Consumer Guide: Ventilator Care Units

The Division of Medicaid Services approves certain ventilator units at medical facilities in Wisconsin. Approved units are certified to care for people who need a ventilator to breathe. Here, we list approved ventilator units and other resources.

Approved ventilator units

Approved ventilator units are listed by city. If you have questions, reach out to the contact for that unit.

For questions or updates, email Elizabeth Laubenstein at Elizabeth.Laubenstein@dhs.wisconsin.gov.

Related topics

• Area Administration
• HealthCare.gov
• United Spinal Association

For providers: requests for ventilator units

Are you a provider? Would you like to request any of the following?

• To start a ventilator unit
• To expand or decrease beds in a current ventilator unit
• To close a ventilator unit

If yes, please send a letter of intent to dhsdmsbrs@dhs.wisconsin.gov. Include these details in the letter (if they apply):

• Name and address of the facility
• Specific changes the facility wants to make to the ventilator unit
• Date that the changes will take place
• Contact information for the unit
• A letter from the Division of Quality Assurance Office of Plan Review and Inspection. They must approve the new unit’s construction plan. Learn more about the plan review process.

Provider contacts

For hospital fee-for-service reimbursement questions, email karina.virrueta1@dhs.wisconsin.gov or call 608-266-3699.

For prior authorization questions, email Ian.Stevens@dhs.wisconsin.gov or call 608-264-6752. Prior authorization means the health care provider must get approval from a health plan before giving a service. Criteria for prior authorization includes:

• The patient depends on a ventilator for life support for at least six hours per day.
• The diagnosis is consistent with the International Classification of Diseases code for ventilator dependency.
• The request shows either that trying to get the patient off the ventilator (wean) wouldn’t be appropriate or that attempts to wean have failed at least two times.
• The request has documented that the care needs are the same as the level of care at a skilled nursing facility.
• The skilled nursing facility is approved as a ventilator unit. Providers also must be trained and skilled in respiratory and ventilator care.