PRIA Logo™
VermontH.5772025-2026 SessionHouseWALLET

An act relating to establishing the Vermont Prescription Drug Discount Card Program

Sponsored By: Alyssa Black (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

More drug payments count toward deductibles

Beginning July 1, 2026, qualifying payments by you or on your behalf count toward your health plan's prescription deductible. They also count toward applicable out-of-pocket limits and annual out-of-pocket maximums. This includes qualifying discount-card purchases made without using your plan's drug coverage. Third-party payments, financial help, discounts, coupons, and other price reductions count only when the drug has no generic or interchangeable biological alternative. They also qualify if you gained access through prior approval, step therapy, or an exceptions and appeals process. For purchases without using drug coverage, you must submit proof of the actual amount paid. Insurers and pharmacy benefit managers must provide a downloadable proof-of-payment form and an annual notice explaining this requirement. For high-deductible plans, payments count only to the extent that the plan keeps its health savings account eligibility.

New prescription discounts for Vermont residents

Beginning July 1, 2026, the State Treasurer runs a prescription drug discount card program for all Vermont residents. The Treasurer can pool purchasing power with other states, territories, regional groups, and nongovernmental organizations. These partnerships can negotiate discounts, centralize purchases, and arrange volume discounts; no specific savings are guaranteed. The law provides $50,000 from the General Fund in fiscal year 2027 to develop and implement the program. It also renames the Financial Literacy Trust Fund as the Financial Literacy and Economic Empowerment Trust Fund. The fund's purposes expand to include other economic empowerment opportunities for Vermonters and paying program administration costs. Program money from transfers, gifts, grants, donations, and partnerships must go into this fund. By January 15, 2028, and annually afterward, the Treasurer must report to the Governor and the House and Senate health committees. Reports cover the prior year's resident and pharmacy participation, drug savings, and effects on Vermont pharmacies' ability to stay open.

Payment caps protect insured prescription buyers

Beginning July 1, 2026, pharmacy benefit managers cannot require insured people to pay above the lowest of three amounts. For a covered prescription, these are the plan's cost-sharing amount, the drug's maximum allowed cost, and the pharmacy's usual cash price after known discounts. Discount cards and other third-party drug benefits do not count as discounts when calculating that cash price.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Alyssa Black

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Daisy Berbeco

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

Actions Timeline

  1. House message: Governor approved bill on June 15, 2026

    5/29/2026House

  2. Signed by Governor on June 15, 2026

    5/29/2026House

  3. Delivered to Governor on June 9, 2026

    5/29/2026House

  4. House message: House concurred in Senate proposal of amendment

    5/21/2026House

  5. Senate proposal of amendment concurred in

    5/19/2026House

  6. Action Calendar: Unfinished Business

    5/19/2026House

  7. Action Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment

    5/18/2026House

  8. Notice Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment

    5/15/2026House

  9. Senate Message: Passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment

    5/14/2026Senate

  10. Read 3rd time & passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment

    5/13/2026Senate

  11. New Business/Third Reading

    5/13/2026Senate

  12. 3rd reading ordered

    5/12/2026Senate

  13. Proposal of amendment by Committee on Health and Welfare agreed to

    5/12/2026Senate

  14. Reported favorably by Senator Lyons for Committee on Appropriations

    5/12/2026Senate

  15. Reported favorably by Senator Gulick for Committee on Finance

    5/12/2026Senate

  16. Read 2nd time, reported favorably with proposal of amendment by Senator Lyons for Committee on Health and Welfare

    5/12/2026Senate

  17. Favorable report by Committee on Appropriations

    5/12/2026Senate

  18. Favorable report by Committee on Finance

    5/12/2026Senate

  19. Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Health and Welfare

    5/12/2026Senate

  20. New Business/Second Reading

    5/12/2026Senate

  21. Favorable report by Committee on Appropriations

    5/8/2026Senate

  22. Favorable report by Committee on Finance

    5/8/2026Senate

  23. Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Health and Welfare

    5/8/2026Senate

  24. Second Reading

    5/8/2026Senate

  25. Entered on Notice Calendar

    5/8/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • As Enacted (ACT 132)Opens in a new window

    6/18/2026

    PDF

  • As Passed by Both Chambers

    6/2/2026

    PDF

  • As Passed by Both Chambers (Unofficial)

    6/2/2026

    PDF

  • Senate Proposal of Amendment

    5/14/2026

    PDF

  • Senate Proposal of Amendment (Unofficial)

    5/14/2026

    PDF

  • As Passed by the House

    3/31/2026

    PDF

  • As Passed by the House (Unofficial)

    3/31/2026

    PDF

  • As Introduced

    1/5/2026

    PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation