by Devon Green, VP of Government Relations, VAHHS
I’ve summarized just a few bills that advanced last week, but they’re the big ones. They signal a willingness to significantly change Vermont’s hospitals to achieve affordability. They will all be on the “floor” this week for full votes and then back to their original chambers for concurrence or conference committees.
Health Care Reform: The House Health Care Committee advanced S.126, the health care reform bill in a 8-3-0 vote. This bill does the following:
- AHS must make recommendations on reducing hospital spend by 2.5% ($100M) statewide over the course of FY 2026
- Green Mountain Care Board to implement reference-based pricing for hospitals by 2027 with hospital input
- Hospitals must report number of administrative versus direct-care employees to the Green Mountain Care Board
- Hospitals must report variable compensation to the Green Mountain Care Board
- Hospitals must report to the Green Mountain Care Board the reduction or elimination of hospital services in response to budget orders 45 days prior to implementation
- Actions recommended by Act 167 are exempt
- Statewide health care plan overseen by a health care delivery advisory committee, including hospital representation
- The Green Mountain Care Board to report back in February 2026 on whether hospital global budgets are feasible
- AHS to report whether integrating claims and clinical data is feasible
The bill’s fiscal note is here.
340B Protection: The Senate Health and Welfare Committee advanced H.266, the 340B protection bill, out of its committee in a 5-0-0 vote. Despite quality and safety concerns raised by VAHHS and the Office of Professional Regulation, the bill will allow for “white bagging” until January 1, 2030 to contain prescription drug costs.
Expansion of Green Mountain Care Board Powers: The Senate Health and Welfare Committee passed H.482 on a 3-2-0 vote. This bill allows the Green Mountain Care Board to adjust reimbursement rates for certain hospitals if a domestic health insurer is near insolvency; adjust reimbursement rates if hospitals are not meeting their budgets; and appoint an independent observer if hospitals are in violation of their budget orders or misrepresent information to the Green Mountain Care Board.
Delivered to the Governor
- Certificate of Need H.96
- Access to legally protected health care services and confidentiality of most contact information for providers S.28
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