WisconsinHealth care providers may offer insured patients prompt-payment discounts
Insured patients may receive optional discounts for paying promptly, capped at 15% and tied to collection savings, when providers meet safeguards and respect federal law and insurance contracts.
What it does
Providers may offer insured patients optional prompt-payment discounts of up to 15%, tied to collection savings. They must meet safeguards, cannot shift costs to others, and must follow federal law and insurance contracts unless the contract parties agree otherwise.
Argument forPatients could pay less when providers offer discounts tied to the money they save by collecting payments promptly.
Argument againstLimits on public advertising could make discounts harder for patients to discover, even though providers must post their policies online.
More detail
Health care providers may offer discounts for prompt payment when they meet all required safeguards. Discounts are optional and cover insured patients. They cannot conflict with federal law. Insurance contract terms still apply unless the parties agree otherwise. Discounts must reasonably reflect savings in collection costs and cannot exceed 15% of the fee owed. Providers must offer discounts without regard to the patient's insurer or reason for seeking care. Providers must notify insurers by posting their current discount policy online. Other public advertising is barred unless required by law. Providers cannot shift discount costs to others or include discounts in agreements to reduce prices for other payers unless state or federal law allows those agreements. Providers cannot give discounts before a service is scheduled or outside normal dealings with patients, such as scheduling, billing, and arranging payment.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 6Published 4-3-2026Latest
- Apr 6Report approved by the Governor Tony Evers on 4-2-2026. 2025 Wisconsin Act 147Became Law
- Apr 2Presented to the Governor on 4-2-2026To Governor
- Feb 26Representative Subeck added as a cosponsor
- Feb 25Report correctly enrolledMinor
- Feb 25LRB correction
- Feb 23Received from Assembly concurred inMinor
- Feb 19Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 19Read a third time and concurred inPassed House
- Feb 19Rules suspended
- Feb 19Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Feb 19Read a second timeMinor
- Feb 18Made a special order of business at 11:33 AM on 2-19-2026 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 14
- Feb 18Referred to committee on RulesMinor
- Feb 12Received from SenateMinor
- Feb 11Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 11Read a third time and passedPassed Senate
- Feb 11Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Feb 11Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Feb 11Read a second timeMinor
- Feb 11Senator Ratcliff added as a coauthor
- Feb 9Placed on calendar 2-11-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Feb 3Available for scheduling
- Vote recorded Report passage recommended by Committee on Health, Ayes 5, Noes 0. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 3Report passage recommended by Committee on Health, Ayes 5, Noes 0Minor
- Feb 3Executive action taken
- Jan 29Public hearing held
- Jan 14Read first time and referred to Committee on HealthMinor
- Jan 14Introduced by Senators Cabral-Guevara, Feyen, Marklein, Spreitzer and Stafsholt; cosponsored by Representatives Moses, Swearingen, Behnke, Callahan, Kreibich, Kurtz, Murphy, Mursau, Nedweski, Novak, O'Connor, VanderMeer, Zimmerman and KnodlIntroduced
Healthcare