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Nursing homes in Wisconsin

Wisconsin has 323 Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing homes in 68 counties, with 24,756 certified beds in total. The state average CMS overall rating is 3.0 of 5 against a national average of 3.0, and homes report 4.21 nurse staffing hours per resident per day against 3.86 nationally.

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Wisconsin against the national average

MeasureWisconsinUnited States
Overall rating (1 to 5)3.03.0
Health inspection rating2.82.8
Staffing rating3.62.9
Nurse staffing hours per resident per day4.213.86
Registered nurse hours per resident per day0.990.69
Nursing staff turnover46.9%45.8%
Health deficiencies in the latest inspection9.59.2
Fines per home, past three years0.90.9

Averages are published by CMS. Health inspection ratings are set within each state, so compare them across states with care.

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Cities with at least 3 homes, by the city in each home's CMS address. Every home is also listed by county below.

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Nursing home rules and contacts in Wisconsin

Federal rules on residents' rights, discharge notices and Medicare coverage are the same in every state. These are the offices to call in Wisconsin, and the rules the state sets for itself.

Minimum staffing
Wisconsin law sets minimum daily hours of care by registered nurses, licensed practical nurses or nurse aides for each resident: 3.25 hours for intensive skilled nursing care (at least 0.65 hour by an RN or LPN), 2.5 hours for skilled nursing care (at least 0.5 hour by an RN or LPN), and 2.0 hours for intermediate or limited nursing care (at least 0.4 hour by an RN or LPN). Feeding assistants do not count. This does not apply to homes that primarily serve people with developmental disabilities. The director of nursing must be a full-time RN. Skilled nursing facilities need a charge nurse on duty at all times, with RN charge-nurse requirements that grow with the number of skilled-care residents (an RN at all times at 100 or more). The state enforces the hours daily, but may enforce them weekly for a home that cannot meet daily levels because of a 1987 union contract or a shortage of nurses or nurse aides. DHS may grant waivers or variances of its nursing home rules (ch. DHS 132), such as the nursing-staff rules, only if no resident's health, safety or welfare is adversely affected. Source: Wis. Stat. s. 50.04(2)(b)-(d); Wis. Admin. Code DHS 132.62(2)-(3); DHS 132.21
Personal needs allowance (Medicaid)
Wisconsin Medicaid lets a nursing home resident keep up to $55 a month of income for personal needs; the rest of the resident's income goes toward the cost of care, after amounts allowed under DHS rules (such as a spouse's allowance under the spousal impoverishment rules). The $55 amount took effect July 1, 2024 (it was $45 before). A resident receiving a veterans pension under 38 USC 5503(d) may keep that pension amount if it is greater. Source: Wis. Stat. s. 49.45(7)(a); DHS Medicaid Eligibility Handbook (EBD) 39.4.3
Holding a bed during a hospital stay or leave
Wisconsin Medicaid pays a nursing home to hold a Medicaid resident's bed during a hospital stay of up to 15 consecutive days per stay (no limit on the number of stays) and during therapeutic leave, if the home's occupancy was 94% or more in the prior calendar month (homes closing or reducing beds may get an approved exemption). Bed hold is not paid for residents receiving Medicare Part A nursing facility services or in approved traumatic brain injury stays. Therapeutic leave must be approved in the prescribing provider's plan of care. A resident cannot be administratively discharged unless the hospital stay is longer than 15 days. Covered bed-hold days the state does not pay for may not be billed to the resident or family. State licensing rules require a home to hold the bed of a resident on leave or in the hospital who has said they intend to return under the home's admission terms for bed hold, until the resident returns or waives the hold, for up to 15 days. Charges for holding the bed are set out in the admission terms. Source: Wis. Admin. Code DHS 107.09(4)(j); DHS 132.53(5); Wisconsin Medicaid State Plan Attachment 4.19-D s. 7.80 (TN 24-0012); Wis. Stat. s. 49.498(4)(d)
Visiting
Wisconsin law gives nursing home residents the right to private and unrestricted communications, including private visits, unless medically contraindicated as documented by a physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse; communications with public officials or the resident's attorney may never be restricted. Residents have the right to privacy for visits by a spouse or domestic partner. Adults may name the people they wish to see, and the home may not deny those people visits during regular visiting hours except for listed reasons (such as danger to the patient or interference with operations). A home's visiting policy must treat a registered domestic partner like a spouse. A spouse, adult child, adult grandchild, parent or sibling who is denied visitation may petition a court to order it; the court may not order visitation if the resident, while able to decide, does not want it, or if it is not in the resident's best interest. Source: Wis. Stat. ss. 50.09(1)(a), (f)1.; 146.95(2); 50.04(2d); 50.085
Discharge notice
Wisconsin rules require at least 30 days' notice, with reasons, of a transfer or discharge that the resident or guardian did not request, to the resident, the resident's physician and, if known, a family member, legal counsel, guardian or other responsible person, unless the resident's continued presence endangers the health, safety or welfare of the resident or others. The notice must give the name, address and phone number of the Board on Aging and Long Term Care and state the right to appeal. Except in danger situations or respite stays, a planning conference must be held at least 14 days before an involuntary move. To appeal, the resident sends a letter to the nearest DHS Division of Quality Assurance regional office within 7 days after receiving the notice, with a copy to the administrator; a timely appeal stops the move until DQA decides. This appeal process does not apply when the resident's continued presence poses a danger to the health, safety or welfare of the resident or others. DQA decides within 14 days after the home's justification, and either side may then appeal to the Division of Hearings and Appeals within 5 days. Source: Wis. Admin. Code DHS 132.53(3), (6); Wis. Stat. ss. 49.498(4)(b), 50.098
When private funds run out
In a Medicaid-certified nursing home, if a resident becomes eligible for Medicaid after admission, only charges allowed under Medicaid may be counted when the home seeks to transfer or discharge the resident for nonpayment. A resident may not be involuntarily discharged for nonpayment if the resident needs ongoing care, has not been accepted elsewhere, and their Medicaid funding is cut because the home does not provide the level or type of care needed or is found to be an institution for mental diseases. Homes must offer the same basic services to all residents regardless of payment source and may not assign residents to a wing or area based on source or amount of payment (Medicare-certified parts excepted). Source: Wis. Stat. ss. 49.498(4)(a)5., 50.09(1)(j); Wis. Admin. Code DHS 132.31(1)(p), 132.53(2)(b)2.

Checked against Wisconsin state sources on Oct 11, 2026. Rules and phone numbers change, so confirm with the office listed. For the rules that apply in every state, see residents' rights, how to file a complaint and how Medicaid pays for a nursing home.

Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog, nursing home datasets processed Sep 1, 2026.