Bill
AB 212
Creates an out-of-state telehealth provider registration to let active, unencumbered clinicians treat Wisconsin patients remotely, with insurance, reporting, and oversight.
Status snapshot
- Introduced: April 23, 2025 (Assembly Representatives Gustafson et al.; cosponsored by Senators Stafsholt and Quinn)
- Committee activity: Referred to Committee on Health, Aging and Long‑Term Care; public hearing May 14, 2025; fiscal estimate received June 16, 2025.
- Amendments: Assembly Amendment 1 (offered Oct 29, 2025) — recommended for adoption by committee (Ayes 14, Noes 0); Assembly Amendment 2 offered Nov 25, 2025.
- Committee recommendation: Passage as amended recommended by Health, Aging & Long‑Term Care Committee (Nov 20, 2025; Ayes 9, Noes 5).
(Note: some bill-history entries are duplicative; the summary below reflects the bill text and amendment memos available.)
Purpose and intent
- Create a streamlined registration pathway allowing health care providers who hold active, unencumbered credentials in other U.S. states/territories to deliver telehealth services to patients located in Wisconsin, while preserving Wisconsin scope‑of‑practice rules and consumer protections.
Key provisions
- New statute (proposed s. 440.18) establishing an out‑of‑state telehealth provider registration.
- Eligibility criteria for registration:
- Holds an active, unencumbered license/credential in another U.S. state, D.C., or territory that authorizes substantially similar services to those permitted in Wisconsin.
- No disciplinary action in the five years immediately prior to application that resulted in limitation, suspension, or revocation of the out‑of‑state credential.
- Designates an agent for service of process in Wisconsin.
- Submits application on department form and pays the applicable fee under s. 440.05(2).
- Demonstrates compliance with malpractice insurance requirement (see below).
- Malpractice insurance:
- Registrants must maintain malpractice liability insurance covering services provided to Wisconsin patients when comparable Wisconsin practitioners are required by law to carry such coverage; amounts to match those specified under current state law.
- Assembly Amendment 1 clarified that all telehealth registrants must maintain the required insurance and added a veterans’ fee waiver eligibility for registration.
- Practice limits:
- Registered telehealth providers may only provide services remotely to patients located in Wisconsin; they may not open a physical office or provide in‑person care in Wisconsin unless they obtain the appropriate Wisconsin credential.
- Oversight, reporting, and discipline:
- Registrants must notify DSPS or the applicable credentialing board within five business days of any restrictions or disciplinary actions taken or initiated against their credential in any jurisdiction.
- DSPS/boards may take disciplinary action against registrants for failures to notify, violations of the statute, or conduct that would constitute grounds for discipline under Wisconsin law.
- Under Amendment 1, failure to timely notify of adverse actions requires permanent revocation of the telehealth registration.
- Transparency:
- DSPS must publish a list of registered out‑of‑state telehealth providers on its website, including: name, occupation, summary of training/education, out‑of‑state credential details (including ID number), specialty, five‑year disciplinary history, malpractice insurer and policy limits, and the designated in‑state agent for service.
Who is affected
- Primary: Out‑of‑state health care providers who wish to offer telehealth services to Wisconsin patients.
- State regulators: Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) and applicable credentialing boards (administration of registration, oversight, discipline, and public posting).
- Wisconsin patients: potentially increased telehealth access to out‑of‑state providers.
- Insurers and credentialing administrators: may be affected by verification, reporting, and malpractice coverage requirements.
Procedural / fiscal notes
- The bill authorizes fees under existing statute (s. 440.05(2)) to cover registration; Assembly Amendment 1 makes technical fee classification changes and provides a veterans’ waiver for the telehealth registration fee.
- A fiscal estimate was prepared (received June 16, 2025); details are not included in the available documents but administrative costs would relate to application processing, website publication, monitoring, and disciplinary actions.
Overall effect
- Establishes a formal, regulated pathway for qualified out‑of‑state clinicians to provide telehealth to Wisconsin patients while maintaining state scope‑of‑practice limits, malpractice coverage requirements, and disciplinary oversight intended to protect patient safety and ensure transparency.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
Sign in to ask a question.
