The bill H.267, introduced by Representative McFaun, aims to establish the Vermont Hospital Security Plan, which will provide Vermont residents with access to hospital health care services and ensure payments to hospitals for these services. The plan includes the creation of a global hospital budget for the state and individual budgets for each hospital, addressing the financial sustainability of the health care system and reducing administrative costs. The bill outlines the roles of the Agency of Human Services and the Green Mountain Care Board in administering the plan and developing budgets, while also ensuring that Vermont residents are not balance billed for services beyond applicable cost-sharing amounts.

Additionally, the bill establishes the Vermont Hospital Security Trust Fund to finance health care services under the plan, detailing various funding sources such as transfers from the General Fund and federal receipts. It mandates the Secretary of Human Services to apply for federal waivers to include Medicare and Medicaid funds in the hospital budget. The bill also creates a special committee to recommend funding mechanisms for the plan, with a report due by January 15, 2026. The act is set to take effect upon passage, with the plan to be implemented by January 1, 2027.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 18-9437, 18-9456(c), 18-9456