Bill > H0202

This bill aims to increase transparency in prescription drug costs and spending in Vermont through several key provisions. First, it prohibits pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from requiring patients to pay more for a prescription drug than the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost plus a professional dispensing fee. The bill mandates that pharmacies post notices informing patients they can ask about different pricing options for their medications, including their plan's cost-sharing amount, maximum allowable drug cost, cash price, and the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost. Additionally, the bill requires hospitals participating in the federal 340B drug pricing program (a program that allows certain healthcare providers to purchase outpatient drugs at discounted rates) to submit detailed annual reports to the Green Mountain Care Board about their program participation, including acquisition costs, payment amounts, and how they use program savings to benefit their community. Health insurers must also provide annual reports to individual patients detailing the total amount spent on prescription drugs on their behalf, and 340B program participants must notify patients when their prescription drugs were purchased through the program. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, with the first hospital report due by July 1, 2026.

Health and Social Services

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.202