MedicaidAdministrativeMedium impact
Requirements Regarding the Confidentiality and Proper Disposal of Health Care and Related Records
Wisconsin Medicaid (ForwardHealth)·WI·Medical Policy
We identified it
Jun 20, 2026
Summary
This policy reminds healthcare providers of federal HIPAA and Wisconsin state requirements for confidentially handling and properly disposing of protected health information (PHI). Records must be shredded or destroyed so they cannot be reconstructed, with violations carrying penalties up to $1.5 million per year federally or $1,000 per incident under Wisconsin law.
Action Required
Immediately: Review and ensure proper PHI disposal procedures are in place. Billing team must verify that paper records are shredded and electronic media is cleared/purged according to NIST guidelines before disposal. Establish policies for protecting PHI even after ending program participation. Failure to comply may result in fines up to $1.5 million federally or $1,000 per incident under Wisconsin law.