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H 557

An act relating to Medicaid coverage for vitamin D deficiency testing

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mike Mrowicki

Medicaid in Vermont would cover laboratory testing to diagnose vitamin D deficiency for eligible beneficiaries.

Read first time and referred to the Committee on Health Care
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · H 557

Overview

House Bill 557 (H 557) from the 2025-2026 Vermont session proposes Medicaid coverage for vitamin D deficiency testing. The bill has one known sponsor (Co-sponsor: Mike Mrowicki) and was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Health Care on January 6, 2026.

Purpose and intent

  • The primary aim is to require Vermont’s Medicaid program to cover testing for vitamin D deficiency.
  • By mandating coverage, the bill seeks to ensure individuals enrolled in Medicaid can obtain diagnostic testing to identify insufficient vitamin D levels, which can influence treatment decisions for related health conditions.

Key provisions

  • Coverage requirement: Medicaid must provide coverage for laboratory testing that determines vitamin D levels in eligible beneficiaries.
  • Eligibility scope: The provision applies to individuals who are Medicaid beneficiaries within Vermont’s program (i.e., recipients eligible for Medicaid services in the state).
  • Reimbursement and access: The bill would affect how testing is billed to Medicaid and may set standards for when such tests are considered medically necessary, aligning with existing guidelines for diagnostic testing.
  • Administrative implementation: The bill would require appropriate administrative processes to authorize, process, and reimburse vitamin D deficiency tests within the Medicaid framework.

Note: Details such as specific test codes, prior authorization requirements, frequency limitations, or accompanying coverage conditions (e.g., concurrent clinical indications) are not provided in the available summary. The bill’s language would specify any such operational rules.

Who is affected

  • Primary: Vermonters enrolled in Medicaid who have a clinical indication for vitamin D testing or who require testing as part of standard diagnostic workups.
  • Providers: Healthcare providers and laboratories that order and perform vitamin D tests for Medicaid beneficiaries.
  • State Medicaid program: The Vermont Agency of Human Services and its Department of Vermont Health Access, which would implement and administer coverage, billing, and reimbursement for these tests.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Current status: Read first time and referred to the Committee on Health Care (as of January 6, 2026). This means the bill will be reviewed, possibly amended, and could advance to further legislative stages (e.g., committee hearings, chamber votes).
  • Next steps: If the committee approves, the bill could progress to the floor for debate and potential passage, with subsequent readings, Governor action, and potential enactment into law according to Vermont’s legislative timeline.

Potential impact (high-level)

  • Access: Improved access to diagnostic testing for vitamin D deficiency among Medicaid beneficiaries.
  • Clinical decision-making: Supports clinicians in diagnosing deficiency and guiding treatment decisions (e.g., supplementation, monitoring).
  • Cost considerations: May influence short-term Medicaid expenditures for testing but could have long-term health cost implications by enabling early diagnosis and management of deficiency-related conditions.

Notes

  • The summary reflects the bill’s stated objective to cover vitamin D deficiency testing under Medicaid; exact operational details will be defined in the bill’s text and any amendments adopted during committee consideration.

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

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