Nursing Homes
A nursing home is defined in Wis. Stat. § ch. 50.01(3) as a place where five or more people (who are not related to the operator) live because they need 24-hour nursing care. This can include limited nursing care, intermediate level nursing care, and skilled nursing services.
Finding and Choosing a Nursing Home
Contact us
If you need information, these sources can help.
- Regional office staff contact information can be found on the Bureau of Nursing Home Resident Care Regional Offices webpage. Contact the appropriate regional office with questions about the survey inspection process or plans of correction.
- Fire reporting (within 72 hours) - dhsdqaplanreview@dhs.wisconsin.gov
- Forfeitures, surety bonds, or health waivers - dhsdqabnhrclicensing@dhs.wisconsin.gov
- Minimum data set (automation, technical, or clinical coding) or resident assessment instrument (education or coding) - dhsdqamdsoasis@dhs.wisconsin.gov
- Nurse aide training and testing - Nurse Aide Program: Contact Us
- Plan review - Plan Review Construction/Remodeling of Health Care Facilities
- Traumatic brain injury (new programs only) - dhswebmaildms@dhs.wisconsin.gov
- Waivers
- See the Waivers and Variances: Long-Term Care webpage for information on how to request a waiver or variance of a Wisconsin state statute or administrative code.
- See the Waivers and Variances: Health and Residential Care Providers webpage for information on how to request a life safety code waiver or a Wisconsin commercial building code variance.
- For training or consultation on other topics, see our training resources webpage or email dhsdqatraining@dhs.wisconsin.gov.
- If you're not sure who to contact or don't see the topic you need, contact DQA at dhswebmaildqa@dhs.wisconsin.gov.
References and guides
- Letters and attachments user manual (PDF)
- ePOC provider user manual (PDF)
- ePOC admin job aid (PDF)
- QSEP iQIES provider ePOC admin role video
- iQIES provider DQA assistant
- Email tina.klaver@dhs.wisconsin.gov
- Call 715-365-2803
Nursing Home Grant Program
A Civil Money Penalty (CMP) is a monetary penalty that CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) may impose against nursing homes. Some of the CMP money is returned to the states to be reinvested in activities that support and benefit nursing home residents.
Child Care Program in a Long-Term Care Residential Facility
The Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the Department of Health Services (DHS) have developed information to help providers start an on-site child care program to attract new workers and keep current staff.
Fire reporting
All fires in a licensed facility in Wisconsin must be reported to the Department of Health Services within 72 hours. To report a fire, complete and submit the Health Care Facility Fire Report, F-62500.
For questions regarding fire reporting, contact DQA Fire Authority:
- Email dhsdqaplanreview@dhs.wisconsin.gov
- Call 608-266-8016
Additional information is provided in DQA numbered memo 23-002 (PDF).