Legislative Update
Devon Green, VP of Government Relations
Just as robins and crocuses signal spring, the signs of the legislative session winding down are upon us. Each day holds multiple highs and lows as various proposals come up and just as easily float away until next year or get stuck into other bills. Follow everything that’s happening below!
Doulas: The House passed S.109, a bill that calls for a sunrise review for regulation of doula services and paves the way for Medicaid reimbursement.
Pharmacy Benefit Managers: The Senate Health and Welfare Committee voted out the pharmacy benefit manager bill, H.233, with an amendment that provides more information to the Health Care Advocate.
Prior Authorization and Administrative Simplification: A huge thank you to Sen. Lyons, Sen. Hardy, and Sen. Gulick for advancing H.766 out of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee. At the same time, the Senate Finance Committee heard testimony from health insurers and providers. Senate Finance is not taking possession of the bill, but the committee discussed the possibility of a floor amendment to address some insurer concerns.
Forensic Facility: The forensic facility bill, S.192, started the week off in the House Human Services, where the committee declined to allow the Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living to seek treatment for certain individuals with intellectual disabilities in a forensic facility. With that change, the bill was voted out of the House Human Services Committee and landed in the House Health Care Committee. That committee moved away from establishing a new forensic facility and worked on allowing emergency involuntary procedures and involuntary medication at the secure therapeutic residential facility. Next stop for the bill is the House Judiciary Committee.
EMS: The Senate Health and Welfare Committee advanced H.622, which does the following:
Global Commitment funds for Medicaid to reimburse treatment without transport
Support for the EMS Advisory Committee in developing a five-year statewide plan for coordinated delivery
Training grants to be distributed in an geographically equitable manner
Reference-Based Pricing: I don’t have all the details of the budget, but a study on reference-based pricing is included and will be conducted by the Green Mountain Care Board.