Text of VT H 581 (2026)

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.581 2026 Page 1 of 3 VT LEG #386242 v.1 H.581 1 Introduced by Representative Burrows of West Windsor 2 Referred to Committee on 3 Date: 4 Subject: Health; prescription drugs; Vermont Prescription Monitoring System; 5 reproductive health care services; gender-affirming health care 6 services 7 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes not to require 8 the reporting of controlled substances prescribed for reproductive or gender- 9 affirming care to the Vermont Prescription Monitoring System unless the 10 Commissioner of Health determines that reporting is necessary to protect the 11 public health. The bill would also require that any information about those 12 medications that is in the Vermont Prescription Monitoring System be 13 excluded from sharing with other states’ prescription monitoring systems. 14 An act relating to limiting the reporting of certain medications to the 15 Vermont Prescription Monitoring System 16 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 17 Sec. 1. 18 V.S.A. § 4283 is amended to read: 18 § 4283. CREATION; IMPLEMENTATION 19 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.581 2026 Page 2 of 3 VT LEG #386242 v.1 (a) The Department shall maintain an electronic database and reporting 1 system for monitoring Schedules II, III, and IV controlled substances, as 2 defined in 21 C.F.R. Part 1308, as amended and as may be amended, that are 3 dispensed within the State of Vermont by a health care provider or dispenser or 4 dispensed to an address within the State by a pharmacy licensed by the 5 Vermont Board of Pharmacy. 6 (b) As required by the Department, every dispenser who is licensed by the 7 Vermont Board of Pharmacy shall report to the Department in a timely manner 8 data for each controlled substance in Schedules II, III, and IV, as amended and 9 as may be amended, dispensed to a patient within Vermont. Reporting shall 10 not be required for: 11 (1) a drug administered directly to a patient; or 12 (2) a drug dispensed by a health care provider at a facility licensed by 13 the Department, provided that the quantity dispensed is limited to an amount 14 adequate to treat the patient for a maximum of 48 hours; or 15 (3) a medication prescribed for purposes of reproductive health care 16 services or gender-affirming health care services, as those terms are defined in 17 1 V.S.A. § 150, unless the Commissioner determines that the reporting of those 18 medications is necessary to protect the public health. 19 * * * 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.581 2026 Page 3 of 3 VT LEG #386242 v.1 Sec. 2. 18 V.S.A. § 4288 is amended to read: 1 § 4288. RECIPROCAL AGREEMENTS 2 The Department of Health may enter into reciprocal agreements with other 3 states that have prescription monitoring programs so long as provided access 4 under each such agreement is consistent with the privacy, security, and 5 disclosure protections in this chapter, and further provided that if the Vermont 6 Prescription Monitoring System contains any information regarding 7 medications prescribed for purposes of reproductive health care services or 8 gender-affirming health care services, as those terms are defined in 1 V.S.A. 9 § 150, the reciprocal agreements shall exclude those medications and any 10 information about their prescribers, dispensers, and recipients from the 11 information to be disclosed to another state’s prescription monitoring program. 12 Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE 13 This act shall take effect on July 1, 2026. 14