The bill requires that if a patient designates a caregiver, the hospital must
promptly request written consent to release medical information to the patient's
caregiver. If the patient or the patient's legal guardian declines to provide consent,
the hospital is relieved of its notification and consultation obligations.
Under current law, patient medical records are kept confidential except in
certain limited circumstances, including if a patient or a person authorized by the
patient gives consent to the disclosure. Even without agreement, a health care
provider may provide to the patient's immediate family, another relative, a close
personal friend of the patient, or an individual identified by the patient, that portion
of information from the health care record directly relevant to that individual's
involvement in the patient's care. The bill adds designated caregivers to the list of
individuals permitted access to information directly relevant to that individual's
involvement in the patient's care.
Pediatric inpatient supplement
The bill establishes in statute reference to supplemental funding totaling
$2,000,000 to be distributed by DHS to certain acute care hospitals located in
Wisconsin that have a total of more than 12,000 inpatient days in the hospital's acute
care pediatric units and intensive care pediatric units, not including neonatal
intensive care units. In addition, under the bill, DHS may distribute additional
funding of $7,500,000 in each state fiscal year to hospitals that are free-standing

pediatric teaching hospitals located in Wisconsin that have a Medicaid inpatient
utilization rate greater than 45 percent if DHS has expanded eligibility for the
Medical Assistance program under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable
Care Act.
Tailored caregiver assessment and referral (TCARE) pilot program
The bill requires DHS to conduct, during fiscal year 2021-22, a one-year
Tailored Caregiver Assessment and Referral pilot program as described in the
September 2020 report of the Governor's Task Force on Caregiving. Tailored
Caregiver Assessment and Referral, commonly referred to as TCARE or a family
caregiver survey, is an evidence-based care management protocol designed to
support family members who are providing care to adults of any age with chronic or
acute health conditions. TCARE includes both a pre-screening tool and a full
assessment that seeks information from the family or informal caregiver in order to
assess their health and well-being, stress levels, challenges, skills needed to perform
care, their informal support system, and strengths that enable them to provide care.
Title V and Title X family planning funding
Current law requires DHS to apply for federal Title X grant funds and to
distribute any funds received to public entities for family planning and related
preventive health services. The bill eliminates that requirement.
Under current law, DHS must allocate women's health funds, which are federal
Title V funds and women's health block grant funds, to develop and maintain an
integrated system of community health services and maximize coordination of
family planning services. Current law excludes from the definition of “family
planning” the performance, promotion, encouragement, or counseling in favor of, or
referral either directly or through an intermediary for, voluntary termination of
pregnancy but includes in the definition of “family planning” the provision of
nondirective information explaining prenatal care and delivery or infant care, foster
care, or adoption. DHS must distribute women's health funds only to public entities.
Currently, those public entities may provide some or all of the funds to other public
entities or private entities as long as the recipients of the funds do not provide
abortion services, make referrals for abortion services, or have an affiliate that
provides abortion services or makes referrals for abortion services. The bill retains
the authorization for the public entity that receives funds from DHS to provide some
or all of the funds to other public or private entities but eliminates the restriction on
which public or private entities may receive those funds. The bill also includes in the
definition of “family planning” the provision of nondirective information explaining
pregnancy termination.
Grants to free and charitable clinics
Under current law, DHS is required to award grants each fiscal year to several
classes of community health centers. A community health center is a health care
entity that provides primary health care, health education, and social services to
low-income individuals. The 2019 biennial budget act, 2019 Wisconsin Act 9,
required DHS to annually award $500,000 in grants to free and charitable clinics
from the same community health services appropriation. The bill continues the
grant for free and charitable clinics and directs DHS to annually award $2,500,000

in grants to free and charitable clinics. The bill defines “free and charitable clinics”
as health care organizations that use a volunteer and staff model to provide health
services to uninsured, underinsured, underserved, economically and socially
disadvantaged, and vulnerable populations and that meet criteria specified in the
bill.
Black women's health and infant and maternal mortality
The bill instructs DHS to annually award $1,750,000 in grants to
community-serving organizations that are led by Black women that improve Black
women's health in Dane, Milwaukee, Rock, and Kenosha Counties. Further, the bill
directs DHS to annually award $1,750,000 in grants to organizations that work to
reduce racial disparities related to infant and maternal mortality. Additionally, the
bill instructs DHS to award a grant totaling $500,000 in fiscal year 2021-22 and
another grant totaling $500,000 in fiscal year 2022-23 to an entity to coordinate
efforts between the state, public and private sector organizations, and community
organizations to support a statewide strategy to advance Black women's health.
Alzheimer's family and caregiver support
Under current law, DHS distributes funds for certain community aids,
including for the Alzheimer's family and caregiver support program. The bill
increases the community aid funding available for the Alzheimer's family and
caregiver support program from not more than $2,558,900 each fiscal year to not
more than $3,058,900 each fiscal year, and broadens financial eligibility for the
program by increasing the maximum joint income an individual and the individual's
spouse may earn per year and remain financially eligible from $48,000 to $55,000.
Health equity grants
The bill directs DHS to award grants to community organizations to implement
community health worker care models. The bill also directs DHS to award grants
to community organizations and local or tribal health departments to hire health
equity strategists and to implement health equity action plans.
Lead screening and outreach grants
Under current law, DHS must award grants related to lead poisoning and lead
exposure prevention. The bill increases the amount of money granted to fund lead
screening and outreach activities at community-based human service agencies that
provide primary health care, health education, and social services to low-income
individuals in first class cities from $125,000 each fiscal year to $175,000. Currently,
the only first class city is Milwaukee.
Wisconsin drug repository program
Under current law, DHS is required to maintain a drug repository program
under which persons may donate certain drugs or supplies that may be used by other
individuals identified by the department by rule. The bill allows DHS to partner
with out-of-state drug repository programs. The bill also allows out-of-state
persons to donate to the drug repository program in Wisconsin, and persons in
Wisconsin to donate to participating drug repository programs in other states.
Further, the bill directs DHS to study and implement a centralized physical drug
repository program.

Surgical quality improvement grant
The bill allows, but does not require, DHS to award a onetime grant up to a total
amount of $335,000 in fiscal year 2021-22 to support surgical quality improvement
activities. The bill allows DHS to transfer moneys appropriated for this grant from
fiscal year 2021-22 to fiscal year 2022-23.
Spinal cord injury research grants and symposia
The bill requires DHS to establish a program to award grants to persons in this
state for research into spinal cord injuries. The grants must support research into
new and innovative treatments and rehabilitative efforts for the functional
improvement of people with spinal cord injuries. Research topics may include
pharmaceutical, medical device, brain stimulus, and rehabilitative approaches and
techniques. DHS must make annual reports to the legislature about the grants. The
bill also allows DHS to hold symposia every two years for grant recipients to present
their research findings. The bill biennially appropriates general purpose revenues
not exceeding $3,000,000 for the grants and symposia.
The bill also requires DHS to appoint a Spinal Cord Injury Council with one
member representing the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public
Health, one member representing the Medical College of Wisconsin, and the
following members: 1) a person with a spinal cord injury; 2) a family member of a
person with a spinal cord injury; 3) a veteran with a spinal cord injury; 4) a physician
specializing in the treatment of spinal cord injuries; 5) a neurosurgery researcher;
and 6) a researcher employed by the Veterans Health Administration of the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. If DHS is unable to appoint any of the foregoing
members, the bill allows DHS to appoint, in lieu of that member, a member
representing the general public. Members of the council have two-year terms. The
bill requires the council to develop criteria for DHS to evaluate and award grants,
review and make recommendations on grant applications, and perform other duties
specified by DHS. Council members must make written disclosures of financial
interests in organizations that the council recommends for grants.
Public health campaign to prevent tobacco and vapor product use
The bill allows DHS to develop and carry out a public health campaign aimed
at the prevention of initiation of tobacco and vapor product use. The bill also allows
DHS to distribute grants to local and regional organizations working on youth
vaping and providing cessation services.
Direct support professional training pilot program