Wisconsin state capital in Madison. PC: Fox 11 Online
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) — At the Capitol, new Republican authored legislation aims to reform pharmacy benefit managers.
Dodgeville Representative Todd Novak authors the bill alongside Senate President Mary Felzkowski.
“I have a rural district. Most of my pharmacies are independently owned. It’s a huge issue with them. I’ve been affected by this personally. I recently, six months ago, was told I needed to go elsewhere to get a drug that I take because the pharmacy was losing so much money on it,” said Novak.
The “Cole Act” is named after Cole Schmidtknecht, an Appleton man who died in January 2024 from an asthma attack after he couldn’t afford his inhaler when the out-of-pocket price increased nearly $500.
“In Cole’s case those barriers became fatal when his daily asthma steroid medication was removed from his drug formulary without notice or medical necessity. His Advair went from $66 to $540. He was forced to choose between buying his needed medicine, and paying his rent. Wisconsin has the power to take the stand against the PBM abuses,” said Cole’s father, Bill Schmidtknecht.
Novak and Felzkowski say their legislation will lower drug costs, increase transparency, and increase pharmacy access and safety.
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