Wisconsin advances two healthcare access bills

Wisconsin lawmakers took two meaningful steps in 2025 to make healthcare more accessible for women.

The first measure would let pharmacists prescribe birth control pills and patches directly to adults 18 and older — no doctor’s appointment needed. Supporters say it’s a practical way to expand access, especially in rural areas or for women who can’t easily get in to see a provider. The bill (AB 43) passed the Assembly with bipartisan support and is awaiting action in the Senate.

The second, known as “Gail’s Law,” requires health insurance and Medicaid plans in Wisconsin to cover extra breast-screening tests like MRIs or ultrasounds for women at higher risk of breast cancer — and to do so without charging copays or deductibles. That bill passed the Senate, also with strong bipartisan support, and is awaiting action in the Assembly.

Why it Matters

These two 2025 laws mark an attempt toward catching up with other states on broader women's health access. When pharmacists can directly prescribe birth control without requiring a doctor visit, women gain a faster entry point into preventive care. And when insurance covers supplemental breast imaging for high-risk women at no cost, it addresses a gap many advocates say leads to later-stage diagnoses and worse outcomes.

Together, these measures signal progress: they don’t overhaul the state’s healthcare system, but they do move Wisconsin closer to national standards for access and preventive care.

Background

For years, Wisconsin has lagged behind many states in updating policies that make healthcare easier to access. Broader reforms—like Medicaid expansion or comprehensive women’s health initiatives—have stalled, leaving smaller bipartisan measures to fill the gaps.

Allowing pharmacists to prescribe birth control brings Wisconsin in line with roughly half of U.S. states that already let adults get contraception directly at the pharmacy. It’s a practical change that makes care faster and more convenient without expanding the healthcare system itself.

“Gail’s Law” follows a similar path. By requiring insurers to cover supplemental breast imaging for high-risk women without added out-of-pocket costs, Wisconsin joins a growing group of states recognizing that early detection saves both lives and money.

Resources

Wisconsin Examiner - Assembly passes bipartisan health care bills including letting pharmacists prescribe birth control
Susan G. Komen - New Breast Imaging Legislation to Help Thousands Across Wisconsin