Licensure of pharmaceutical representatives. (FE)

The bill requires that a pharmaceutical representative complete a professional education course prior to becoming licensed and to annually complete at least five hours of continuing professional education. The coursework must include, at a minimum, training in ethical standards, whistleblower protections, and the laws and rules applicable to pharmaceutical marketing. The bill directs the commissioner to regularly publish a list of courses that fulfill the education requirements. Under the bill, a course provider must disclose any conflict of interest and the courses may not be provided by an employer of a pharmaceutical representative or be funded by the pharmaceutical industry or a third party funded by the industry.

The bill requires that, no later than June 1 of each year, a pharmaceutical representative report to OCI his or her total number of contacts with health care professionals in Wisconsin, the specialties of those health care professionals, the location and duration of each contact, the pharmaceuticals discussed, and the value of any item provided to a health care professional. The bill directs the commissioner to publish the information on OCI's website, without identifying individual health care professionals.

The bill requires that a pharmaceutical representative, during each contact with a health care professional, disclose the wholesale acquisition cost of any pharmaceuticals discussed and the names of at least three generic prescription drugs from the same therapeutic class.

The bill directs the commissioner to promulgate ethical standards for pharmaceutical representatives. Additionally, the bill prohibits a pharmaceutical representative from engaging in deceptive or misleading marketing of a pharmaceutical product; using a title or designation that could reasonably lead a licensed health care professional, or an employee or representative of such a professional, to believe that he or she is licensed to practice in a health occupation unless he or she holds a license to practice; or attending an examination without the patient's consent.

Under the bill, an individual violating any of these provisions is subject to a fine and his or her license may be suspended or revoked. An individual whose license is revoked must wait at least two years before applying for a new license.