Healthcare (Medicaid)

This bill eliminates a requirement for Vermont's Department of Vermont Health Access to annually compile and share lists of prescription drugs with significant price increases (50%+ over five years or 15%+ in a year). The Department would no longer need to create these lists, which previously included details on cost increases, drug types (generic/brand), and spending data for the Office of the Attorney General and Green Mountain Care Board. The change directly affects the Department's administrative duties under existing prescription drug cost transparency rules. Other provisions in the bill adjust committee memberships, update health insurance market language, and modify Medicaid eligibility and doula service coverage timelines, but the core policy change is removing the annual drug price reporting requirement.

S.162 eliminates the Department of Vermont Health Access' (DVHA) annual requirement to create and publish lists of prescription drugs with significant price increases (over 50% in 5 years or 15% in a year). This directly affects DVHA, removing its duty to share these lists with the Green Mountain Care Board and Attorney General's office. The bill also modifies Medicaid Advisory Committee membership rules (barring reappointments), updates health insurance market language, adjusts Clinical Utilization Review Board composition, and increases burial funds exclusion for Medicaid eligibility. Other minor changes include extending the timeline for Medicaid doula service coverage approval.