Section 120.21. Guide to Wisconsin hospitals.

 

(1)   Data sources. The guide to Wisconsin hospitals shall be based on data derived from all of the following sources:

(a) The annual hospital fiscal year survey.

(b) The annual survey of hospitals.

(2)   Contents.

(a) General . The guide to Wisconsin hospitals shall present descriptive financial, utilization and staffing information about individual Wisconsin hospitals, as well as summary and trend information for selected aggregate data.

(b) Hospital information . The guide shall present and interpret all of the following information for all Wisconsin hospitals individually and in the aggregate:

1. Income statement data.

2. Payer source.

3. Hospital type.

4. Average inpatient stay.

5. Number of outpatient visits.

6. Balance sheet data.

7. Occupancy rate.

8. Number and type of beds set up and staffed.

9. Number of discharges.

10. Number of inpatient days.

11. Average census.

12. Number of full-time equivalent staff by occupational category.

13. Type of inpatient service.

14. Type of ancillary or other hospital service.

15. Hospital analysis area.

16. Hospital volume group.

(c) Explanatory information. In addition to the information specified under par. (a) , the guide shall present all of the following information:

1. A glossary of terms used in the guide.

2. Caveats, data limitations and technical notes associated with the guide.

3. A copy of the department's annual survey of hospitals.

4. A copy of the department's hospital fiscal survey.

(3)   Report dissemination. The department shall distribute the paper version of the report at no charge to the governor, the legislature and a board-approved list of individuals and agencies. The department shall make the paper version of the report available for purchase by others. The department shall make available from the department's website an electronic version of the report at no charge.

(4)   Suggested uses of report. The guide may be used in a variety of ways. Examples of how to use the guide include all of the following:

(a) As a tool to evaluate the fiscal health and operating efficiency of hospitals in Wisconsin.

(b) In conjunction with other department data on hospital inpatient discharges and ambulatory surgeries, to evaluate levels of reimbursement or coverage provisions.

(c) In conjunction with other information, to determine patterns of hospital service availability statewide. Service availability patterns, in turn, can help policy-makers and others identify mechanisms that may enhance service accessibility and availability, such as targeting reimbursement incentives or establishing new or additional health service programs.

(d) As a resource document for persons wishing to conduct research or collect information on hospital utilization, services and finances.

History: Cr. Register, December, 2000, No. 540 , eff. 1-1-01; CR 03-033 : am. (1) (a) Register December 2003 No. 576 , eff. 1-1-04.