Gov. Phil Scott signed the law May 24.
After Vermont lawmakers passed the legislation May 11, CVS Health sent a letter to the governor asking him to veto the bill, which it said “enshrines a special arrangement that allows hospitals to mark up specialty medication prices for patients with rare and complex conditions,” according to the VTDigger.
CVS Health, which has a pharmacy benefits management company that does business in the state, argued the bill would cost individual patients hundreds of dollars a year. But Jeff Hochberg, president of Vermont Retail Druggists, told VTDigger CVS’ concerns were unfounded because the bill only redirects prescription money from PBMs to local pharmacies and will not result in higher patient premiums.
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