WI · guidance
Wis. ForwardHealth Online Handbook, Hospice, Topic #204
Record Retention
Providers are required to retain documentation, including medical and financial records, for a period of not less than five years
from the date of payment, except RHCs (rural health clinics), which are required to retain records for a minimum of six years from
the date of payment.
According to Wis. Admin. Code § DHS 106.02(9)(d), providers are required to retain all evidence of billing information.
Ending participation as a provider does not end a provider's responsibility to retain and provide access to fully maintained records
unless an alternative arrangement of record retention and maintenance has been established.
Maintaining Confidentiality of Records
Ending participation in a ForwardHealth program does not end a provider's responsibility to protect the confidentiality of health
care and related records containing PHI (protected health information).
Providers who no longer participate in a ForwardHealth program are responsible for ensuring that they and their business
associates/partners continue to comply with all federal and state laws regarding protecting the confidentiality of members' PHI.
Once record retention requirements expire, records must be disposed of in such a manner that they cannot be reconstructed—
according to federal and state regulations— in order to avoid penalties. For more information on the proper disposal of records,
refer to Confidentiality and Proper Disposal of Records.
All ForwardHealth providers and their business associates/partners who cease practice or go out of business should ensure that
they have policies and procedures in place to protect all health care and related records from any unauthorized disclosure and use.
Reviews and Audits
Wisconsin DHS (Department of Health Services) periodically reviews provider records. DHS has the right to inspect, review,
audit, and photocopy the records. Providers are required to permit access to any requested record(s), whether in written,
electronic, or micrographic form.
Provenance
- Source
- www.forwardhealth.wi.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-02
- Edition
- forwardhealth-hospice-2026-10-01
- Content hash
c341e61f0ca314461716caeacb6494cb6ce05d5cac9995b2ce697ff4b28bcfc5
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