LRB-0899/2
RLR:kjf:rs
2009 - 2010 LEGISLATURE
April 7, 2009 - Introduced by Representatives Hilgenberg, Garthwaite, Kaufert,
Pasch, Black, Berceau, Staskunas, Cullen, Richards, Petrowski,
Hraychuck, Bies, Zepnick, Townsend and Tauchen, cosponsored by Senators
Robson, Holperin, Schultz, Taylor, Plale, Lassa and Hansen. Referred to
Committee on Public Health.
AB195,1,2
1An Act to renumber and amend 146.89 (1) (r); and
to create 146.89 (1) (r) 5.
2of the statutes;
relating to: the Volunteer Health Care Provider Program.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Currently, under the Volunteer Health Care Provider Program (program), the
state indemnifies certain health care providers who provide health care services for
a nonprofit agency or elementary school free of charge or, in the case of some dental
service, for a discounted fee. In order to serve as a volunteer health care provider
under the program, a person must submit a joint application with a nonprofit agency
or elementary school and the Department of Administration must approve the
application. If volunteering for a nonprofit agency, the agency must primarily serve
low-income people. The following people may become volunteer health care
providers under the program: physicians, dentists, dental hygienists, registered
nurses, practical nurses, nurse-midwifes, optometrists, physician assistants,
pharmacists, dieticians, nurse practitioners, and pharmacy technicians. If a claim
is brought against a volunteer health care provider for acts or omissions committed
in the course of providing health care services under the program, the state must
provide or pay for legal representation for the volunteer health care provider and
must pay damages and costs awarded against the volunteer health care provider to
the extent that legal representation, damages, and costs are not covered by any
applicable insurance.
This bill allows the following to become volunteer health care providers under
the program: chiropractors; physical therapists; speech-language pathologists;
occupational therapists; massage therapists; acupuncturists; and phlebotomists, if
working under the supervision of physicians.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB195, s. 1
1Section
1. 146.89 (1) (r) of the statutes is renumbered 146.89 (1) (r) (intro.) and
2amended to read:
AB195,2,73
146.89
(1) (r) (intro.) "Volunteer health care provider" means an individual who
4is
licensed one of the following and who receives no income from the practice of his
5or her health care profession or who receives no income from the practice of that
6health care profession when providing services at the nonprofit agency specified
7under sub. (3) or for the school board or governing body specified under sub. (3r):
AB195,2,13
81. Licensed as a physician under ch. 448, dentist or dental hygienist under ch.
9447,
or registered nurse, practical nurse, or nurse-midwife under ch. 441,
an 10optometrist under ch. 449,
or a physician assistant under ch. 448,
or pharmacist
11under ch. 450,
who is certified chiropractor under ch. 446, or physical therapist under
12subch. III of ch. 448, an occupational therapist under subch. VII of ch. 448, or a
13speech-language pathologist under subch. II of ch. 459.
AB195,2,15
142. Certified as a dietitian under subch. V of ch. 448,
or who is a, an
15acupuncturist under ch. 451, or a massage therapist or bodyworker under ch. 460.
AB195,2,16
163. A nurse practitioner, as defined in s. 255.06 (1) (d)
, or.
AB195,2,21
174. An individual who performs functions described for pharmacy technicians
18in rules promulgated by the pharmacy examining board
, and who receives no income
19from the practice of that health care profession or who receives no income from the
20practice of that health care profession when providing services at the nonprofit
21agency or school specified under sub. (3).
AB195, s. 2
1Section
2. 146.89 (1) (r) 5. of the statutes is created to read:
AB195,3,22
146.89
(1) (r) 5. A phlebotomist if working under the supervision of a physician.
