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Bill

H 156

An act relating to prohibiting pharmacy benefit managers from owning or operating a pharmacy in Vermont

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mari Cordes

Prohibits PBMs from owning or operating any Vermont pharmacy to reduce conflicts of interest and boost market competition.

Read first time and referred to the Committee on Health Care
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · H 156

Overview

House Bill H.156 (2025-2026, Vermont) proposes prohibiting pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from owning or operating a pharmacy in Vermont. The bill has a sponsor and co-sponsor and, as of the initial action, has been read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Health Care.

Primary purpose and intent

  • To remove potential conflicts of interest and enhance competition in the Vermont pharmacy market by disallowing PBMs from owning or operating brick-and-mortar or mail-order pharmacies within the state.
  • Aims to promote fair access to pharmacy services, improve transparency in prescription pricing, and protect patients from discriminatory or anti-competitive practices tied to ownership structures.

Key provisions (as implied by the title)

  • Prohibition on ownership: PBMs would be barred from owning, operating, or having a controlling interest in any Vermont pharmacy.
  • Scope of PBMs: The bill targets entities that administer prescription drug benefits, process claims, negotiate rebates, and manage formularies, i.e., PBMs, regardless of corporate structure.
  • Enforcement framework: The bill would establish mechanisms to enforce the prohibition, including possible penalties or corrective actions for violations (exact mechanisms would be detailed in the text of the bill and related regulations).
  • Compliance timeline: The bill would specify an effective date by which PBMs must divest or otherwise comply with the prohibition (the precise timeline would appear in the final text).

Affected parties

  • PBMs operating or seeking to operate in Vermont.
  • Vermont pharmacies (indirectly affected, as the ban could alter the competitive landscape between independent pharmacies, chain pharmacies, and PBM-owned or affiliated locations).
  • Patients and consumers in Vermont, who may experience changes in prescription pricing, formulary designs, access to services, and network arrangements.
  • Health care providers and insurers coordinating with PBMs on drug benefits.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introductory stage: Read first time and referred to the Committee on Health Care (as of February 6, 2025), initiating committee discussion, potential hearings, and amendments.
  • Next steps: The bill would move through committee process, with potential updates, fiscal notes, and eventual floor votes in the House and, if advanced, the Senate before reaching the governor for signature or veto.
  • Effective date: Final text would specify an implementation date after passage, including any phase-in period for divestiture or structural change.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Competitive dynamics: Could reduce concentration in the pharmacy market and open opportunities for independently owned or non-PBM-affiliated pharmacies.
  • Pricing and access: Potential effects on prescription drug pricing, formulary control, patient savings, and network adequacy, depending on how PBMs and pharmacies adjust to the prohibition.
  • Administrative changes: PBMs would need to reorganize business operations to comply, potentially affecting contracts, vendor relationships, and state disclosures.
  • Regulatory oversight: Vermont agencies would define enforcement parameters, ensure compliance, and address any competitive concerns arising from the restriction.

If the full text becomes available, I can provide a point-by-point summary of each provision, including any definitions, exceptions, penalties, and the exact compliance timeline.

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

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