The bill amends various sections of Vermont law to enhance protections for individuals involved in legally protected health care activities, particularly focusing on reproductive and gender-affirming health care services. It introduces provisions that extend protections to individuals who have engaged in such activities in other U.S. jurisdictions, provided those actions were legal. Additionally, the bill ensures that the personal contact information of licensed health care professionals is exempt from public inspection, thereby enhancing their privacy. It also revises definitions related to unprofessional conduct for health care providers, emphasizing truthful advertising and the delivery of health care services, while broadening the scope of health care services to include a wider range of medical and therapeutic options.

Moreover, the bill enhances the confidentiality and protection of health care information by specifying that disclosures ordered by a state court must not be used to impose liability on individuals for seeking or providing legally protected health care. It clarifies permissible disclosures related to investigations by the Vermont Board of Medical Practice and the Department of Health, and updates definitions to include naturopathic physicians. The bill also modifies reporting requirements for fetal deaths, establishes confidentiality measures for prescriptions related to gender-affirming and reproductive health care services, and provides immunity from liability for pharmacists complying with confidentiality requests, except in cases of gross negligence or intentional misconduct. The act is set to take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 9-63, 9-11, 18-5222, 26-1354, 26-1582, 26-1615, 26-1736, 26-1842, 26-4132
As Passed By the Senate -- Official: 9-63, 9-11, 18-5222, 26-1354, 26-1582, 26-1615, 26-1736, 26-1842, 26-4132, 1-317(c), 1-317, 3-129a, 18-4999, 18-5200, 26-1658, 26-2858
As Passed By the Senate -- Unofficial: 1-317(c), 1-317, 3-129a, 9-63, 9-11, 18-4999, 18-5200, 18-5222, 26-1354, 26-1615, 26-1658, 26-1736, 26-2858
As Passed by Both House and Senate -- Official: 9-63, 9-11, 18-5222, 26-1354, 26-1582, 26-1615, 26-1736, 26-1842, 26-4132, 1-317(c), 1-317, 3-129a, 18-4999, 18-5200, 26-1658, 26-2858, 1-150, 12-7306, 18-1881
As Passed by Both House and Senate -- Unofficial: 1-150, 1-317(c), 1-317, 3-129a, 9-63, 9-11, 12-7306, 18-1881, 18-4999, 18-5200, 18-5222, 26-1354, 26-1615, 26-1736
As Enacted: 1-150, 1-317(c), 1-317, 3-129a, 9-63, 9-11, 12-7306, 18-1881, 18-4999, 18-5200, 18-5222, 26-1354, 26-1615, 26-1736