SB 546

Medical Assistance programs and services

This bill requires the Department of Health Services (DHS) to request from the

secretary of the federal Department of Health and Human Services a waiver of

federal Medicaid law to permit DHS to provide services and support under the

Medical Assistance (MA) program to pregnant women who face an increased risk of

having a low birth weight baby, a preterm birth, or other negative birth outcome.

DHS must implement the MA programs and services in Milwaukee, Racine,

Kenosha, Rock, and Dane counties and in a rural multicounty region identified by

DHS in collaboration with the Great Lakes Intertribal Council. The bill specifies

certain services or programs that DHS must consider including in its Medicaid

waiver request. DHS must evaluate the programs and services implemented under

the waiver request and must develop a plan to implement the effective programs and

services statewide. DHS must also consider prohibiting reimbursement under the

MA program for elective induction of labor or cesarean sections performed before 39

weeks gestation, unless medically indicated.

Under federal law, the earned income tax credit (EITC) is a refundable tax

credit for low-income workers. If the amount of the claim exceeds the worker's tax

liability, the claimant receives a check for the excess amount from the Internal

Revenue Service. The amount of the credit for which a claimant is eligible is based,

in part, on the claimant's filing status and whether the claimant has no qualifying

children, one qualifying child, or more than one qualifying child.

Under current law, the refundable Wisconsin EITC may be claimed in an

amount equal to a certain percentage of the federal EITC. To be eligible for the

Wisconsin EITC, an individual must have one or more qualifying children who have

the same principal place of abode as the claimant.

Under this bill, an individual may claim the Wisconsin EITC even if, with

regard to the child about whom the claim is made, the child does not have the same

principal place of abode as the claimant and even if another person claims the federal

and Wisconsin credits for that child, provided that the claimant meets a statutory

definition of "parent" with respect to that child and provided that the claimant is

subject to and in compliance with a child support order with respect to that child.

Written agreements required for nurse-midwives

Under current law, the Board of Nursing licenses nurse-midwives.

Nurse-midwives are health care professionals authorized to practice

nurse-midwifery, which is defined as the management of women's health care,

pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum care for newborns, family planning, and

gynecological services consistent with the standards of practice of the American

College of Nurse-Midwives and the education, training, and experience of the

nurse-midwife.

A nurse-midwife may only practice nurse-midwifery in a health care facility