H.185 proposes creating a universal primary care program in Vermont, requiring the Green Mountain Care Board to develop a system that provides all Vermonters with free access to primary care services - including mental health, substance use treatment, and preventive care - without needing insurance enrollment. Key provisions eliminate cost-sharing for primary care, reduce administrative burdens on providers and insurers, and fund the program through allocated health insurance premiums and public funds. The bill also directs the Board to separate primary care practices from hospital control and fund medical training to increase provider supply. This program, planned to launch by 2028, directly affects all Vermont residents, primary care providers, and health insurers.
This bill creates a study committee to examine the benefits and barriers of blenderized tube feeding - a method of providing blended foods and liquids through a feeding tube - particularly for children. The committee, including health officials, caregivers, medical experts, and dietitians, will study impacts on health outcomes, costs of fresh food/blenders, insurance coverage gaps, and provider awareness. It must report findings and recommendations to legislative committees by January 15, 2026, to inform potential future policy changes. The bill does not implement immediate policy changes but establishes a process to address access barriers for patients relying on this feeding method.
This bill directs Vermont's Green Mountain Care Board to create a plan for implementing reference-based pricing for hospital services. It would require the Board to establish benchmarks (based on Medicare rates), outline a gradual implementation timeline, estimate cost savings, and include protections against balance billing for patients. The plan must address impacts on hospitals, quality of care, and alignment with state health reform efforts, with a submission deadline of February 1, 2026. This affects all Vermont hospitals and health insurance plans covering inpatient and outpatient services.
This bill requires Vermont employers to maintain full-time legislators' employment benefits (like health insurance) at the same level and cost during their legislative service, as if they were working continuously. It ensures legislators retain job seniority, benefits coverage, and protection from retaliation for taking this leave. Employers may require legislators to continue paying their usual share of benefit costs during the leave period. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, directly affecting state legislators who hold full-time jobs outside their legislative role.
Vermont's H.35 unmerges the individual and small group health insurance markets by raising the employee threshold for small employers from 50 to 100 workers. This change, effective January 1, 2016, allows businesses with up to 100 employees to access the Vermont Health Benefit Exchange for coverage, directly affecting small businesses and their employees. The bill updates definitions in Vermont law to reflect this expanded eligibility and permits employers growing beyond 100 employees to maintain Exchange participation if they continue offering Exchange plans. The measure was signed into law by Governor Scott on February 19, 2025.
This bill requires most health insurance plans and Vermont Medicaid to cover biomarker testing when supported by specific evidence, such as FDA approvals, drug labels, or nationally recognized clinical guidelines. It directly affects patients needing these tests (e.g., for cancer diagnosis or treatment) and insurers/Medicaid, mandating coverage for tests analyzing genes, proteins, or other biological markers in blood or tissue. Key provisions include limiting disruptions in care (e.g., avoiding repeated biopsies) and defining biomarker testing broadly to include advanced genetic sequencing. The requirement takes effect January 1, 2026, for new plans, with Medicaid coverage pending CMS approval.
This bill (H 239) would extend key rights to temporary Vermont state employees who work over 1,280 hours annually for two years. It requires temporary workers to receive comparable pay, whistleblower protections, sick/annual leave, and health insurance meeting ACA standards after six months of employment. The bill also prohibits termination without good cause and clarifies that such employees qualify as "State employees" for labor rights purposes. These changes apply to temporary workers in state agencies, colleges, and courts who meet the hour threshold, effective July 1, 2025.
This bill (H.95) replaces Vermont’s outdated health insurance statutes (8 V.S.A. Chapter 107) with a reorganized, updated version. It defines key terms like "covered individual" and "health insurance plan," aligns Vermont’s rules with federal laws (including the Affordable Care Act and No Surprises Act), and sets standards for advertising practices. The bill directly affects health insurers, health care providers, and the Vermont Department of Banking, Insurance, and Health Care Administration, which enforces these rules. It modernizes the legal framework without changing coverage requirements or creating new benefits.
