SB719: Bill Text

Prescription drug importation program

The bill requires the commissioner of insurance, in consultation with persons interested in the sale and pricing of prescription drugs and federal officials and agencies, to design and implement a prescription drug importation program for the benefit of and that generates savings for Wisconsin residents. The bill establishes requirements for the program, including all of the following:

1. The commissioner must designate a state agency to become a licensed wholesale distributor or contract with a licensed wholesale distributor and to seek federal certification and approval to import prescription drugs.

2. The program must comply with certain federal regulations and import from Canadian suppliers only prescription drugs that are not brand-name drugs, have fewer than four competitor drugs in this country, and for which importation creates substantial savings.

3. The commissioner must ensure that prescription drugs imported under the program are not distributed, dispensed, or sold outside of Wisconsin.

4. The program must have an audit procedure to ensure the program complies with certain requirements specified in the bill.

Before submitting the proposed program to the federal government for certification, the commissioner must submit the proposed program to the Joint Committee on Finance for its approval.

Pharmacy benefits tool grants

The bill directs OCI to award grants in an amount of up to $500,000 in each fiscal year to health care providers to develop and implement a tool that would allow prescribers to disclose the cost of prescription drugs for patients. The tool must be usable by physicians and other prescribers to determine the cost of prescription drugs for their patients. Any health care provider that receives a grant to develop and implement a patient pharmacy benefits tool is required to contribute matching funds equal to at least 50 percent of the total grant awarded.

Prescription drug purchasing entity study

The bill requires OCI to conduct a study on the viability of creating or implementing a state prescription drug purchasing entity.

Licensure of pharmacy services administrative organizations

The bill requires that a pharmacy services administrative organization (PSAO) be licensed by OCI. Under the bill, a PSAO is an entity operating in Wisconsin that does all of the following:

1. Contracts with an independent pharmacy to conduct business on the pharmacy's behalf with a third-party payer.

2. Provides at least one administrative service to an independent pharmacy and negotiates and enters into a contract with a third-party payer or pharmacy benefit manager on the pharmacy's behalf.

The bill defines “independent pharmacy" to mean a licensed pharmacy operating in Wisconsin that is under common ownership with no more than two other pharmacies. “Administrative service” is defined to mean assisting with claims or audits, providing centralized payment, performing certification in a specialized care program, providing compliance support, setting flat fees for generic drugs, assisting with store layout, managing inventory, providing marketing support, providing management and analysis of payment and drug dispensing data, or providing resources for retail cash cards. The bill defines “third-party payer” to mean an entity operating in Wisconsin that pays or insures health, medical, or prescription drug expenses on behalf of beneficiaries. The bill uses the current law definition of “pharmacy benefit manager," which is an entity doing business in Wisconsin that contracts to administer or manage prescription drug benefits on behalf of an insurer or other entity that provides prescription drug benefits to Wisconsin residents.

To obtain the license required by the bill, a person must apply to OCI and provide the contact information for the applicant and a contact person, evidence of financial responsibility of at least $1,000,000, and any other information required by the commissioner. Under the bill, the license fee is set by the commissioner, and the term of a license is two years.

The bill also requires that a PSAO disclose to OCI the extent of any ownership or control by an entity that provides pharmacy services; provides prescription drug or device services; or manufactures, sells, or distributes prescription drugs, biologicals, or medical devices. The PSAO must notify OCI within five days of any material change in its ownership or control related to such an entity.

Licensure of pharmaceutical representatives

The bill requires a pharmaceutical representative to be licensed by OCI and to display the pharmaceutical representative's license during each visit with a health care professional. The bill defines “pharmaceutical representative” to mean an individual who markets or promotes pharmaceuticals to health care professionals on behalf of a pharmaceutical manufacturer for compensation.

The term of a license issued under the bill is one year, and the license is renewable. The application to obtain or renew a license must include the applicant's contact information, a description of the type of work in which the applicant will engage, the license fee, an attestation that professional education requirements are met, proof that any penalties and other fees are paid, and any other information required by OCI. Under the bill, the license fee is set by the commissioner. The bill requires the pharmaceutical representative to report, within four business days, any change to the information provided on the application or any material change to the pharmaceutical representative's business operations or other information required to be reported under the bill.

The bill requires that a pharmaceutical representative complete a professional education course prior to becoming licensed and to annually complete at least five hours of continuing professional education courses. The coursework must include, at a minimum, training in ethical standards, whistleblower protections, and the laws and rules applicable to pharmaceutical marketing. The bill directs the commissioner to regularly publish a list of courses that fulfill the education requirements. Under the bill, a course provider must disclose any conflict of interest, and the courses may not be provided by the employer of a pharmaceutical representative or be funded by the pharmaceutical industry or a third party funded by the industry.

The bill requires that, no later than June 1 of each year, a pharmaceutical representative report to OCI the pharmaceutical representative's total number of contacts with health care professionals in Wisconsin, the specialties of those health care professionals, the location and duration of each contact, the pharmaceuticals discussed, and the value of any item provided to a health care professional. The bill directs the commissioner to publish the information on OCI's website, without identifying individual health care professionals.

The bill requires that a pharmaceutical representative, during each contact with a health care professional, disclose the wholesale acquisition cost of any pharmaceuticals discussed and the names of at least three generic prescription drugs from the same therapeutic class.

The bill directs the commissioner to promulgate ethical standards for pharmaceutical representatives. Additionally, the bill prohibits a pharmaceutical representative from engaging in deceptive or misleading marketing of a pharmaceutical product; using a title or designation that could reasonably lead a licensed health care professional, or an employee or representative of such a professional, to believe that the pharmaceutical representative is licensed to practice in a health occupation unless the pharmaceutical representative holds a license to practice in that health occupation; or attending a patient examination without the patient's consent.

An individual who violates any of the requirements under this bill is subject to a fine, and the individual's license may be suspended or revoked. An individual whose license is revoked must wait at least two years before applying for a new license.

Insulin safety net programs

The bill requires insulin manufacturers to establish a program under which qualifying Wisconsin residents who are in urgent need of insulin and are uninsured or have limited insurance coverage can be dispensed insulin at a pharmacy. Under the program, if a qualifying individual in urgent need of insulin provides a pharmacy with a form attesting that the individual meets the program's eligibility requirements, specified proof of residency, and a valid insulin prescription, the pharmacy must dispense a 30-day supply of insulin to the individual and may charge the individual a copayment of no more than $35. The pharmacy may submit an electronic payment claim for the insulin's acquisition cost to the manufacturer or agree to receive a replacement of the same insulin in the amount dispensed.

The bill also requires that each insulin manufacturer establish a patient assistance program to make insulin available to any qualifying Wisconsin resident who, among other requirements, is uninsured or has limited insurance coverage and whose family income does not exceed 400 percent of the federal poverty line. Under the bill, an individual must apply to participate in a manufacturer's program. If the manufacturer determines that the individual meets the program's eligibility requirements, the manufacturer must issue the individual a statement of eligibility, which is valid for 12 months and may be renewed. Under the bill, if an individual with a statement of eligibility and valid insulin prescription requests insulin from a pharmacy, the pharmacy must submit an order to the manufacturer, who must then provide a 90-day supply of insulin at no charge to the individual or pharmacy. The pharmacy may charge the individual a copayment of no more than $50. Under the bill, a manufacturer is not required to issue a statement of eligibility if the individual has prescription drug coverage through an individual or group health plan and the manufacturer determines that the individual's insulin needs are better addressed through the manufacturer's copayment assistance program. In such case, the manufacturer must provide the individual with the necessary drug coupons, and the individual may not be required to pay more than a $50 copayment for a 90-day supply of insulin.

Under the bill, if the manufacturer determines that an individual is not eligible for the patient assistance program, the individual may file an appeal with OCI. The bill directs OCI to establish procedures for deciding appeals. Under the bill, OCI must issue a decision within 10 days, and that decision is final.

The bill requires that insulin manufacturers annually report to OCI certain information, including the number of individuals served and the cost of insulin dispensed under the programs and that OCI annually report to the governor and the legislature on the programs. The bill also directs OCI to conduct public outreach and develop an information sheet about the programs, conduct satisfaction surveys of individuals and pharmacies that participate in the programs, and report to the governor and the legislature on the surveys by July 1, 2026. Additionally, the bill requires that OCI develop a training program for health care navigators to assist individuals in accessing appropriate long-term insulin options and maintain a list of trained navigators.

The bill provides that a manufacturer that fails to comply with the bill's provisions may be assessed a penalty of up to $200,000 per month of noncompliance, which increases to $400,000 per month if the manufacturer continues to be in noncompliance after six months and to $600,000 per month if the manufacturer continues to be in noncompliance after one year. The bill's requirements do not apply to manufacturers with annual insulin sales revenue in Wisconsin of no more than $2,000,000 or to insulin that costs less than a specified dollar amount.

This proposal may contain a health insurance mandate requiring a social and financial impact report under s. 601.423, stats.

Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB719,1 Section 1 . 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table

SB719,2 Section 2 . 20.145 (1) (a) of the statutes is created to read:

SB719,7,5 20.145 (1) (a) State operations. The amounts in the schedule for general program operations.

SB719,3 Section 3 . 49.45 (18) (ac) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB719,8,9 49.45 (18) (ac) Except as provided in pars. (am) to (d), and subject to par. (ag), any person eligible for medical assistance under s. 49.46, 49.468, or 49.47, or for the benefits under s. 49.46 (2) (a) and (b) under s. 49.471, shall pay up to the maximum amounts allowable under 42 CFR 447.53 to 447.58 for purchases of services provided under s. 49.46 (2). The service provider shall collect the specified or allowable copayment, coinsurance, or deductible, unless the service provider determines that the cost of collecting the copayment, coinsurance, or deductible exceeds the amount to be collected. The department shall reduce payments to each provider by the amount of the specified or allowable copayment, coinsurance, or deductible. No provider may deny care or services because the recipient is unable to share costs, but an inability to share costs specified in this subsection does not relieve the recipient of liability for these costs.

SB719,4 Section 4 . 49.45 (18) (ag) of the statutes is repealed.

SB719,5 Section 5 . 49.45 (18) (b) 8. of the statutes is created to read:

SB719,8,12 49.45 (18) (b) 8. Prescription drugs.

SB719,6 Section 6 . 255.056 (2g) of the statutes is created to read:

SB719,8,19 255.056 (2g) The department may partner with out-of-state drug repository programs. The department may authorize a medical facility or pharmacy that elects to participate in the drug repository program to receive drugs or supplies from out of state, and the department may authorize an out-of-state entity that participates in a partner out-of-state drug repository program to receive drugs or supplies from Wisconsin.

SB719,7 Section 7 . 450.085 (3) of the statutes is created to read:

SB719,8,23 450.085 (3) An applicant for renewal of a license under s. 450.08 (2) (a) may count, for purposes of the continuing education requirement under sub. (1), up to 10 hours spent as a volunteer at a free and charitable clinic approved by the board.

SB719,8 Section 8 . 601.31 (1) (nv) of the statutes is created to read:

SB719,9,2 601.31 (1) (nv) For issuing or renewing a license as a pharmaceutical representative under s. 632.863, an amount to be set by the commissioner by rule.

SB719,9 Section 9 . 601.31 (1) (nw) of the statutes is created to read:

SB719,9,6 601.31 (1) (nw) For issuing or renewing a license as a pharmacy services administrative organization under s. 632.864, an amount to be set by the commissioner by rule.

SB719,10 Section 10 . 601.41 (13) of the statutes is created to read:

SB719,9,13 601.41 (13) Value-based diabetes medication pilot project. The commissioner shall develop a pilot project to direct a pharmacy benefit manager, as defined in s. 632.865 (1) (c), and a pharmaceutical manufacturer to create a value-based, sole-source arrangement to reduce the costs of prescription medication used to treat diabetes. The commissioner may promulgate rules to implement this subsection.

SB719,11 Section 11 . 601.415 (14) of the statutes is created to read:

SB719,9,20 601.415 (14) Patient pharmacy benefits tool. (a) From the appropriation under s. 20.145 (1) (a), beginning in the 2024-25 fiscal year, the office shall award grants in a total amount of up to $500,000 each fiscal year to health care providers to develop and implement a tool for prescribers to disclose the cost of prescription drugs for patients. The tool must be usable by physicians and other prescribers to determine the cost of prescription drugs for their patients.

SB719,9,22 (b) Any health care provider that receives a grant under par. (a) shall contribute matching funds equal to at least 50 percent of the grant amount awarded.

SB719,12 Section 12 . 601.575 of the statutes is created to read:

SB719,9,25 601.575 Prescription drug importation program. (1) Importation program requirements. The commissioner, in consultation with persons interested in the sale and pricing of prescription drugs and appropriate officials and agencies of the federal government, shall design and implement a prescription drug importation program for the benefit of residents of this state, that generates savings for residents, and that satisfies all of the following:

SB719,10,7 (a) The commissioner shall designate a state agency to become a licensed wholesale distributor or to contract with a licensed wholesale distributor and shall seek federal certification and approval to import prescription drugs.

SB719,10,9 (b) The program shall comply with relevant requirements of 21 USC 384, including safety and cost savings requirements.

SB719,10,11 (c) The program shall import prescription drugs from Canadian suppliers regulated under any appropriate Canadian or provincial laws.

SB719,10,13 (d) The program shall have a process to sample the purity, chemical composition, and potency of imported prescription drugs.

SB719,10,17 (e) The program shall import only those prescription drugs for which importation creates substantial savings for residents of this state and only those prescription drugs that are not brand-name drugs and that have fewer than 4 competitor prescription drugs in the United States.

SB719,10,19 (f) The commissioner shall ensure that prescription drugs imported under the program are not distributed, dispensed, or sold outside of this state.

SB719,10,20 (g) The program shall ensure all of the following:

SB719,10,22 1. Participation by any pharmacy or health care provider in the program is voluntary.

SB719,10,24 2. Any pharmacy or health care provider participating in the program has the appropriate license or other credential in this state.

SB719,11,3 3. Any pharmacy or health care provider participating in the program charges a consumer or health plan the actual acquisition cost of the imported prescription drug that is dispensed.

SB719,11,7 (h) The program shall ensure that a payment by a health plan or health insurance policy for a prescription drug imported under the program reimburses no more than the actual acquisition cost of the imported prescription drug that is dispensed.

SB719,11,9 (i) The program shall ensure that any health plan or health insurance policy participating in the program does all of the following:

SB719,11,11 1. Maintains a formulary and claims payment system with current information on prescription drugs imported under the program.

SB719,11,14 2. Bases cost-sharing amounts for participants or insureds under the plan or policy on no more than the actual acquisition cost of the prescription drug imported under the program that is dispensed to the participant or insured.

SB719,11,17 3. Demonstrates to the commissioner or a state agency designated by the commissioner how premiums under the plan or policy are affected by savings on prescription drugs imported under the program.

SB719,11,20 (j) Any wholesale distributor importing prescription drugs under the program shall limit its profit margin to the amount established by the commissioner or a state agency designated by the commissioner.

SB719,11,22 (k) The program may not import any generic prescription drug that would violate federal patent laws on branded products in the United States.

SB719,12,2 (L) The program shall comply with tracking and tracing requirements of 21 USC 360eee and 360eee-1, to the extent practical and feasible, before the prescription drug to be imported comes into the possession of this state's wholesale distributor and fully after the prescription drug to be imported is in the possession of this state's wholesale distributor.

SB719,12,4 (m) The program shall establish a fee or other mechanism to finance the program that does not jeopardize significant savings to residents of this state.

SB719,12,5 (n) The program shall have an audit function that ensures all of the following:

SB719,12,7 1. The commissioner has a sound methodology to determine the most cost-effective prescription drugs to include in the program.

SB719,12,9 2. The commissioner has a process in place to select Canadian suppliers that are high quality, high performing, and in full compliance with Canadian laws.

SB719,12,11 3. Prescription drugs imported under the program are pure, unadulterated, potent, and safe.

SB719,12,12 4. The program is complying with the requirements of this subsection.

SB719,12,14 5. The program is adequately financed to support administrative functions of the program while generating significant cost savings to residents of this state.

SB719,12,16 6. The program does not put residents of this state at a higher risk than if the program did not exist.

SB719,12,18 7. The program provides and is projected to continue to provide substantial cost savings to residents of this state.

SB719,12,21 (2) Anticompetitive behavior. The commissioner, in consultation with the attorney general, shall identify the potential for and monitor anticompetitive behavior in industries affected by a prescription drug importation program.