Howard Marklein Wisconsin State Senator (District 17) | Official Facebook
Howard Marklein Wisconsin State Senator (District 17) | Official Facebook
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "regulation of pharmacy benefit managers, fiduciary and disclosure requirements on pharmacy benefit managers, and application of prescription drug payments to health insurance cost-sharing requirements. (FE)".
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill introduces multiple regulatory changes for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in Wisconsin, aiming to enhance transparency and fairness in their operations. It mandates PBMs to pay pharmacists a dispensing fee not less than what the state Medical Assistance program offers. The bill prohibits PBMs from imposing additional fees on pharmacies and requires that they pay claims within 30 days. Additionally, PBMs must be transparent about their maximum allowable cost lists, allowing pharmacies to appeal for adjustments if reimbursement is below the acquisition cost. The bill also forbids PBMs from retaliating against pharmacies for reporting violations and requires them to act in the best interest of health plan sponsors, disclosing profits and fees annually. Furthermore, the bill prohibits discriminatory reimbursement practices against 340B program participants and ensures that prescription drug payments apply to insurance cost-sharing requirements. It also mandates that drug formulary changes be communicated 90 days in advance and restricts such changes to coverage renewal periods. Effective dates for specific provisions vary, with some changes tied to contract renewals.
The bill was co-authored by Representative Todd Novak (Republican-51st District), Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara (Republican-19th District), Senator Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (Democrat-18th District), Senator Dora E. Drake (Democrat-4th District), and Senator Jodi Habush Sinykin (Democrat-8th District). It was co-sponsored by Representative Scott Allen (Republican-82nd District), Representative David Armstrong (Republican-67th District), and Representative Robert Brooks (Republican-59th District), along with 33 other co-sponsors.
Howard L. Marklein has authored or co-authored another 28 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.
Marklein graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater in 1976 with a BBA.
Marklein, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2015 to represent the state's 17th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Dale Schultz.
In Wisconsin, the legislative process starts when a senator, constituent, group, or agency proposes an idea for a bill. After drafting, the bill is introduced, numbered, and referred to a committee for review and public input. If approved, it moves through three readings and votes in both the Senate and Assembly. Once both chambers pass the same version, the bill goes to the governor, who can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Only a small share of bills introduced each session ultimately become law. You can learn more about the Wisconsin legislative process here.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| SB203 | 04/16/2025 | Regulation of pharmacy benefit managers, fiduciary and disclosure requirements on pharmacy benefit managers, and application of prescription drug payments to health insurance cost-sharing requirements. (FE) |
| SB183 | 04/14/2025 | Reimbursement of emergency services under the Medical Assistance program when a patient is not transported, reporting on changes to the scope of practice of emergency medical responders and emergency medical services practitioners, and eligibility for the expenditure restraint incentive program. (FE) |
| SB182 | 04/14/2025 | Emergency medical services education, tuition and materials reimbursement for emergency medical responders and emergency medical services practitioners, and a live 911 pilot program. (FE) |
| SB181 | 04/14/2025 | A levy limit exemption for regional emergency medical systems and eligibility for the expenditure restraint incentive program. (FE) |
| SB172 | 04/03/2025 | Prohibiting filing or recording contracts for services or materials that do not improve real estate and providing a penalty. (FE) |
| SB170 | 04/03/2025 | Rehired annuitants in the Wisconsin Retirement System. (FE) |
| SB168 | 04/03/2025 | Changing the conditions of liability for worker’s compensation benefits for emergency medical responders, emergency medical services practitioners, volunteer firefighters, correctional officers, emergency dispatchers, coroners and coroner staff, and medical examiners and medical examiner staff. (FE) |
| SB160 | 03/27/2025 | Designating the Tom Diehl Memorial Highway. (FE) |
| SB126 | 03/14/2025 | The effective date of certain provisions contained in 2023 Wisconsin Act 126 |
| SB96 | 03/07/2025 | Exempting certain electric vehicle charging stations located at a residence from the electric vehicle charging tax. (FE) |
| SB84 | 02/26/2025 | Exempting certain conveyances between grandparents and grandchildren from the real estate transfer fee. (FE) |
| SB3 | 01/24/2025 | Requiring local approval for certain wind and solar projects before Public Service Commission approval |
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