Following the death of a 22-year-old who couldn’t afford a sudden price hike for his asthma medication, state lawmakers are advancing legislation to reform how prescription drugs are priced and managed in Wisconsin.

The “Cole’s Act” was inspired by an Appleton man who went to pick up a routine inhaler only to find the price had jumped from $66 to $539. Choosing to pay his rent instead of the price at the counter, he passed away from an asthma attack just days later. The bill aims to prevent such tragedies by requiring a 90-day notification for price changes and preventing insurers from dropping drug coverage mid-plan.

Beyond consumer protections, the bill targets Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), which, co-sponsor Sen. Howard Marklein says, are squeezing rural independent pharmacies out of business.