Chippewa Valley Times

A new bill authored by State Sen. Rob Stafsholt in the Wisconsin Senate seeks to authorize and regulate out-of-state health care providers offering telehealth services in Wisconsin, according to the Wisconsin State Senate.

According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "registration of out-of-state health care providers to provide telehealth services. (FE)".

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill authorizes out-of-state health care providers to offer telehealth services within Wisconsin after registering with the Department of Safety and Professional Services or the relevant credentialing board. The provider must hold an active, unencumbered credential from another U.S. state or territory that allows similar health services. They cannot have faced disciplinary actions affecting their credential in the last five years and must designate a service agent in Wisconsin. Registered providers cannot establish physical offices or provide in-person care without an in-state credential and must maintain malpractice insurance comparable to in-state providers. The bill mandates notifying the department of any restrictions or disciplinary actions within five business days and outlines that violators may face disciplinary actions including suspension or revocation of their registration. It requires the department to list registered providers on its website, detailing credentials, specialty, and malpractice information. The act becomes effective on the first day of the seventh month following publication.

The bill was co-authored by Representative Nate L. Gustafson (Republican-55th District). It was co-sponsored by Representative Benjamin Franklin (Republican-88th District), Representative Chanz J. Green (Republican-74th District), and Representative Rick Gundrum (Republican-58th District), along five other co-sponsors.

Rob Stafsholt has authored or co-authored another 10 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.

Stafsholt, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2021 to represent the state's 10th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Patty Schachtner.

In Wisconsin, the legislative process starts when a senator, constituent, group, or agency proposes an idea for a bill. After drafting, the bill is introduced, numbered, and referred to a committee for review and public input. If approved, it moves through three readings and votes in both the Senate and Assembly. Once both chambers pass the same version, the bill goes to the governor, who can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Only a small share of bills introduced each session ultimately become law. You can learn more about the Wisconsin legislative process here.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
SB214	04/16/2025	Registration of out-of-state health care providers to provide telehealth services. (FE)
SB158	03/27/2025	County forest administration grant eligibility
SB74	02/26/2025	Ratification of the Social Work Licensure Compact. (FE)