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VermontS.1892025-2026 SessionSenateWALLET

An act relating to establishing a process for the elimination of certain hospital services

Sponsored By: Virginia "Ginny" V Lyons (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Communities get notice before hospital service closures

Beginning June 16, 2026, Vermont hospitals must give state officials early notice before ending listed services. These include emergency care, primary care, obstetrics, perinatal care, inpatient psychiatric care, substance use treatment, dialysis, and inpatient pediatric care. Primary care and dialysis site closures are covered, as is medication treatment for opioid use disorder. Hospitals must notify the Agency of Human Services, Green Mountain Care Board, and Office of the Health Care Advocate. They must explain their reasons, compare the costs of keeping versus ending services, and explain rejected alternatives. The Agency reviews health system costs and regional access; the Agency and Board may discuss ways to preserve services. Early-review materials are confidential, and the Health Care Advocate cannot disclose them. Hospitals proceeding must give formal notice within 90 days of early notice or when confidential talks end, whichever comes first. Formal notice must come at least 60 days before services end. Hospitals must publish it, notify local legislators, and allow at least 30 days for public input, including a county hearing. They must send the three offices a summary of community responses. After deciding to proceed, hospitals must notify the Agency and Board within five business days. Hospitals may voluntarily use early notice and consultation for other services. This process does not guarantee that services stay open.

Hospital closure savings face budget review

Beginning June 16, 2026, the Green Mountain Care Board must review hospital budgets after final notice of a listed service elimination. This review follows the required closure process, and the Board may adjust the hospital’s approved budget. Savings may lower health insurance premiums or support primary care, prevention, and other community-based services; neither outcome is guaranteed. The law removes the earlier 45-day notice and review rules for service cuts made to meet hospital budgets. The Board must track service eliminations and assess their benefits to Vermonters or the state’s health care system. It no longer must work with the Department of Financial Regulation on that monitoring.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Virginia "Ginny" V Lyons

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

Actions Timeline

  1. Senate Message: Signed by Governor June 16, 2026

    5/29/2026Senate

  2. Signed by Governor on June 16, 2026

    5/29/2026Senate

  3. Delivered to Governor on June 10, 2026

    5/29/2026Senate

  4. Senate Message: House proposal of amendment concurred in

    5/20/2026Senate

  5. Title amended

    5/19/2026Senate

  6. As passed by Senate and House

    5/19/2026Senate

  7. House proposal of amendment concurred in

    5/19/2026Senate

  8. House proposal of amendment; text

    5/19/2026Senate

  9. Unfinished Business/House Proposal of Amendment

    5/19/2026Senate

  10. New Business/House Proposal of Amendment

    5/15/2026Senate

  11. House proposal of amendment

    5/14/2026Senate

  12. Entered on Notice Calendar

    5/14/2026Senate

  13. House message: House passed bill in concurrence with proposal(s) of amendment

    5/14/2026House

  14. Read third time and passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment

    5/12/2026House

  15. Action Calendar: Third Reading

    5/12/2026House

  16. Third Reading ordered

    5/8/2026House

  17. Report of Committee on Health Care agreed to

    5/8/2026House

  18. Rep. Demar of Enosburgh reported for the Committee on Health Care

    5/8/2026House

  19. Read second time

    5/8/2026House

  20. Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

    5/8/2026House

  21. Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

    5/7/2026House

  22. Read first time and referred to the Committee on Health Care

    3/20/2026House

  23. Title amended as recommended by Committee on Health and Welfare

    3/18/2026Senate

  24. Read 3rd time & passed

    3/18/2026Senate

  25. New Business/Third Reading

    3/18/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • As Enacted (ACT 146)Opens in a new window

    6/19/2026

    PDF

  • As Passed by Both Chambers

    6/3/2026

    PDF

  • As Passed by Both Chambers (Unofficial)

    6/3/2026

    PDF

  • House Proposal of Amendment

    5/13/2026

    PDF

  • House Proposal of Amendment (Unofficial)

    5/13/2026

    PDF

  • As Passed by the Senate

    3/19/2026

    PDF

  • As Passed by the Senate (Unofficial)

    3/19/2026

    PDF

  • As Introduced

    1/5/2026

    PDF

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