02/17/2026
ADVOCACY ALERT: Action Needed on AB 598 (Admissions Consent Bill)
This Tuesday, February 17th, the full State Assembly will vote on AB 598, formerly the Patient’s Representative bill—now renamed Admissions Consent.
A broad coalition of legal, aging, and disability advocates warned legislators back in November that this bill raises serious concerns. AB 598 would give Wisconsin the broadest “Next of Kin”-style powers in the nation to a person chosen by the hospital, not by the patient.
Here’s what the bill does:
🔹 Allows hospitals to pick a Patient’s Representative when someone temporarily can’t make medical decisions—based on a statutory list. Some exclusions exist (e.g., estranged family, known abusers, spouses in divorce proceedings), but hospitals still hold the selection power.
🔹 Grants the Patient’s Representative sweeping authority over a person’s medical decisions, living arrangements, and finances — without court oversight.
There is no requirement for accounting how money is spent and no clear way to remove a representative who is acting improperly.
🔹 Allows this authority to continue indefinitely, even after the patient might regain capacity or if a Power of Attorney or guardianship already exists.
🔹 Creates verification problems. There is no statewide system to confirm whether someone is a Patient’s Representative, if their authority is still valid, or if it should end.
🔹 Creates conflicts with existing financial decision-makers like POA-Finance, Conservators, Guardians of Estate, or joint account holders—with no guidance on how conflicts are resolved.
🔹 Does not require re-evaluation to determine if the patient has regained the ability to make their own decisions—making it difficult for individuals to have their rights restored.
🔹 Fails to explain what happens if a Patient’s Representative dies, becomes incapacitated, or wants to step down.
🔹 Provides no data collection, meaning the public will have no insight into how often hospitals use Patient Representatives, whether they are used to speed discharges, or whether any abuse occurs.
Advocates are hearing that a third amendment may be introduced, but no language has been released, and none of the known concerns have been addressed.
***What YOU Can Do***
Your legislators need to hear from you before they vote.
📞 Contact your State Senator and State Assembly Representative to share your thoughts on AB 598. (https://legis.wisconsin.gov/)
✍️ Contact the Governor so he knows where you stand if the bill reaches his desk. (https://evers.wi.gov/Pages/Connect.aspx)
Your voice matters. Let’s work together to protect the rights and safety of Wisconsin residents.
