Wisconsin Assembly Bill AB43

Wisconsin 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/17/25
• Refer: 2/17/25
• Report Pass: 5/7/25
• Refer: 5/7/25
• Refer: 5/9/25
• Engrossed: 5/13/25
• Refer: 5/14/25
• Failed: 3/23/26

Caption

Permitting pharmacists to prescribe certain contraceptives, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, granting rule-making authority, and providing a penalty. (FE)

Impact

The implications of AB43 on state laws include modifications to how hormonal contraceptives are defined and handled within the health care system. The legislation extends the responsibility for prescribing contraceptives to pharmacists, thus potentially increasing accessibility for patients who may face barriers in acquiring contraceptives through traditional means such as doctor's visits. Importantly, this bill positions pharmacists as integral healthcare providers in reproductive health management while maintaining checks to ensure patient safety through required screenings.

Summary

Assembly Bill 43 aims to enhance access to contraceptives by allowing pharmacists to prescribe and dispense hormonal contraceptive patches and self-administered oral hormonal contraceptives. This significant legislative measure requires the Pharmacy Examining Board to establish standard procedures for how pharmacists will engage in this practice, which includes using a mandated self-assessment questionnaire developed based on guidelines from the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The bill also stipulates that patients must undergo blood pressure screenings before any dispensing can occur, ensuring that contraceptive prescriptions are safe and appropriate for the individual recipient.

Contention

One notable area of contention surrounding AB43 may relate to the regulations imposed on pharmacists, particularly the mandatory self-assessment questionnaire and the blood pressure checks before prescribing. Some stakeholders may view these requirements as an essential safeguard for patient health, while others might argue that they represent unnecessary barriers to access, particularly for reproductive health services. Furthermore, discussions around whether pharmacists should have the authority to prescribe medications traditionally reserved for physicians may fuel ongoing debates over professional scopes of practice within healthcare in Wisconsin.