House Committee on Health Care

 

AGENDA

 

Room 42 and Zoom

April 21, 2026 - April 24, 2026

Last Updated 4/21/2026 3:36 PM

 

Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are livestreamed at

https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/house-health-care.

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

10:00 AM                   House Floor

Followed by Caucuses

 

12:00 PM                   Lunch

 

1:00 PM                   S. 64 - An act relating to amendments to the scope of practice for optometrists

Libby Houle, M.D., Ophthalmologist - Zoom

Nate Lighthizer, Doctor of Optometry, Associate Professor, Director of Continuing Education, Oklahoma College of Optometry at Northeastern State University - Zoom

Ashley Berliner, Director of Medicaid Policy, Agency of Human Services - Zoom

 

2:10 PM                   S. 193 - An act relating to establishing a forensic facility for certain criminal justice-involved persons

Review

Katie McLinn, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel - Invited

Erik FitzPatrick, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Jack McCullough, Project Director, Mental Health Law Project, Vermont Legal Aid - Zoom

 

4:00 PM                   Adjourn

 

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

9:00 AM                   S. 189 - An act relating to establishing a process for reducing or eliminating hospital services

Testimony and Committee Discussion

Jennifer Carbee, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

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

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

Devon Green, Senior Vice President of Policy and Strategy, Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems

Rebecca Merrifox, MD, FAAP, Pediatrician, Rutland Regional Medical Center

Anna McCloy, MD, FAAP, Pediatrician, Rutland Regional Medical Center

 

12:00 PM                   Lunch

 

1:00 PM                   House Floor

 

2:15 PM                   S. 193 - An act relating to establishing a forensic facility for certain criminal justice-involved persons

Review

Karen Barber, General Counsel, Department of Mental Health

Lauri Fisher, General Counsel, Department of Corrections

Dr. Jill Bowen, Commissioner, Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living - Invited

Kelly Carroll, Voices for Vermont Victims - Zoom

 

3:30 PM                   Residential Closures

Samantha Sweet, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Mental Health - Zoom

Ashley Berliner, Director of Medicaid Policy, Agency of Human Services - Zoom

 

4:00 PM                   Adjourn

 

Thursday, April 23, 2026

9:00 AM                   S. 197 - An act relating to establishing a primary care payment reform program

Additional Witnesses TBA

Ethan Parke, Board Member, Vermont Health Care For All

 

12:00 PM                   Lunch

 

1:00 PM                   House Floor

 

2:15 PM                   HR.1 Review

Discussion of expiration of premium tax credits

Nolan Langweil, Principal Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office

 

2:45 PM                   S. 189 - An act relating to establishing a process for reducing or eliminating hospital services

Markup and possible vote

Jennifer Carbee, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

4:00 PM                   Adjourn

 

Friday, April 24, 2026

9:30 AM                   House Floor

 

10:30 AM                   S. 197 - An act relating to establishing a primary care payment reform program

Testimony and Committee Discussion

Jennifer Carbee, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Hannah Rabin, M.D., Primary Care Provider, Richmond Family Medicine

 

12:00 PM                   Lunch

 

1:00 PM                   TBD

 

4:00 PM                   Adjourn

 

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

 Tasha Kleppner at Tasha.Kleppner@vtleg.gov