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State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
August 8, 2025
The Honorable, the Senate:
hist207927I am vetoing Senate Bill 4 in its entirety. This bill relates to direct primary care agreements, which are arrangements where a healthcare provider agrees to provide primary care services to a patient in exchange for a subscription fee.
Under the bill, requirements would be established for a valid direct primary care agreement and valid direct primary care agreements would be exempt from Wisconsin's insurance laws. The bill also provides that a healthcare provider would be prohibited from declining to enter into or terminating a direct primary care agreement based solely on the patient's health status. A healthcare provider may only decline to accept a patient for a direct primary care agreement if the provider's practice has reached maximum capacity or if the patient's medical condition prevents the provider from providing the appropriate care. A provider may only terminate a direct primary care agreement if the patient (or patient's employer) fails to pay the subscription fee, if the patient repeatedly fails to adhere to the recommended treatment plan, if the patient has performed an act of fraud related to the agreement, if the patient is abusive and presents an emotional or physical danger to staff or other patients, if the provider discontinues operation under direct primary care agreements, or if the provider believes the relationship is no longer therapeutic due to a dysfunctional relationship between the provider and the patient.
I am again vetoing this bill in its entirety because I object to the Legislature failing to provide sufficient protections for patients receiving care under direct primary care agreements from being discriminated against and potentially losing access to their healthcare. I previously raised similar concerns when I vetoed earlier iterations of this legislation five years ago-concerns the Legislature has declined to satisfactorily address in the bill that is now before me and despite having ample opportunity.
Healthcare should not be a privilege afforded only to the healthy, the wealthy, and the well connected. Every Wisconsinite should be able to get the healthcare they need when and where they need it-and without fear of discrimination.
I welcome the Legislature revisiting this legislation and the opportunity to enact a version of this bill that sufficiently addresses my concerns.
Respectfully submitted,
TONY EVERS
Governor
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Referrals and Receipt of Committee Reports Concerning Proposed Administrative Rules
The committee on Licensing, Regulatory Reform, State and Federal Affairs reported and recommended:
Relating to Mobile Establishments.
hist207912Referred to the joint committee for review of Administrative Rules, August 11, 2025. Relating to definitions.
hist207914Referred to the joint committee for review of Administrative Rules, August 11, 2025. CHRIS KAPENGA
Chairperson
