AB 1224 — Relating to: establishing a publicly financed health care plan for residents of this state, creating the office of the ombudsman for patient advocacy, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation.

Summary

An Act to amend 15.01 (6); to create 13.94 (1) (ew), 15.193 (2), 20.435 (10), 25.17 (1) (gt), 25.76, chapter 56, 73.03 (78) and 601.41 (14) of the statutes;

Bill Text

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Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

This bill establishes a publicly financed health care plan for residents of Wisconsin and creates the office of the ombudsman for patient advocacy within the Department of Health Services.

• 15.01 (6)

  “division,” “bureau,” “section,” and “unit” means the subunits of a department or an independent agency, whether specifically created by law or created by the head of the department or the independent agency for the more economic and efficient administration and operation of the programs assigned to the department or independent agency. The office of credit unions in the department of financial institutions, the office of the inspector general in the department of children and families, the office of the inspector general in the department of health services, and the office of children’s mental health in the department of health services have the meaning of “division” under this subsection. The office of the long-term care ombudsman under the board on aging and long-term care and the office of educational accountability and the office of literacy in the department of public instruction have the meaning of “bureau” under this subsection. → “division,” “bureau,” “section,” and “unit” means the subunits of a department or an independent agency, whether specifically created by law or created by the head of the department or the independent agency for the more economic and efficient administration and operation of the programs assigned to the department or independent agency. The office of credit unions in the department of financial institutions, the office of the inspector general in the department of children and families, the office of the inspector general in the department of health services, the office of the ombudsman for patient advocacy in the department of health services, and the office of children’s mental health in the department of health services have the meaning of “division” under this subsection. The office of the long-term care ombudsman under the board on aging and long-term care and the office of educational accountability and the office of literacy in the department of public instruction have the meaning of “bureau” under this subsection.

  This change adds the office of the ombudsman for patient advocacy to the definition of 'division' in the statutes.

• 15.193

  OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN FOR PATIENT ADVOCACY. There is created in the department of health services an office of the ombudsman for patient advocacy. The ombudsman shall be appointed by the secretary of health services and may be removed only for just cause. An individual may not serve as ombudsman while holding another public office.

  This creates a new office of the ombudsman for patient advocacy to support patients in securing health care services.

• 13.94 (1) (ew)

  Annually, perform a financial audit of the health plan under ch. 56, including an analysis of the sufficiency of the health plan’s reserves. Within 30 days after completion of the audit, the legislative audit bureau shall submit a detailed report of the audit to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2), the governor, the department of administration, the department of health services, and the department of revenue.

  This establishes an annual financial auditing requirement for the new health plan.

• 20.435

  HEALTH PLAN. (a) General program operations. The amounts in the schedule for general program operations. (b) Office of the ombudsman for patient advocacy. The amounts in the schedule for the operations of the office of the ombudsman for patient advocacy.

  This creates a health plan section in the statutes, ensuring funding for the health plan and the ombudsman's office.

• 25.17 (1) (gt)

  Health plan fund (s. 25.76);

  This establishes a new subsection in the statutes for a health plan fund.

• 25.76

  Health plan fund. There is created a separate, nonlapsible trust fund designated as the health plan fund, consisting of all amounts deposited under s. 56.12, federal payments received by the state, donations, gifts, bequests, moneys transferred from other funds, and income earned by the fund.

  This creates a dedicated health plan fund to manage financial resources for the new health plan.

Action History

1. March 23, 2026

   Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1

2. March 19, 2026

   Read first time and referred to Committee on Health, Aging and Long-Term Care

3. March 19, 2026

   Introduced by Representatives Clancy, Madison and Phelps

Sponsors

• Ryan Clancy · Primary
• Darrin Madison · Cosponsor
• Christian Phelps · Cosponsor

Subjects