Legislative Update
Devon Green, VP of Government Relations
This is it. The whole session has been a steady click, click, click of a rising car on a track. Now we’re over the apex and hurtling towards the end of the session. And, sure, sometimes that feels less like the wind in your face and more like sitting around waiting for your issue to happen, but what makes it a rush is that things can change in an instant.
Prior Authorization and Administrative Simplification: H.766 is going to the governor’s desk! The House concurred with 104 voting yes and 23 voting no on the Senate amendment to H.766, which changed from aligning commercial insurance prior authorizations to Medicaid for everyone to eliminating prior authorizations for just primary care, except for pharmaceuticals and out-of-network services. The bill also reforms step therapy, requires coverage of at least one asthma controller medication without prior authorization, aligns claims edits to Medicare, and more. If you would like to show your support of the bill, call the governor’s office at 802-828-3345.
Data Privacy: The Senate Health and Welfare Committee took testimony from VAHHS and the health care association coalition on H.121, the data privacy bill. The health care coalition asked for clarity on how the state law would interact with HIPAA. The committee landed on helpful language exempting a health care organization and only the health care components of a hybrid entity. The fate of the bill remains to be seen, however, as the committee debates whether a private right of action should apply and to what data.
Health Equity Advisory Commission: The Senate Health and Welfare Committee heard an update from the Health Equity Advisory Commission. The Commission recommended locating the Office of Health Equity within the Department of Health.
Prescription Drugs Price Control: The House passed S.98, a bill that requires the Green Mountain Care Board to produce a plan to regulate the cost of prescription drugs. The bill also clarifies the process for appointment and reappointment of Green Mountain Care Board Members.
Peer Support: The House passed H.847, a bill that creates a certification framework for peer support providers and peer recovery specialists.