This operations memo provides updates to the institutional cost of care values. These values include the daily average private pay nursing home rate used to determine a divestment penalty period. They also include the monthly average private pay nursing home rate and monthly rate for state centers for persons with developmental disabilities, which are used to calculate income limits for Home and Community-Based Waiver (HCBW) Group B Plus eligibility.

This memo provides guidance to prevent healthcare-associated transmission of respiratory viral infections by defining when health care personnel (HCP) should be excluded from work and when they may safely return. This guidance applies to common and seasonal respiratory viruses that circulate in Wisconsin each year such as influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), parainfluenza, rhinovirus/enterovirus, and SARS-CoV-2.  

Under Wisconsin law (Wis. Stat. § 255.07), a health care provider with prescribing authority who is
employed by or under contract with the department may issue a statewide standing order for the
dispensing of epinephrine delivery systems for use under sub. (4) by authorized individuals or by
employees or agents of authorized entities who have completed the training required by sub. (5).

This memo announces policy changes regarding how disability determinations made for Katie Beckett Medicaid (KBM) are treated for other Medicaid programs and FoodShare. 

2009 Wis. Act 318 authorizes up to $250,000 from Tribal gaming revenues to fund high-cost mental health placements of Tribal nation members when Tribal nation or county costs exceed $50,000 annually and when treatment services are ordered by a Tribal court. A call for applications for this funding was issued in July 2025. Funding remains available. This memo outlines the criteria for these funds and how to apply.

This memo announces changes to ensure existing coverage is maintained for:

• Katie Beckett Medicaid (KBM), Wisconsin Well Woman Medicaid (WWWMA), and Senior Care members while their eligibility is being redetermined at renewal or following a change in circumstances.
• Members moving from BadgerCare Plus (or other non-disability-based Medicaid category) to a disability-based Medicaid category while disability is being determined, provided they are otherwise eligible for disability-based Medicaid.

This operations memo announces changes in policy for FoodShare renewals that are submitted and/or completed in the month after the renewal was due.

This memo announces a change to extend the period of time in which a Medicaid Purchase Plan (MAPP) member can pay their ongoing monthly premium before losing MAPP eligibility for non-payment of premium. This memo also announces changes to how applicants will pay an initial MAPP premium and how MAPP members can pay ongoing premiums.

This Operations Memo announces changes to the Wisconsin Shares program related to when child care providers are required to return Wisconsin Shares funds to the department.

This memo provides information about client rights when urine drug screens require in-person or video monitoring. Certified mental health and substance use providers must notify individuals of the limitation or denial of their right to privacy upon implementation of monitored urine drug screens by using a form available on the DHS website.