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LRB-0448/1
TJD:amn
2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE
March 25, 2019 - Introduced by Representatives Schraa, Kolste, Riemer,
Anderson, Born, Bowen, Brooks, Brostoff, Considine, Dittrich, Duchow,
Edming, Emerson, Felzkowski, Fields, Goyke, Gundrum, Hebl, Hesselbein,
Horlacher, Hutton, James, Kitchens, Knodl, Krug, Kuglitsch, Kulp,
Meyers, Murphy, Mursau, Novak, Ohnstad, Oldenburg, Petersen, Plumer,
Quinn, Ramthun, Rodriguez, Rohrkaste, Sargent, Sortwell, Sinicki,
Skowronski, Spiros, Snyder, Spreitzer, Stafsholt, Stubbs, Stuck, Subeck,
Summerfield, Swearingen, Tauchen, C. Taylor, Thiesfeldt, Tittl, Tranel,
VanderMeer, Vorpagel, Vruwink, Shankland, Myers, Tusler, Billings and
Zimmerman, cosponsored by Senators Erpenbach, Roth, Bernier, Darling,
Feyen, Hansen, Johnson, Larson, Marklein, Olsen, Ringhand, Smith, L.
Taylor
, Tiffany, Wanggaard and Wirch. Referred to Committee on Health.
AB114,1,6 1An Act to repeal 40.51 (15m), 632.86 and 632.865 (title) and (1); to renumber
2632.865 (2); to amend 40.51 (8), 40.51 (8m), 66.0137 (4), 120.13 (2) (g), 185.983
3(1) (intro.), 601.43 (1) (a), 609.83, 616.09 (1) (a) 2. and 628.36 (2m) (e) 1.; and to
4create
628.36 (2m) (a) 2s., 632.861 and chapter 649 of the statutes; relating
5to:
registration and regulation of pharmacy benefit managers, drug pricing
6transparency, granting rule-making authority, and providing a penalty.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill generally allows the commissioner of insurance to regulate pharmacy
benefit managers by requiring them to register. The bill also establishes certain
price transparency requirements and requirements on contracts the pharmacy
benefit manager enters into with pharmacies, pharmacists, or health benefit plan
sponsors among other requirements.
Registration of pharmacy benefit managers
The bill prohibits a person, except an insurer already regulated by the
commissioner, from performing any activities of a pharmacy benefit manager in this
state without first registering with the commissioner. Certain pharmacy benefit
managers must be licensed by the Pharmacy Examining Board and registered as a
pharmacy benefit manager. If the Pharmacy Examining Board revokes the
pharmacy or distributor license for such a pharmacy benefit manager, the

commissioner must revoke the pharmacy benefit manager's registration. An
applicant for registration as a pharmacy benefit manager must file an appropriate
application and pay any registration fee set by the commissioner. A registration is
valid for one year. The commissioner may refuse to register a pharmacy benefit
manager for which a previous registration was suspended or revoked.
Under the bill, the commissioner, after a hearing, may suspend or revoke a
registration of a pharmacy benefit manager if the registered pharmacy benefit
manager, or an officer, director, or employee of a registered pharmacy benefit
manager, does any of the actions specified in the bill. The commissioner may
promulgate rules necessary to carry out the intent of pharmacy benefit manager
registration. The bill also allows the commissioner to use his or her authority that
is granted to regulate insurers to similarly regulate pharmacy benefit managers,
including the authority to require reports, conduct examinations, and issue orders.
The commissioner is required to promulgate certain rules, including rules regarding
formulary development, required disclosures, and a standardized medical
exceptions approval process, among others.
The bill requires pharmacy benefit managers to provide a reasonably adequate
and accessible network of pharmacies. Pharmacy benefit managers are not allowed
to include mail-order pharmacies in their calculation of network adequacy. The bill
requires pharmacy benefit managers to submit a network adequacy report to the
commissioner. The bill also imposes on pharmacy benefit managers a current law
requirement on health maintenance organizations, limited service health
organizations, and preferred provider plans that provide coverage of pharmaceutical
services when performed by one or more selected pharmacists to provide an annual
period of at least 30 days during which any pharmacist may elect to participate in
the organization or plan under its terms as a selected provider for at least one year.
Pharmacy benefit manager regulation
The bill requires pharmacy benefit managers to refrain from certain actions in
their interactions with pharmacists or pharmacies including charging a pharmacist
or pharmacy a fee related to the adjudication of a claim, requiring pharmacist or
pharmacy accreditation or certification requirements in addition to, more stringent
than, or inconsistent with requirements of the pharmacy examining board,
reimbursing a pharmacist or pharmacy less than the amount reimbursed to an
affiliate of the pharmacy benefit manager for the same services, failing to make
payments for services properly provided by a pharmacist or pharmacy before the
termination of the pharmacist or pharmacy from the network, and restricting or
limiting a pharmacy or pharmacist from disclosing information to a governmental
official or law enforcement that is investigating a complaint or conducting a review.
The bill requires a pharmacy benefit manager to disclose to a health benefit plan
sponsor any activity, policy, or practice that presents a conflict of interest and, if the
pharmacy benefit manager makes a formulary substitution to a higher cost drug, the
cost of the drug and any benefit that accrues to the pharmacy benefit manager
related to the substitution. A pharmacy benefit manager is prohibited in the bill
from retroactively denying a pharmacist's or pharmacy's claim unless the original
claim was fraudulent, the payment of the original claim was incorrect because it had

already been paid, or the pharmacy services were not rendered by the pharmacist or
pharmacy. The bill requires every pharmacy benefit manager to submit annual
transparency reports containing information specified in the bill to the
commissioner and to certain committees of the legislature.
Current law requires pharmacy benefit managers to agree in their contracts to
make certain disclosures regarding prescription drug reimbursement, including
updating maximum allowable cost pricing information for prescribed drugs or
devices at least every seven business days, reimbursing pharmacies or pharmacists
subject to the updated maximum allowable cost pricing, and modifying information
in the maximum allowable cost information in a timely fashion. Pharmacy benefit
managers currently must also include in each contract with a pharmacy a process
to appeal, investigate, and resolve pricing disputes in accordance with the specifics
in current law. These current law requirements are unchanged by the bill.
Audits of pharmacists or pharmacies
The bill sets requirements on a pharmacy benefit manager, insurer, defined
network plan, such as a health maintenance organization, or a third-party payer
that is conducting an audit of pharmacist or pharmacy records, including requiring
at least two weeks' notice of an audit that is on the premises of a pharmacist or
pharmacy, refraining from conducting the audit within the first seven days of the
month unless the pharmacist or pharmacy consents, limiting the audit to claims
submitted no more than two years before the date of the audit, establishing a written
appeals process allowing for appeals of preliminary and final reports and mediation
by either party, and allowing a pharmacist or pharmacy to use health care provider
records to validate records and any prescription that complies with the pharmacy
examining board requirements to validate claims. The bill requires an entity that
has conducted an audit of a pharmacist or pharmacy to comply with certain timing
requirements for delivery of the preliminary and final reports and for allowing a
pharmacist or pharmacy to address any discrepancies and requires the entity to
refrain from using extrapolation in calculating the recoupments or penalties from an
audit among other requirements in the bill. If an audit identifies a clerical or
record-keeping error, the pharmacy benefit manager or entity must prove that the
pharmacist or pharmacy intended to commit fraud or that the error resulted in
actual financial harm before requesting recoupment from the pharmacist or
pharmacy based on the error. A pharmacy benefit manager or other entity
conducting an audit may not pay an auditor based on a percentage of the amount
recovered in an audit.
Allowing disclosures to consumers
This bill prohibits a health insurance policy, referred to in the statutes as a
disability insurance policy, or a governmental self-insured health plan from
including in a contract for pharmacy services, or allowing a pharmacy benefit
manager or another entity to include in a contract for pharmacy services, a provision
that prohibits or penalizes a pharmacist's disclosure to an individual purchasing a
prescribed drug or device of the cost of a prescribed drug or device, a less expensive
therapeutically equivalent drug or device, or a less expensive method of purchasing
the drug or device.

Cost sharing limitation, choice of provider, and drug substitution
The bill sets a limitation on the amount of cost sharing that a person who is
covered under a health insurance policy or self-insured governmental health plan
must pay at the point of sale for a prescription drug as specified in the bill. A policy
or plan or a pharmacy benefit manager may not require a person covered under the
policy or plan to pay an increased amount of cost sharing for a newly prescribed drug
or device if the policy, plan, or pharmacy benefit manager requested the substitution
of the original drug and if the newly prescribed drug or device is therapeutically
equivalent to the originally prescribed drug or device. The bill requires health
insurance policies, self-insured governmental health plans, and pharmacy benefits
managers to develop a procedure to ensure that a policy or plan does not deny
coverage to an insured or plan participant during a plan year or subject the insured
or plan participant to new exclusions, limitations, deductibles, copayments, or
coinsurance if the prescribed drug or device was covered under the policy or plan for
the insured or plan participant when the insured or plan participant either enrolled
in coverage or renewed coverage and if the prescribing health care provider states
that the prescribed drug or device is more suitable for the insured's or plan
participant's condition than alternative drugs or devices that are covered under the
policy or plan. An insurer, self-insured governmental health plan, or pharmacy
benefit manager may not require or penalize a person who is covered under a health
insurance policy or plan to use or for not using a specific retail, specific mail order
pharmacy, or other specific pharmacy within the policy's or plan's provider network.
This proposal may contain a health insurance mandate requiring a social and
financial impact report under s. 601.423, stats.
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:
AB114,1 1Section 1 . 40.51 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB114,4,62 40.51 (8) Every health care coverage plan offered by the state under sub. (6)
3shall comply with ss. 631.89, 631.90, 631.93 (2), 631.95, 632.72 (2), 632.746 (1) to (8)
4and (10), 632.747, 632.748, 632.798, 632.83, 632.835, 632.85, 632.853, 632.855,
5632.861, 632.867, 632.87 (3) to (6), 632.885, 632.89, 632.895 (5m) and (8) to (17), and
6632.896.
AB114,2 7Section 2 . 40.51 (8m) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB114,5,4
140.51 (8m) Every health care coverage plan offered by the group insurance
2board under sub. (7) shall comply with ss. 631.95, 632.746 (1) to (8) and (10), 632.747,
3632.748, 632.798, 632.83, 632.835, 632.85, 632.853, 632.855, 632.861, 632.867,
4632.885, 632.89, and 632.895 (11) to (17).
AB114,3 5Section 3 . 40.51 (15m) of the statutes is repealed.
AB114,4 6Section 4 . 66.0137 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB114,5,137 66.0137 (4) Self-insured health plans. If a city, including a 1st class city, or
8a village provides health care benefits under its home rule power, or if a town
9provides health care benefits, to its officers and employees on a self-insured basis,
10the self-insured plan shall comply with ss. 49.493 (3) (d), 631.89, 631.90, 631.93 (2),
11632.746 (10) (a) 2. and (b) 2., 632.747 (3), 632.798, 632.85, 632.853, 632.855, 632.861,
12632.867, 632.87 (4) to (6), 632.885, 632.89, 632.895 (9) to (17), 632.896, and 767.513
13(4).
AB114,5 14Section 5 . 120.13 (2) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB114,5,1815 120.13 (2) (g) Every self-insured plan under par. (b) shall comply with ss.
1649.493 (3) (d), 631.89, 631.90, 631.93 (2), 632.746 (10) (a) 2. and (b) 2., 632.747 (3),
17632.798, 632.85, 632.853, 632.855, 632.861, 632.867, 632.87 (4) to (6), 632.885,
18632.89, 632.895 (9) to (17), 632.896, and 767.513 (4).
AB114,6 19Section 6 . 185.983 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB114,6,220 185.983 (1) (intro.) Every voluntary nonprofit health care plan operated by a
21cooperative association organized under s. 185.981 shall be exempt from chs. 600 to
22646, with the exception of ss. 601.04, 601.13, 601.31, 601.41, 601.42, 601.43, 601.44,
23601.45, 611.26, 611.67, 619.04, 623.11, 623.12, 628.34 (10), 631.17, 631.89, 631.93,
24631.95, 632.72 (2), 632.745 to 632.749, 632.775, 632.79, 632.795, 632.798, 632.85,
25632.853, 632.855, 632.861, 632.867, 632.87 (2) to (6), 632.885, 632.89, 632.895 (5) and

1(8) to (17), 632.896, and 632.897 (10) and chs. 609, 620, 630, 635, 645, and 646, but
2the sponsoring association shall:
AB114,7 3Section 7. 601.43 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB114,6,114 601.43 (1) (a) Insurers, other licensees and other persons subject to regulation.
5Whenever the commissioner deems it necessary in order to inform himself or herself
6about any matter related to the enforcement of chs. 600 to 647 and 649, the
7commissioner may examine the affairs and condition of any licensee or, permittee,
8or registrant
under chs. 600 to 647 and 649 or applicant for a license or, permit, or
9registration
of any person or organization of persons doing or in process of organizing
10to do an insurance business in this state, and of any advisory organization serving
11any of the foregoing in this state.
AB114,8 12Section 8. 609.83 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB114,6,15 13609.83 Coverage of drugs and devices. Limited service health
14organizations, preferred provider plans, and defined network plans are subject to ss.
15632.853, 632.861, and 632.895 (16t).
AB114,9 16Section 9 . 616.09 (1) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB114,6,2017 616.09 (1) (a) 2. Plans authorized under s. 616.06 are subject to s. 610.21, 1977
18stats., s. 610.55, 1977 stats., s. 610.57, 1977 stats., and ss. 628.34 to 628.39, 1977
19stats., to chs. 600, 601, 620, 625, 627 and 645, to ss. 632.72, 632.755, 632.86 632.861
20and 632.87 and to this subchapter except s. 616.08.
AB114,10 21Section 10 . 628.36 (2m) (a) 2s. of the statutes is created to read:
AB114,6,2322 628.36 (2m) (a) 2s. “Pharmacy benefit manager” has the meaning given in s.
23649.01 (6).
AB114,11 24Section 11 . 628.36 (2m) (e) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB114,7,10
1628.36 (2m) (e) 1. A health maintenance organization, limited service health
2organization or, preferred provider plan, or pharmacy benefit manager that provides
3or administers coverage of pharmaceutical services when performed by one or more
4pharmacists who are selected by the organization or , plan, or pharmacy benefit
5manager
but who are not full-time salaried employees or partners of the
6organization or, plan, or pharmacy benefit manager shall provide an annual period
7of at least 30 days during which any pharmacist registered under ch. 450 may elect
8to participate in the health maintenance organization, limited service health
9organization or, preferred provider plan, or coverage administered by a pharmacy
10benefit manager
under its terms as a selected provider for at least one year.
AB114,12 11Section 12 . 632.86 of the statutes is repealed.
AB114,13 12Section 13 . 632.861 of the statutes is created to read:
AB114,7,14 13632.861 Prescription drug charges; choice of provider. (1) Definitions.
14In this section:
AB114,7,1515 (a) “Disability insurance policy” has the meaning given in s. 632.895 (1) (a).
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