WISCONSIN

Overview

Wisconsin operates one of the largest private APCDs in the country, even though it is not mandated by statute. The Wisconsin Health Information Organization (WHIO), a private organization, gathers and makes healthcare claims data publicly accessible. With insurance claims data from sixteen commercial health plans and the state Medicaid program, the database provides consumers information about cost, population health, prescribing patterns, and more.

Wisconsin confers merger review authority of healthcare consolidation to the attorney general for all nonprofit hospitals. Not only does it mandate notice to the AG, it requires approval from both the AG and relevant state agencies. Additionally, Wisconsin has one of the strictest prohibitions in the country against exclusive contracting provisions between insurers and providers.

In healthcare market regulation, Wisconsin received a $2.4 million grant from CMS in 2014 to develop a state innovation plan to reduce Medicare and Medicaid costs. Wisconsin was one of the first five states to receive an approved 1332 waiver from the federal government. Recent state law mandates the Wisconsin Health Care Stability Plan (WIHSP), a publicly-funded reinsurance program, to expand access to care, reduce premium increases, keep more individuals insured, and entice insurers to offer insurance plans in the state. The program will pay insurers up to eighty percent of claims greater than $50,000 but less than $250,000. Wisconsin’s 1332 State Innovation Waiver to implement WIHSP was approved by HHS through 2023.

See below for an overview of existing Wisconsin state mandates. Click on citation tab for detailed information of specific statutes (click link to download statute text).

State Action


Latest Legislative Session: 1/2/2023 - 1/1/2024 (2023-2024 term). *Current session bill updates are ongoing. Check back weekly for updates.

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© 2018- The SLIHCQ DatabaseInitial funding for this project was provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.

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© 2018- The SLIHCQ DatabaseInitial funding for this project was provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.
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Additional Resources

STATE BUDGET

Wisconsin operates on a biennial budget cycle. The governor submits a proposed budget in January of each odd-numbered year and the legislature adopts a budget in July. The budget cycle runs from July to June of the following odd-numbered year. See 2019-21 budget here.

KEY RESOURCES

Wisconsin State Legislature

Wisconsin Department of Justice

Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance

Wisconsin Health Information Organization

Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality