Bill > S0126

This bill aims to transform Vermont's health care system by introducing several key reforms. The legislation establishes a Statewide Health Care Delivery Strategic Plan to be developed collaboratively by various state agencies and stakeholders, with goals of improving health outcomes, reducing disparities, and controlling costs. A key provision is the implementation of reference-based pricing, which will set maximum payment amounts for hospital services based on Medicare rates, starting no later than hospital fiscal year 2027. The bill also mandates the creation of global hospital budgets, with plans to implement these for non-critical access hospitals by 2028 and all Vermont hospitals by 2030. Additionally, the legislation creates two new committees: a Health Care Delivery Advisory Committee to monitor the health care system's performance and a Vermont Steering Committee for Comprehensive Primary Health Care to focus on primary care needs. The bill establishes mechanisms for data integration through a Unified Health Data Space and requires various reporting requirements to track the progress of health care system transformation. To support these efforts, the bill includes appropriations for the Agency of Human Services and the Green Mountain Care Board, and authorizes new positions to help implement reference-based pricing and other reforms.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

Health and Welfare (Senate)

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/S.126