Chapter 450

450.115(2)(b) (b) The transfer of a prescription drug by a person that lawfully possesses the prescription drug to a drug disposal program that is authorized under s. 165.65 (2) or (3) or is authorized under federal law, as defined in s. 165.65 (1) (a), and that accepts the prescription drug.

450.115(2)(c) (c) Subject to sub. (4), the possession of a prescription drug under a written authorization described in sub. (3).

450.115(3) (3) 

450.115(3)(a) (a) A guardian may grant written authorization to an adult who is related to the guardian’s ward by blood, marriage, or adoption within the 3rd degree of kinship as computed under s. 990.001 (16), or to a domestic partner of the ward under ch. 770, for the disposal of a prescription drug that belongs to the ward.

450.115(3)(b) (b) A personal representative or a trustee may grant written authorization to an adult beneficiary, as defined in s. 701.1102 (1m), of the estate or trust for the disposal of a prescription drug that belongs to the estate or trust.

450.115(3)(c) (c) A person who is a competent adult may grant written authorization to that person’s domestic partner under ch. 770 or to another adult who is related to that person by blood, marriage, or adoption within the 3rd degree of kinship as computed under s. 990.001 (16), for the disposal of a prescription drug that lawfully belongs to that person.

450.115(3)(d) (d) A personal representative, trustee, or an adult beneficiary, as defined in s. 701.1102 (1m), of an estate or trust may grant written authorization to a hospice worker for the disposal of a controlled substance that belongs to the estate or trust.

450.115(4) (4) A written authorization under sub. (3) is valid only to the extent permitted under federal law and only if all of the following conditions are satisfied:

450.115(4)(a) (a) The authorization describes with reasonable specificity each prescription drug or controlled substance that is to be disposed of.

450.115(4)(b) (b) The authorization is in the physical possession of the person authorized to dispose of the prescription drug or controlled substance and each prescription drug or controlled substance described in the authorization is, within 24 hours after the authorization is signed by the person granting the authorization, transferred to a drug disposal program under s. 165.65 or otherwise lawfully disposed of.

450.115(4)(c) (c) The authorization and each prescription drug or controlled substance to be disposed of were obtained without consideration.

450.115 History History: 2013 a. 198; 2015 a. 197; 2017 a. 99.

450.12 450.12 Labeling of prescription drugs and prescription drug products.

450.12(1) (1) In this section:

450.12(1)(a) (a) “Brand name” means the name, other than the generic name, that the labeler of a drug or drug product places on its commercial container at the time of packaging.

450.12(1)(b) (b) “Generic name” means the official or established name given a drug by the U.S. department of health and human services or the U.S. adopted names council.

450.12(2) (2) The manufacturer’s or distributor’s commercial container of every prescription drug or prescription drug product delivered to any pharmacist, practitioner, hospital or nursing home shall bear a label containing the generic name of the drug, if any, the brand name of the drug or drug product, if any, the name and address of the manufacturer of the drug or drug product and, if different from the manufacturer, the name and address of the distributor of the drug or drug product.

450.12(3) (3) Every prescription order or medication profile record shall include the brand name, if any, or the name of the manufacturer or distributor of the drug product dispensed.

450.12(4) (4) This section does not apply with respect to biological products.

450.12 History History: 1985 a. 146; 2017 a. 149.

450.122 450.122 Labeling of biological products.

450.122(1) (1) In this section:

450.122(1)(a) (a) “Brand name” means the name, other than the proper name, that the labeler of a biological product places on its commercial container at the time of packaging.

450.122(1)(b) (b) “Proper name” means the nonproprietary name for a biological product designated by the federal food and drug administration licensure for use upon each package of the product.

450.122(2) (2) The manufacturer’s or distributor’s commercial container of every biological product delivered to any pharmacist, practitioner, hospital, or nursing home shall bear a label containing the proper name of the biological product, the brand name of the biological product, if any, the name and address of the manufacturer of the biological product, and, if different from the manufacturer, the name and address of the distributor of the biological product.

450.122(3) (3) Every prescription order or medication profile record for a biological product shall include the brand name, if any, and the name of the manufacturer of the biological product.

450.122 History History: 2017 a. 149; 2021 a. 238 s. 45.

450.125 450.125 Drugs for animal use. In addition to complying with the other requirements in this chapter for distributing and dispensing, a pharmacist who distributes or dispenses a drug for animal use shall comply with s. 89.068.

450.125 History History: 1991 a. 306; 2015 a. 55.

450.13 450.13 Using drug product equivalent in dispensing prescriptions.

450.13(1e) (1e) Definition. In this section, “drug product equivalent” means a drug product that is designated the therapeutic equivalent of another drug product by the federal food and drug administration as set forth in the latest edition of or supplement to the federal food and drug administration’s Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations.

450.13(1s) (1s) Drug product or equivalent to be used. Except as provided in sub. (2), a pharmacist shall dispense every prescription using either the drug product prescribed or its drug product equivalent, if its drug product equivalent is lower in price to the consumer than the drug product prescribed, and shall inform the consumer of the options available in dispensing the prescription.

450.13(2) (2) Exception. A prescribing practitioner may indicate, by writing on the face of the prescription order or, with respect to a prescription order transmitted electronically, by designating in electronic format the phrase “No substitutions” or words of similar meaning or the initials “N.S.”, that no substitution of the drug product prescribed may be made under sub. (1s). If such indication is made, the pharmacist shall dispense the prescription with the specific drug product prescribed. No preprinted statement regarding drug product substitution may appear on the face of the prescription order.

450.13(3) (3) Refilled prescriptions. Prescriptions dispensed with a drug product equivalent may be refilled with a different drug product equivalent only if the pharmacist informs the consumer of the change.

450.13(4) (4) Limitation on liability. A pharmacist who dispenses a prescription with a drug product equivalent under this section assumes no greater liability than would be incurred had the pharmacist dispensed the prescription with the drug product prescribed.

450.13(5) (5) Use of drug product equivalent in hospitals. Subsections (1s) to (4) do not apply to a pharmacist who dispenses a drug product equivalent that is prescribed for a patient in a hospital if the pharmacist dispenses the drug product equivalent in accordance with written guidelines or procedures previously established by a pharmacy and therapeutics committee of the hospital and approved by the hospital’s medical staff and use of the drug product equivalent has been approved for a patient during the period of the patient’s stay within the hospital by any of the following:

450.13(5)(a) (a) The patient’s individual physician.

450.13(5)(b) (b) The patient’s advanced practice nurse prescriber, if the advanced practice nurse prescriber has entered into a written agreement to collaborate with a physician.

450.13(5)(c) (c) The patient’s physician assistant.

450.13(5m) (5m) Disclosures to consumers.

450.13(5m)(a) (a) Each pharmacy shall post in a prominent place at or near the place where prescriptions are dispensed a sign that clearly describes a pharmacist’s ability under this state’s law to substitute a less expensive drug product equivalent under sub. (1s) unless the consumer or the prescribing practitioner has indicated otherwise under sub. (2).

450.13(5m)(b) (b) The pharmacy examining board shall create a list of the 100 most commonly prescribed generic drug product equivalents, including the generic and brand names of the drugs, and provide, either directly or on the department’s Internet site, the list to each pharmacy on an annual basis. Each pharmacy shall make available to the public information on how to access the list under this paragraph.

450.13(5m)(c) (c) Each pharmacy shall have available for the public a listing of the retail price, updated no less frequently than monthly, of the 100 most commonly prescribed prescription drugs, which includes brand name and generic equivalent drugs and biological products and interchangeable biological products, that are available for purchase at the pharmacy.

450.13(6) (6) Applicability. This section does not apply with respect to a prescription for a biological product.

450.13 History History: 1985 a. 146; 1991 a. 114; 1997 a. 27; 2005 a. 187; 2011 a. 161; 2017 a. 149; 2021 a. 9.

450.135 450.135 Using interchangeable biological product in dispensing prescriptions.

450.135(1) (1) Definition. In this section, “interchangeable biological product” means a biological product that the federal food and drug administration has licensed and has determined meets the standards for interchangeability pursuant to 42 USC 262 (k) (4) or has determined is therapeutically equivalent as set forth in the latest edition of or supplement to the federal food and drug administration’s Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations.

450.135(2) (2) Biological product or interchangeable biological product to be used. Except as provided in sub. (3), a pharmacist shall dispense every prescription using either the biological product prescribed or an interchangeable biological product, if the interchangeable biological product is lower in price to the consumer than the biological product prescribed, and shall inform the consumer of the options available in dispensing the prescription.

450.135(3) (3) Exception. A prescribing practitioner may indicate, by writing on the face of the prescription order or, with respect to a prescription order transmitted electronically, by designating in electronic format the phrase “No substitutions” or words of similar meaning or the initials “N.S.,” that no substitution of the biological product prescribed may be made under sub. (2). If such indication is made, the pharmacist shall dispense the prescription with the specific biological product prescribed. No preprinted statement regarding biological product substitution may appear on the face of the prescription order.

450.135(4) (4) Refilled prescriptions. Prescriptions dispensed with an interchangeable biological product may be refilled with a different interchangeable biological product only if the pharmacist informs the consumer of the change.

450.135(5) (5) Communication of biological product dispensed. Within 5 business days after the dispensing of a biological product, the dispensing pharmacist or the pharmacist’s designee shall do one of the following:

450.135(5)(a) (a) Make an entry of the specific product provided to the patient, including the name of the product and the manufacturer. Entry into an electronic records system as described in this paragraph is presumed to provide notice to the prescribing practitioner. The communication shall be conveyed by making an entry that is electronically accessible to the prescribing practitioner through one of the following:

450.135(5)(a)1. 1. An interoperable electronic medical records system.

450.135(5)(a)2. 2. An electronic prescribing technology.

450.135(5)(a)3. 3. A pharmacist benefit management system.

450.135(5)(a)4. 4. A pharmacy record.

450.135(5)(b) (b) If a pharmacist is unable to make an entry as provided in par. (a), communicate the biological product dispensed to the prescribing practitioner using facsimile, telephone, electronic transmission, or another prevailing means, except that communication under this paragraph is not required if any of the following applies:

450.135(5)(b)1. 1. There is no interchangeable biological product for the product prescribed.

450.135(5)(b)2. 2. A refill of the biological product is not changed from the product dispensed on the prior filling of the prescription.

450.135(6) (6) Limitation of liability. A pharmacist who dispenses a prescription with an interchangeable biological product under this section assumes no greater liability than would be incurred had the pharmacist dispensed the prescription with the biological product prescribed.

450.135(7) (7) Use of interchangeable biological product in hospitals. Subsections (2) to (6) do not apply to a pharmacist who dispenses an interchangeable biological product that is prescribed for a patient in a hospital if the pharmacist dispenses the interchangeable biological product in accordance with written guidelines or procedures previously established by a pharmacy and therapeutics committee of the hospital and approved by the hospital’s medical staff and use of the interchangeable biological product has been approved for a patient during the period of the patient’s stay within the hospital by any of the following:

450.135(7)(a) (a) The patient’s individual physician.

450.135(7)(b) (b) The patient’s advanced practice nurse prescriber, if the advanced practice nurse prescriber has entered into a written agreement to collaborate with a physician.

450.135(7)(c) (c) The patient’s physician assistant.

450.135(8) (8) Applicability. This section applies only with respect to prescriptions for biological products.

450.135(8m) (8m) Disclosure to consumers. Each pharmacy shall post in a prominent place at or near the place where prescriptions are dispensed a sign that clearly describes a pharmacist’s ability under this state’s law to substitute a less expensive interchangeable biological product under sub. (2) unless the consumer or the prescribing practitioner has indicated otherwise under sub. (3).

450.135(9) (9) Links to be maintained by board. The board shall maintain links on the department’s Internet site to the federal food and drug administration’s lists of all currently approved interchangeable biological products. Each pharmacy shall make available for the public information on how to access the federal food and drug administration’s lists of all currently approved interchangeable biological products through the department’s Internet site.

450.135 History History: 2017 a. 149; 2021 a. 9.

450.137 450.137 Access to investigational drugs, devices, and biological products for terminally ill patients.

450.137(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

450.137(1)(a) (a) “Eligible patient” means a patient who is eligible under sub. (2).

450.137(1)(b) (b) “Investigational drug, device, or biological product” means a drug, device, or biological product that has not been approved or licensed for use by the federal food and drug administration and meets all of the following conditions:

450.137(1)(b)1. 1. The drug, device, or biological product has successfully completed a phase one clinical trial approved by the federal food and drug administration.

450.137(1)(b)2. 2. The drug, device, or biological product remains under investigation in a phase 2 or 3 clinical trial approved by the federal food and drug administration or has completed a phase 3 clinical trial and is pending approval or licensure by the federal food and drug administration.

450.137(1)(b)3. 3. The active development or production of the drug, device, or biological product is ongoing and has not been discontinued by the manufacturer or placed on clinical hold under 21 USC 355 (i).

450.137(1)(c) (c) “Life-threatening disease or condition” means a disease or condition that is life-threatening, as defined in 21 CFR 312.81 (a).

450.137(2) (2) Eligibility. An individual is an eligible patient for purposes of this section if the individual meets all of the following conditions:

450.137(2)(a) (a) Has been diagnosed with a life-threatening disease or condition.

450.137(2)(b) (b) Has exhausted approved treatment options and is unable to participate in a clinical trial involving the investigational drug, device, or biological product.

450.137(2)(c) (c) Has received a recommendation or prescription order from the individual’s treating physician for an investigational drug, device, or biological product.

450.137(2)(d) (d) Has given written informed consent to use the investigational drug, device, or biological product. The content of the written informed consent provided by the patient shall be consistent with and at least as comprehensive as the consent used in clinical trials for the investigational drug, device, or biological product.

450.137(2)(e) (e) Is aware of the potential costs that may be associated with or otherwise result from the use of the investigational drug, device, or biological product under this section.

450.137(2)(f) (f) Possesses a written verification executed by the individual’s treating physician attesting that the individual meets the conditions under pars. (a) to (e), and that the physician is not compensated directly by the manufacturer of the investigational drug, device, or biological product for making that attestation.

450.137(3) (3) Manufacturers. A manufacturer of an investigational drug, device, or biological product may, but is not required to, make that investigational drug, device, or biological product available to an eligible patient. If the manufacturer charges an eligible patient for an investigational drug, device, or biological product, the manufacturer may not charge more than an amount that is equal to the manufacturer’s actual cost to manufacture the investigational drug, device, or biological product provided to the eligible patient.

450.137(4) (4) Limitations of liability.

450.137(4)(a) (a) A physician is immune from civil or criminal liability or from professional discipline under s. 448.02 based solely on the physician’s recommendation to an eligible patient for the use of an investigational drug, device, or biological product to treat the patient’s life-threatening disease or condition if the eligible patient gives written informed consent that satisfies sub. (2) (d) and s. 448.30.

450.137(4)(b) (b) Any manufacturer, distributor, pharmacist, practitioner, health care facility, or other person who lawfully makes available, delivers, distributes, prescribes, dispenses, or administers an investigational drug, device, or biological product to an eligible patient consistent with this section, and who in doing so exercises reasonable care, may not be held liable in any action under state law for any loss, damage, or injury arising out of, relating to, or resulting from any of the following:

450.137(4)(b)1. 1. The design, development, clinical testing, investigation, manufacture, labeling, distribution, sale, purchase, donation, dispensing, prescribing, administration, or use of the investigational drug, device, or biological product.

450.137(4)(b)2. 2. The lack of safety or effectiveness of the investigational drug, device, or biological product.