Assembly Bill 43 aims to expand the role of pharmacists in Wisconsin by allowing them to prescribe and dispense hormonal contraceptive patches and self-administered oral hormonal contraceptives to individuals aged 18 and older. The bill mandates the Pharmacy Examining Board to establish rules for this process, which must include a self-assessment questionnaire for patients, developed in line with guidelines from the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Additionally, pharmacists are required to report to the patient's primary healthcare provider after issuing a prescription and ensure that the contraceptive is dispensed promptly. The bill also stipulates that pharmacists must have malpractice liability insurance and that patients must undergo a blood pressure screening before receiving a prescription.

Furthermore, the bill modifies existing statutes by changing the title of section 450.095 from "Duty to dispense" to "Prescribing and dispensing of contraceptives" and introduces new definitions for "hormonal contraceptive patch" and "self-administered oral hormonal contraceptive." It also includes provisions for the Department of Health Services to ensure that contraceptives prescribed by pharmacists are covered under the Medical Assistance program. The bill allows for emergency rule-making procedures to be extended and exempts the Pharmacy Examining Board from certain requirements when implementing these rules. Violations of the new regulations could result in fines ranging from $250 to $2,500. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, with emergency provisions effective immediately upon publication.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 450.095(title), 450.095, 450.095(3)