)(d) (d) Any license granted under special limitations prescribed by the department shall state the limitations.

50.93(3) (3) Provisional license. If the applicant has not been previously licensed under this subchapter or if the hospice is not in operation at the time that application is made, the department may issue a provisional license. Unless sooner suspended or revoked under sub. (4), a provisional license shall be valid for 24 months from the date of issuance. Within 30 days prior to the termination of a provisional license, the department shall fully and completely inspect the hospice and, if the hospice meets the applicable requirements for licensure, shall issue a regular license under sub. (2). If the department finds that the hospice does not meet the requirements for licensure, the department may not issue a regular license under sub. (2).

50.93(3m) (3m) Reporting. Every 12 months, on a schedule determined by the department, a licensed hospice shall submit an annual report in the form and containing the information that the department requires, including payment of the fee required under sub. (1) (c), evidence of current certification as meeting the conditions for medicare participation under 42 USC 1395 to 1395ccc and evidence of current compliance with the hospice requirements of the joint commission for the accreditation of health organizations. If a complete annual report is not timely filed, the department shall issue a warning to the licensee. The department may revoke the license for failure to timely and completely report within 60 days after the report date established under the schedule determined by the department.

50.93(4) (4) Suspension and revocation.

50.93(4)(a) (a) The department, after notice to the applicant or licensee, may suspend or revoke a license in any case in which the department finds that there has been a substantial failure to comply with the requirements of this subchapter or the rules promulgated under this subchapter. No state or federal funds passing through the state treasury may be paid to a hospice not having a valid license issued under this section.

50.93(4)(b) (b) Notice under this subsection shall include a clear and concise statement of the violations on which the revocation is based, the statute or rule violated and notice of the opportunity for an evidentiary hearing under par. (c).

50.93(4)(c) (c) If a hospice desires to contest the revocation of a license, the hospice shall, within 10 days after receipt of notice under par. (b), notify the department in writing of its request for a hearing under s. 227.44.

50.93(4)(d) (d)

50.93(4)(d)1. 1. Subject to s. 227.51 (3), revocation shall become effective on the date set by the department in the notice of revocation, or upon final action after hearing under ch. 227, or after court action if a stay is granted under ch. 227, whichever is later.

50.93(4)(d)3. 3. The department may extend the effective date of license revocation in any case in order to permit orderly removal and relocation of individuals served by the hospice.

50.93(5) (5) Inspection fee. If the department takes enforcement action against a hospice for a violation of this subchapter or rules promulgated under this subchapter, and the department subsequently conducts an on-site inspection of the hospice to review the hospice’s action to correct the violation, the department may impose a $200 inspection fee on the hospice.

50.93 History History: 1989 a. 199; 1991 a. 39; 1997 a. 27; 2009 a. 28.

50.94 50.94 Admission to and care in a hospice for certain incapacitated persons.

50.94(1) (1) In this section:

50.94(1)(a) (a) “Hospice care” means palliative care, respite care, short-term care or supportive care.

50.94(1)(b) (b) “Incapacitated” means unable to receive and evaluate information effectively or to communicate decisions to such an extent that a person lacks the capacity to manage his or her health care decisions.