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H 848

An act relating to limiting facility fees for certain outpatient services and telehealth

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Greg Burtt and 6 co-sponsors

Vermont bill caps facility fees charged alongside outpatient and telehealth services to reduce patient out-of-pocket healthcare costs.

Read first time and referred to the Committee on Health Care
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Bill Summary · H 848

Legislative bill overview

H 848 proposes to cap or limit the facility fees that healthcare providers can charge for certain outpatient services and telehealth consultations in Vermont. Facility fees are charges added to professional fees for using medical equipment, staff, and infrastructure. The bill aims to reduce out-of-pocket costs for patients accessing these services by restricting how much providers can charge for facility use.

Why is this important

Facility fees have become a significant source of hidden healthcare costs for patients, often doubling or tripling the base service cost without clear justification to consumers. By capping these fees, the bill could make outpatient care and telehealth more affordable and predictable for Vermonters, while also potentially increasing telehealth adoption by reducing barriers to access.

Potential points of contention

  • Provider revenue impact: Healthcare facilities may argue that facility fee restrictions could limit their ability to maintain equipment, staffing, and infrastructure, potentially affecting service quality or expansion
  • Scope definition: Determining which services qualify as "certain outpatient services" will be contentious—providers and patient advocates may disagree on where boundaries should be drawn
  • Telehealth equity concerns: While telehealth fees are included, restrictions could disproportionately affect rural providers or smaller practices with higher operational costs relative to larger health systems

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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