18 V.S.A. § 4691: Vermont Prescription Drug Discount Card Program

(a) There is established the Vermont Prescription Drug Discount Card Program, administered by the Office of the State Treasurer, for the purpose of pooling prescription drug purchasing power with other U.S. states and territories and nongovernmental organizations. The Program shall be made available to all Vermont residents.

(b)(1) To further the purposes of the Program, the State Treasurer may cooperate with other U.S. states and territories, regional consortia, or nongovernmental organizations, or a combination of these, to pool prescription drug purchasing power to:

(A) reduce prescription drug costs;

(B) negotiate discounts with prescription drug manufacturers;

(C) centralize prescription drug purchasing; and

(D) establish volume discount contracting.

(2) As used in subdivision (1)(D) of this subsection, “volume discount contracting” means the negotiated purchase of a large quantity of a prescription drug at a decreased cost.

(c) Monies received by the Program from transfers, gifts, grants, donations, or any other source, including any monies provided to the State through a cooperative arrangement authorized by this section, shall be deposited in the Financial Literacy and Economic Empowerment Trust Fund established pursuant to 32 V.S.A. § 111 and shall be available to the Office of the State Treasurer to defray costs associated with administering the Program.

(d) The amount paid for a prescription drug after application of the Vermont Prescription Drug Discount Card by an individual who is covered by a health insurance plan, as defined in 8 V.S.A. § 4011, shall be attributed toward the covered individual’s deductible and out-of-pocket responsibilities in accordance with 8 V.S.A. § 4093 and section 3612 of this title.

(e) On or before January 15, 2028, and annually thereafter, the State Treasurer shall submit a report to the House Committee on Health Care, the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare, and the Governor detailing the activities of the Program during the previous calendar year, including the number of Vermont residents and pharmacies participating in the Program; the amount of savings on prescription drug costs achieved; and the impact, if any, of the Program on the viability of Vermont’s pharmacies.