2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
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2023 ASSEMBLY BILL 626
November 8, 2023 - Introduced by Representatives MURPHY, SORTWELL,
ARMSTRONG, BEHNKE, BODDEN, BRANDTJEN, EDMING, GOEBEN, MAGNAFICI,
MICHALSKI, MURSAU, O'CONNOR, RETTINGER and TUSLER, cosponsored by
Senators CABRAL-GUEVARA and NASS. Referred to Committee on Health, Aging
and Long-Term Care.
1 AN ACT to repeal 450.095 (1) (a); to amend 50.36 (6), 450.095 (title), 450.095 (2)
2 (intro.), 450.095 (2) (a), 450.095 (2) (b) and 450.095 (2) (c); and to create 450.095
3 (1) (am), 450.095 (2) (am), 450.095 (2m) and 632.865 (6m) of the statutes;
4 relating to: the duty of a pharmacist to dispense lawfully prescribed drugs and
5 devices.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, a pharmacy has a duty to dispense lawfully prescribed
contraceptive drugs and devices without delay unless certain factors apply, including
that the prescription contains an obvious or known error or contains inadequate
instructions, the prescription is contraindicated for the patient, the prescription is
incompatible with another drug or device prescribed for the patient, or the
prescription is potentially fraudulent. This bill expands that duty to require
pharmacies to dispense any lawfully prescribed drug or device without delay.
However, if any pharmacist at a pharmacy refuses to dispense a drug or device for
reasons of conscience such that the pharmacy cannot fulfill the prescription order
without delay, then the bill requires the pharmacy to transfer the prescription order
to a different pharmacy, at the direction of the patient, that will dispense the
prescribed drug or device without delay. The bill also specifies that a pharmacy may
not dispense a lawfully prescribed drug or device if there is an absolute
contraindication for the prescribed drug or device, rather than just a
contraindication. Under the bill, “absolute contraindication” is defined to mean any
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ASSEMBLY BILL 626
condition present in a patient that makes a particular drug or device inadvisable
under any circumstances.
Further, the bill prohibits a pharmacy benefit manager from penalizing in any
way a pharmacy or pharmacist from dispensing a prescribed drug or device that is
prescribed for a use other than a use approved by the federal Food and Drug
Administration if the prescribed drug or device is dispensed pursuant to a valid
prescription order.
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:
1 SECTION 1. 50.36 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:
2 50.36 (6) If the department receives a credible complaint that a pharmacy
3 located in a hospital has violated its duty to dispense contraceptive drugs and devices
4 under s. 450.095 (2), the department shall refer the complaint to the department of
5 safety and professional services.
6 SECTION 2. 450.095 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
7 450.095 (title) Duty to dispense contraceptives.
8 SECTION 3. 450.095 (1) (a) of the statutes is repealed.
9 SECTION 4. 450.095 (1) (am) of the statutes is created to read:
10 450.095 (1) (am) “Absolute contraindication” means any condition present in
11 a patient that renders a particular drug or device not safe to be used as prescribed
12 under any circumstance because of the severe or potentially life-threatening risks
13 involved.
14 SECTION 5. 450.095 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
15 450.095 (2) (intro.) Unless one or more any of the following applies, except as
16 provided in sub. (2m), a pharmacy shall dispense any lawfully prescribed
17 contraceptive drugs and devices drug or device and shall deliver contraceptive drugs
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ASSEMBLY BILL 626 SECTION 5
1 and devices restricted to distribution by a pharmacy the drug or device to a the
2 patient without delay:
3 SECTION 6. 450.095 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
4 450.095 (2) (a) The prescription or prescription order contains an obvious or
5 known error or contains inadequate instructions.
6 SECTION 7. 450.095 (2) (am) of the statutes is created to read:
7 450.095 (2) (am) A pharmacist determines after reviewing the prescription
8 order and the patient's medical records that there is an absolute contraindication for
9 the prescribed drug or device.
10 SECTION 8. 450.095 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
11 450.095 (2) (b) The prescription is contraindicated for the patient, prescribed
12 drug or device is incompatible with another drug or device prescribed for the patient,
13 or is prohibited by state or federal law.
14 SECTION 9. 450.095 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
15 450.095 (2) (c) The prescription or prescription order is potentially fraudulent.
16 SECTION 10. 450.095 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:
17 450.095 (2m) If any pharmacist at a pharmacy refuses to dispense a lawfully
18 prescribed drug or device for reasons of conscience such that the pharmacy cannot
19 fulfill a prescription or prescription order without delay, then the pharmacy shall
20 transfer the prescription or prescription order to a different pharmacy, at the
21 direction of the patient, that will dispense the prescribed drug or device without
22 delay.
23 SECTION 11. 632.865 (6m) of the statutes is created to read:
24 632.865 (6m) OFF-LABEL THERAPIES. No pharmacy benefit manager may in any
25 way penalize a pharmacy or pharmacist for dispensing a prescribed drug or device
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ASSEMBLY BILL 626 SECTION 11
1 that is prescribed for a use other than a use approved by the federal food and drug
2 administration if the prescribed drug or device is dispensed pursuant to a valid
3 prescription order, as defined in s. 450.01 (21).
4 (END)


Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 50.36(6), 50.36, 450.095(title), 450.095, 450.095(1)(a), 450.095(2)(intro.), 450.095(2)(a), 450.095(2)(b), 450.095(2)(c)