Senate Committee on Health and Welfare

 

AGENDA

 

Room 17 and Zoom

February 24, 2026 - February 27, 2026

Last Updated 2/24/2026 3:47 PM

 

Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are livestreamed at

https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/senate-health-and-welfare.

Tuesday, February 24, 2026

9:30 AM                   Senate Floor

 

10:00 AM                   S. 163 - An act relating to the role of advanced practice registered nurses in hospital care

Mark-Up and Vote

Jennifer Carbee, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

10:30 AM                   S. 239 - An act relating to the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Working Group

Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky, Sponsor

 

11:00 AM                   S. 190 - An act relating to the Green Mountain Care Board, reference-based pricing, and hospital outsourcing of clinical care

Courtney Harrness, Director of Legislative and Government Relations, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont

James Mauro, Chief Data Officer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont

Dr. Thomas Weigel, Chief Medical Officer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont

Mike Fisher, Chief Health Care Advocate, Vermont Legal Aid

 

11:50 AM                   Southeastern Vermont Community Action

Josh Davis, Executive Director, Southeastern Vermont Community Action (SEVCA)

 

12:00 PM                   Adjourn

 

Wednesday, February 25, 2026

9:00 AM                   S. 142 - An act relating to a pathway to licensure for internationally trained physicians and medical graduates

Andrea Green Mahoney, Director, Pediatric Global Health

M.D. Matthew Greenberg, Chair, Vermont Board of Medical Practice

 

9:45 AM                   CSG East Presentation

Shirley Girouard, Health Policy Consultant, CSG-East - Zoom

 

10:15 AM                   S. 190 - An act relating to the Green Mountain Care Board, reference-based pricing, and hospital outsourcing of clinical care

Committee Discussion

Jennifer Carbee, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Mike Fisher, Chief Health Care Advocate, Vermont Legal Aid

 

10:45 AM                   S. 197 - An act relating to establishing a primary care payment reform program

Committee Discussion

Johanna de Graffenreid, Public Policy Manager, Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility

Courtney Harrness, Director of Legislative and Government Relations, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont

Jordan Estey, V.P. Government Affairs, MVP Health Care

Margaret Reynolds, Government Affairs Director, Cigna Health Care

Mike Fisher, Chief Health Care Advocate, Vermont Legal Aid

 

12:00 PM                   Adjourn

 

1:00 PM                   Senate Floor

 

Thursday, February 26, 2026

9:00 AM                   H. 237 - An act relating to prescribing by doctoral-level psychologists

Possible Vote

 

9:30 AM                   S. 197 - An act relating to establishing a primary care payment reform program

Chris Towne, CEO, Northern County Community Health

Michael Pieciak, Vermont State Treasurer, Office of the State Treasurer

Michael Costa, President and CEO, Gifford Health Care

 

10:00 AM                   Committee Discussion

 

10:30 AM                   S. 189 - An act relating to an approval process for reducing or eliminating hospital services

Jill Mazza Olson, Medicaid and Health Systems Director, Agency of Human Services

Jessica Holmes, Ph.D., Board Member, Green Mountain Care Board

 

10:45 AM                   

S. 189 - An act relating to an approval process for reducing or eliminating hospital services

Mark-Up

Jennifer Carbee, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

-                                   S. 190 - An act relating to the Green Mountain Care Board, reference-based pricing, and hospital outsourcing of clinical care

Jennifer Carbee, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

-                                   S. 197 - An act relating to establishing a primary care payment reform program

Jennifer Carbee, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

12:00 PM                   Adjourn

 

1:00 PM                   Senate Floor

 

Friday, February 27, 2026

9:00 AM                   S. 154 - An act relating to health insurance coverage for biomarker testing

Walk-Through

 

9:30 AM                   S. 142 - An act relating to a pathway to licensure for internationally trained physicians and medical graduates

Mark-Up

Jennifer Carbee, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

10:00 AM                   S. 233 - An act relating to establishing a special education family advocacy pilot program

Introduction and Walk-Through

Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

11:30 AM                   Senate Floor

 

ATTENTION WITNESSES

 

Please email handouts to the committee assistant at least 24 hours before your scheduled meeting time. With few exceptions, any documents you send to a committee assistant are open to the public and may be posted to the committee’s web page.

 

Should you require accessibility services, please click here and note that requests should be made 48 hours in advance of testimony.

 

 

 

If you have any questions or comments, please contact

 Calysta Koppenhaver at Calysta.Koppenhaver@vtleg.gov