Chapter 632

632.85(3) (3) A health care plan or a self-insured health plan that is required to provide the coverage under sub. (2) may not require prior authorization for the provision or coverage of the emergency medical services specified in sub. (2).

632.85 History History: 1997 a. 155.

632.853 632.853 Coverage of drugs and devices. A health care plan, as defined in s. 628.36 (2) (a) 1., or a self-insured health plan, as defined in s. 632.85 (1) (c), that provides coverage of only certain specified prescription drugs or devices shall develop a process through which a physician may present medical evidence to obtain an individual patient exception for coverage of a prescription drug or device not routinely covered by the plan. The process shall include timelines for both urgent and nonurgent review.

632.853 History History: 1997 a. 237.

632.855 632.855 Requirements if experimental treatment limited.

632.855(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

632.855(1)(a) (a) “Health care plan” has the meaning given in s. 628.36 (2) (a) 1.

632.855(1)(b) (b) “Self-insured health plan” has the meaning given in s. 632.85 (1) (c).

632.855(2) (2) Disclosure of limitations. Subject to s. 632.87 (6), a health care plan or a self-insured health plan that limits coverage of experimental treatment shall define the limitation and disclose the limits in any agreement, policy or certificate of coverage. This disclosure shall include the following information:

632.855(2)(a) (a) Who is authorized to make a determination on the limitation.

632.855(2)(b) (b) The criteria the plan uses to determine whether a treatment, procedure, drug or device is experimental.

632.855(3) (3) Denial of treatment.

632.855(3)(am) (am) A health care plan or a self-insured health plan that receives a request for prior authorization of an experimental procedure that includes all of the required information upon which to make a decision shall, within 5 working days after receiving the request, issue a coverage decision. If the health care plan or self-insured health plan denies coverage of an experimental treatment, procedure, drug or device for an insured who has a terminal condition or illness, the health care plan or self-insured health plan shall, as part of its coverage decision, provide the insured with a denial letter that includes all of the following:

632.855(3)(am)1. 1. A statement setting forth the specific medical and scientific reasons for denying coverage.

632.855(3)(am)2. 2. Notice of the insured’s right to appeal and a description of the appeal procedure.

632.855(3)(bm) (bm) A health care plan or a self-insured health plan may not deny coverage under par. (am) of an experimental treatment, procedure, drug, or device for an insured if the denial violates s. 632.87 (6).

632.855 History History: 1997 a. 237; 2005 a. 194.

632.857 632.857 Explanation required for restriction or termination of coverage. If an insurer restricts or terminates an insured’s coverage for the treatment of a condition or complaint and, as a result, the insured becomes liable for payment for all of his or her treatment for the condition or complaint, the insurer shall provide on the explanation of benefits form a detailed explanation of the clinical rationale and of the basis in the policy, plan, or contract or in applicable law for the insurer’s restriction or termination of coverage.

632.857 History History: 2007 a. 20.

632.861 632.861 Prescription drug charges.

632.861(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

632.861(1)(a) (a) “Disability insurance policy” has the meaning given in s. 632.895 (1) (a).

632.861(1)(b) (b) “Enrollee” means an individual who is covered under a disability insurance policy or a self-insured health plan.

632.861(1)(c) (c) “Pharmacy benefit manager” has the meaning given in s. 632.865 (1) (c).

632.861(1)(d) (d) “Prescription drug” has the meaning given in s. 450.01 (20).

632.861(1)(e) (e) “Prescription drug benefit” has the meaning given in s. 632.865 (1) (e).

632.861(1)(f) (f) “Self-insured health plan” has the meaning given in s. 632.85 (1) (c).

632.861(2) (2) Allowing disclosures.

632.861(2)(a) (a) A disability insurance policy or self-insured health plan that provides a prescription drug benefit may not restrict, directly or indirectly, any pharmacy that dispenses a prescription drug to an enrollee in the policy or plan from informing, or penalize such pharmacy for informing, an enrollee of any differential between the out-of-pocket cost to the enrollee under the policy or plan with respect to acquisition of the drug and the amount an individual would pay for acquisition of the drug without using any health plan or health insurance coverage.

632.861(2)(b) (b) A disability insurance policy or self-insured health plan that provides a prescription drug benefit shall ensure that any pharmacy benefit manager that provides services under a contract with the policy or plan does not, with respect to such policy or plan, restrict, directly or indirectly, any pharmacy that dispenses a prescription drug to an enrollee in the policy or plan from informing, or penalize such pharmacy for informing, an enrollee of any differential between the out-of-pocket cost to the enrollee under the policy or plan with respect to acquisition of the drug and the amount an individual would pay for acquisition of the drug without using any health plan or health insurance coverage.

632.861(3) (3) Cost-sharing limitation. A disability insurance policy or self-insured health plan that provides a prescription drug benefit or a pharmacy benefit manager that provides services under a contract with a policy or plan may not require an enrollee to pay at the point of sale for a covered prescription drug an amount that is greater than the lowest of all of the following amounts:

632.861(3)(a) (a) The cost-sharing amount for the prescription drug for the enrollee under the policy or plan.

632.861(3)(b) (b) The amount a person would pay for the prescription drug if the enrollee purchased the prescription drug at the dispensing pharmacy without using any health plan or health insurance coverage.

632.861(4) (4) Drug substitution.

632.861(4)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), a disability insurance policy that offers a prescription drug benefit, a self-insured health plan that offers a prescription drug benefit, or a pharmacy benefit manager acting on behalf of a disability insurance policy or self-insured health plan shall provide to an enrollee advanced written notice of a formulary change that removes a prescription drug from the formulary of the policy or plan or that reassigns a prescription drug to a benefit tier for the policy or plan that has a higher deductible, copayment, or coinsurance. The advanced written notice of a formulary change under this paragraph shall be provided no fewer than 30 days before the expected date of the removal or reassignment and shall include information on the procedure for the enrollee to request an exception to the formulary change. The policy, plan, or pharmacy benefit manager is required to provide the advanced written notice under this paragraph only to those enrollees in the policy or plan who are using the drug at the time the notification must be sent according to available claims history.

632.861(4)(b) (b)

632.861(4)(b)1. 1. A disability insurance policy, self-insured health plan, or pharmacy benefit manager is not required to provide advanced written notice under par. (a) if the prescription drug that is to be removed or reassigned is any of the following:

632.861(4)(b)1.a. a. No longer approved by the federal food and drug administration.

632.861(4)(b)1.b. b. The subject of a notice, guidance, warning, announcement, or other statement from the federal food and drug administration relating to concerns about the safety of the prescription drug.

632.861(4)(b)1.c. c. Approved by the federal food and drug administration for use without a prescription.

632.861(4)(b)2. 2. A disability insurance policy, self-insured health plan, or pharmacy benefit manager is not required to provide advanced written notice under par. (a) if, for the prescription drug that is being removed from the formulary or reassigned to a benefit tier that has a higher deductible, copayment, or coinsurance, the policy, plan, or pharmacy benefit manager adds to the formulary a generic prescription drug that is approved by the federal food and drug administration for use as an alternative to the prescription drug or a prescription drug in the same pharmacologic class or with the same mechanism of action at any of the following benefit tiers:

632.861(4)(b)2.a. a. The same benefit tier from which the prescription drug is being removed or reassigned.

632.861(4)(b)2.b. b. A benefit tier that has a lower deductible, copayment, or coinsurance than the benefit tier from which the prescription drug is being removed or reassigned.

632.861(4)(c) (c) A pharmacist or pharmacy shall notify an enrollee in a disability insurance policy or self-insured health plan if a prescription drug for which an enrollee is filling or refilling a prescription is removed from the formulary and the policy or plan or a pharmacy benefit manager acting on behalf of a policy or plan adds to the formulary a generic prescription drug that is approved by the federal food and drug administration for use as an alternative to the prescription drug or a prescription drug in the same pharmacologic class or with the same mechanism of action at any of the following benefit tiers:

632.861(4)(c)1. 1. The same benefit tier from which the prescription drug is being removed or reassigned.

632.861(4)(c)2. 2. A benefit tier that has a lower deductible, copayment, or coinsurance than the benefit tier from which the prescription drug is being removed or reassigned.

632.861(4)(d) (d) If an enrollee has had an adverse reaction to the generic prescription drug or the prescription drug in the same pharmacologic class or with the same mechanism of action that is being substituted for an originally prescribed drug, the pharmacist or pharmacy may extend the prescription order for the originally prescribed drug to fill one 30-day supply of the originally prescribed drug for the cost-sharing amount that applies to the prescription drug at the time of the substitution.

632.861 History History: 2021 a. 9.

632.865 632.865 Pharmacy benefit managers.

632.865(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

632.865(1)(ae) (ae) “Health benefit plan” has the meaning given in s. 632.745 (11).

632.865(1)(ak) (ak) “Health care provider” has the meaning given in s. 146.81 (1).

632.865(1)(aw) (aw) “Pharmacist” has the meaning given in s. 450.01 (15).

632.865(1)(b) (b) “Pharmacy” means an entity licensed under s. 450.06 or 450.065.

632.865(1)(c) (c) “Pharmacy benefit manager” means an entity doing business in this state that contracts to administer or manage prescription drug benefits on behalf of any of the following:

632.865(1)(c)1. 1. An insurer.

632.865(1)(c)2. 2. A cooperative, as defined in s. 185.01 (2).

632.865(1)(c)3. 3. Another entity that provides prescription drug benefits to residents of this state.

632.865(1)(d) (d) “Prescribed drug or device” has the meaning given in s. 450.01 (18).

632.865(1)(dm) (dm) “Prescription drug” has the meaning given in s. 450.01 (20).

632.865(1)(e) (e) “Prescription drug benefit” means coverage of or payment or assistance for prescribed drugs or devices.

632.865(2) (2) Pricing transparency.

632.865(2)(a) (a) The pharmacy benefit manager shall agree in each contract or renewal to do all of the following:

632.865(2)(a)1. 1. Update maximum allowable cost pricing information for prescribed drugs or devices at least every 7 business days and provide a means by which contracted pharmacies may promptly review pricing updates in a format that is readily available and accessible.

632.865(2)(a)2. 2. Reimburse pharmacists and pharmacies for prescribed drugs or devices subject to maximum allowable cost information that has been updated at least every 7 business days.

632.865(2)(a)3. 3. Eliminate prescribed drugs or devices from the maximum allowable cost information or modify maximum allowable cost in a timely fashion consistent with availability of prescribed drugs or devices and pricing changes in the marketplace.

632.865(2)(b) (b) A pharmacy benefit manger shall include in each contract with a pharmacy a process to appeal, investigate, and resolve disputes regarding maximum allowable cost pricing that includes all of the following:

632.865(2)(b)1. 1. A 21-day limit on the right to appeal following the initial claim.

632.865(2)(b)2. 2. A requirement that the appeal be investigated and resolved within 21 days after the date of the appeal.

632.865(2)(b)3. 3. A dedicated telephone number at which the pharmacy may contact the pharmacy benefit manager to speak to a person responsible for processing appeals.

632.865(2)(b)4. 4. A requirement that a pharmacy benefit manager provide a reason for any appeal denial and the national drug code published in a directory by the federal food and drug administration of a prescribed drug or device that may be purchased by retail network pharmacies at a price at or below the maximum allowable cost.

632.865(2)(b)5. 5. A requirement that a pharmacy benefit manager make a pricing adjustment no later than one day after the date of the final determination of the appeal.

632.865(3) (3) License required. No person may perform any activities of a pharmacy benefit manager without being licensed by the commissioner as an administrator or pharmacy benefit manager under s. 633.14.

632.865(4) (4) Accreditation for network participation. A pharmacy benefit manager or a representative of a pharmacy benefit manager shall provide to a pharmacy, within 30 days of receipt of a written request from the pharmacy, a written notice of any certification or accreditation requirements used by the pharmacy benefit manager or its representative as a determinant of network participation. A pharmacy benefit manager or a representative of a pharmacy benefit manager may change its accreditation requirements no more frequently than once every 12 months.

632.865(5) (5) Retroactive claim reduction. Unless required otherwise by federal law, a pharmacy benefit manager may not retroactively deny or reduce a pharmacist’s or pharmacy’s claim after adjudication of the claim unless any of the following is true:

632.865(5)(a) (a) The original claim was submitted fraudulently.

632.865(5)(b) (b) The payment for the original claim was incorrect. Recovery for an incorrect payment under this paragraph is limited to the amount that exceeds the allowable claim.

632.865(5)(c) (c) The pharmacy services were not rendered by the pharmacist or pharmacy.

632.865(5)(d) (d) In making the claim or performing the service that is the basis for the claim, the pharmacist or pharmacy violated state or federal law.

632.865(5)(e) (e) The reduction is permitted in a contract between a pharmacy and a pharmacy benefit manager and is related to a quality program.

632.865(6) (6) Audits of pharmacies or pharmacists.

632.865(6)(a) (a) Definitions. In this subsection:

632.865(6)(a)1. 1. “Audit” means a review of the accounts and records of a pharmacy or pharmacist by or on behalf of an entity that finances or reimburses the cost of health care services or prescription drugs.

632.865(6)(a)2. 2. “Entity” means a defined network plan, as defined in s. 609.01 (1b), insurer, self-insured health plan, or pharmacy benefit manager or a person acting on behalf of a defined network plan, insurer, self-insured health plan, or pharmacy benefit manager.

632.865(6)(a)3. 3. “Self-insured health plan” has the meaning given in s. 632.85 (1) (c).

632.865(6)(b) (b) Procedures. An entity conducting an on-site or desk audit of pharmacist or pharmacy records shall do all of the following:

632.865(6)(b)1. 1. If the audit is an audit on the premises of the pharmacist or pharmacy, notify the pharmacist or pharmacy in writing of the audit at least 2 weeks before conducting the audit.

632.865(6)(b)2. 2. Refrain from auditing a pharmacist or pharmacy within the first 5 business days of a month unless the pharmacist or pharmacy consents to an audit during that time.

632.865(6)(b)3. 3. If the audit involves clinical or professional judgment, conduct the audit by or in consultation with a pharmacist licensed in any state.