Wisconsin coalition urges lawmakers to pass Cole's Act on prescription costs

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The Wisconsin All Copays Count Coalition is urging state lawmakers to pass Cole's Act, legislation aimed at stopping insurance companies from using policies that increase patient prescription costs, according to a Thursday, Jan. 8 press release.

The bills have support from 20 state senators and 31 state representatives. A total of 25 states have already passed similar laws, according to the coalition.

Bill Schmidtknecht, whose son Cole is the namesake of the bills, said his son died after his inhaler cost jumped from $70 to $500. When Cole could not afford the prescription, he left it at the pharmacy and later had an asthma attack, Schmidtknecht said.

Coalition leader Rob Gundermann said the Senate session ends in March and the Assembly session ends in February. He said any delay means another year of the policies affecting patients.

The coalition is asking people to contact their legislators at WI4Patients.com.