Overview
Wisconsin operates one of the largest private APCDs in the country, even though it is not mandated by statute. The Wisconsin Health Information Organization (WHIO), a private organization, gathers and makes healthcare claims data publicly accessible. With insurance claims data from sixteen commercial health plans and the state Medicaid program, the database provides consumers information about cost, population health, prescribing patterns, and more.
Wisconsin confers merger review authority of healthcare consolidation to the attorney general for all nonprofit hospitals. Not only does it mandate notice to the AG, it requires approval from both the AG and relevant state agencies. Additionally, Wisconsin has one of the strictest prohibitions in the country against exclusive contracting provisions between insurers and providers.
In healthcare market regulation, Wisconsin received a $2.4 million grant from CMS in 2014 to develop a state innovation plan to reduce Medicare and Medicaid costs. Wisconsin was one of the first five states to receive an approved 1332 waiver from the federal government. Recent state law mandates the Wisconsin Health Care Stability Plan (WIHSP), a publicly-funded reinsurance program, to expand access to care, reduce premium increases, keep more individuals insured, and entice insurers to offer insurance plans in the state. The program will pay insurers up to eighty percent of claims greater than $50,000 but less than $250,000. Wisconsin’s 1332 State Innovation Waiver to implement WIHSP was approved by HHS through 2023.
See below for an overview of existing Wisconsin state mandates. Click on citation tab for detailed information of specific statutes (click link to download statute text).
State Action
Latest Legislative Session: 1/2/2023 - 1/1/2024 (2023-2024 term). *Current session bill updates are ongoing. Check back weekly for updates.
AB 1016 (see companion bill SB 842) – Wisconsin
Introduced: 2018 Status: Inactive / Dead
This bill requires the commissioner of insurance to determine sufficiency of the network of providers of a defined network plan or preferred provider plan. Defined network plans and preferred provider plans are types of managed …
AB 1017 – Wisconsin
Introduced: 2018 Status: Inactive / Dead
This bill requires that rates for health insurance policies and plans be filed before the rate is applied and requires approval by the commissioner of insurance of any rate that increases 10 percent or more. …
AB 1019 – Wisconsin
Introduced: 2018 Status: Inactive / Dead
This bill requires a defined network plan or preferred provider plan to make a current directory of health care providers in the plan’s network of providers available to anyone considering enrollment in the plan and …
AB 103 (see companion bill SB 100) – Wisconsin
Introduced: 2023 Status: In Process
Application of prescription drug payments to health insurance cost-sharing requirements. Health insurance policies and plans often apply deductibles and out-of-pocket maximum amounts to the benefits covered by the policy or plan. A deductible is an …
AB 1046 (see companion bill SB 874) – Wisconsin
Introduced: 2018 Status: Inactive / Dead
This bills requires that no manufacturer or wholesale distributor may sell or offer to sell an essential off-patent or generic drug at a price that results in price gouging. Under the bill, price gouging means …
SB 380 (see companion bill AB 410) – Wisconsin
Introduced: 2019 Status: Enacted
Coverage of services under Medical Assistance provided through telehealth and other technologies, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, and granting rule-making authority. This bill requires the Department of Health Services to provide reimbursement …
Wis. Stat. § 100.20. Methods of Competition and Trade Practices: Marketing; Trade Practices – Wisconsin
Introduced: Status: Enacted
Methods of competition in business and trade practices in business shall be fair. Unfair methods of competition in business and unfair trade practices in business are hereby prohibited.
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Wis. Stat. § 103.465. Restrictive covenants in employment contracts: Employment Regulations – Wisconsin
Introduced: Status: Enacted
Provides “restrictions imposed [by the non-compete must be] reasonably necessary for the protection of the employer.”
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Wis. Stat. § 133.01. Legislative Intent: Trusts and Monopolies – Wisconsin
Introduced: Status: Enacted
The intent of this chapter is to safeguard the public against the creation or perpetuation of monopolies and to foster and encourage competition by prohibiting unfair and discriminatory business practices which destroy or hamper competition. …
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Wis. Stat. § 133.03. Unlawful Contracts; Conspiracies: Trusts and Monopolies – Wisconsin
Introduced: Status: Enacted
Every contract, combination in the form of trust or otherwise, or conspiracy, in restraint of trade or commerce is illegal. Every person who makes any contract or engages in any combination or conspiracy in restraint …
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Shaw v. Advocate Aurora Health Inc et al – Wisconsin
District Court: US District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin Status: Pending
On February 5, 2024, Plaintiffs brought suit on behalf of the class of Commercial Health Plan Members against Aurora Health Care and Advocate Aurora Health …
Uriel Pharmacy v. Advocate Aurora Health – Wisconsin
District Court: Eastern District of Wisconsin Status: Pending
Brought by Uriel Pharmacy, a self-insured employer, the federal lawsuit alleges Advocate forced insurers to enter all-or-nothing and anti-tiering and anti-steering contract terms. In addition, …
In re: Suboxone Antitrust Litigation (State of Wisconsin, et al. v. Indivior Inc, et al.) – Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin
District Court: E.D. Pennsylvania Status: Pending
In September 2016, 35 state attorneys general and the District of Columbia brought a multi-district case against pharmaceutical manufacturer Indivior, MonoSol RX et al., alleging …
In Re: Generic Pharmaceuticals Pricing Antitrust Litigation – Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin
District Court: Eastern District of Pennsylvania Status: Pending
Plaintiffs are attorney generals from 48 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia, as well as classes of private plaintiffs that filed an antitrust …
Additional Resources
STATE BUDGET
Wisconsin operates on a biennial budget cycle. The governor submits a proposed budget in January of each odd-numbered year and the legislature adopts a budget in July. The budget cycle runs from July to June of the following odd-numbered year. See 2019-21 budget here.
KEY RESOURCES
Wisconsin Department of Justice
Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance
Wisconsin Health Information Organization
Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality