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BCBSVT Referral Policy
Submitted Legislation
VPA has been working with other health care associations and organizations on submitting legislation to prohibit insurers from imposing contract or policy provisions that penalize a participating provider if that provider makes a referral to a non-participating provider, such as the provision BCBSVT introduced this past summer. That legislation has been referred to the Senate Finance Committee and the House Health Care Committee for consideration.
BCBSVT has revised its policy to some extent in response to our concerns, but we do not believe the revision goes far enough.
You can view the relevant documents below.
YOUR ACTION IS NEEDED ASAP to let members of the Senate Finance Committee know that you support Section 1 of S.309 as introduced. This legislation addresses the insurer payment policy that holds referring providers financially liable for out-of-network referrals in certain circumstances.
Contact Your Legislator
Senate Finance Committee (S.309):
Sen. Ann Cummings, Chair
Sen. Mark A. MacDonald, Vice-Chair, Clerk
Sen. Michael Sirotkin
Sen. Brian Campion
Sen. Becca Balint
Sen. Randy Brock
House Health Care Committee (H.825):
Rep. William J. Lippert Jr., Chair
Rep. Anne B. Donahue, Vice Chair
Rep. Lori Houghton, Ranking Member
Rep. Annmarie Christensen, Clerk
Rep. Brian Cina
Rep. Mari Cordes
Rep. David Durfee
Rep. Woodman Page
Rep. Peter Reed
Rep. Lucy Rogers
Rep. Brian Smith
Pending Legislation
Learn More
You can search for legislation, find your local legislators, and discover the status of pending bills at the website for the Vermont General Assembly.
Advocacy News
Medicare Reimbursement & PSYPACT
The Rural Health Care Task Force, of which Rick Barnett (VPA Legislative Committe Chair) is a member, has proposed to the House Health Care Committee that master's level psychologists and licensed mental health counselors be eligible for reimbursement under Medicare. This issue is in the state legislature because of the Medicare waiver Vermont has received.
The Task Force also recommended the passage of the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT), which would facilitate telehealth across state lines.