Vermont Business Magazine Today, Treasurer Pieciak’s proposal to create a free prescription drug discount card program in Vermont (H.577) passed out of the Senate Health and Welfare committee on a unanimous, bipartisan vote.
The program would provide immediate relief at the pharmacy counter—lowering drug costs, supporting healthier outcomes for patients, and saving Vermonters over $20 million annually on their medications.
With broad support across the Legislature, the measure now approaches final consideration in the Senate. The Vermont House recently approved H.577 on a near-unanimous voice vote.
“Prescription drug costs are causing Vermonters real pain, both in their health and their wallets,” said Treasurer Pieciak. “This is a step we can take right now to rein in health care costs and deliver better outcomes for patients—all without adding a dime to Vermonters' tax bills. I want to thank the Senate Health and Welfare Committee and Chair Lyons for acting quickly on this bill to achieve meaningful savings for Vermonters.”
Under H.577, Vermont would join ArrayRx—a coalition of states pooling their buying power to secure lower drug prices. The discount card would be available to Vermonters free of charge and at no on-going cost to taxpayers, offering up to 80% off generic drugs and up to 20% off name-brand medications. The card is accepted at most pharmacies nationwide and can be used for any FDA–approved medication.
Senate Health and Welfare Committee Chair Ginny Lyons, a lead sponsor of the bill, emphasized that the program creates a safety net for Vermonters whose coverage has been impacted by federal cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act.
“When Vermonters can’t afford to take their medications as prescribed, they skip doses, their health suffers, and it drives up costs across our health care system,” said Senator Lyons. “H.577 provides real relief by lowering drug costs—strengthening care in our state and supporting healthier communities.”
Vermonters could use the ArrayRx discount card with or without insurance. Under the bill, expenses incurred using the card could count toward an individual’s deductible if they submit a claim to their insurer. This will make the program more user-friendly and help patients achieve even greater savings.
Users in participating states report that the enrollment process is simple and the card is easy to use. In Connecticut, residents are saving an average of $259 per month using the ArrayRx discount card. Assuming a matching savings rate, if just 1% of Vermonters (about 6,840 people) enroll, patients could collectively save more than $20 million annually on their prescriptions.
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Vermont Business Magazine