Vermont requires Department of Health to establish emergency stockpile of reproductive and gender-affirming medications

Original title: An act relating to establishing an essential medication stockpile for reproductive and gender-affirming care

Last action · January 22, 2025: Read first time and referred to the Committee on Health CareSponsors: Troy Headrick and 13 others

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What This Bill Would Do

The Vermont Department of Health is required to assess, purchase, and maintain an emergency supply of essential medications for reproductive and gender-affirming care. The measure directs the Department to adopt by September 1, 2025, and submit an annual report to the General Assembly starting January 15.

Why it matters

Patients and health care providers across Vermont face changes in how critical medications are stored and distributed, with new rules prioritizing equitable access for rural and underserved communities.

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Department of Health

The Department is required to assess, purchase, maintain the emergency supply, adopt rules, and submit annual legislative reports.

Directly affected

Health care providers and facilities

Providers and facilities may contract or enter into agreements with the Department of Health to help establish and administer the emergency supply.

Directly affected

Individuals in Vermont

Residents rely on the ongoing availability of reproductive and gender-affirming medications supported by the emergency supply.

Key Facts

The Department of Health must assess, purchase, and maintain an emergency supply of essential medications for reproductive and gender-affirming care.
Essential medications include puberty blockers, hormone therapies, medications for termination of a pregnancy, and contraceptive medications.
The Department may contract with health care providers, health care facilities, and other qualified entities to administer the supply.
The Department must adopt rules regarding specific medications, procurement, storage, inventory rotation, and strategic placement prioritizing underserved and rural communities.

Show all 7 facts

On or before January 15 of each year, the Department must report to the General Assembly on the status, utilization, and outlook of the emergency supply.
The Department must adopt emergency rules on or before September 1, 2025, to establish and maintain the emergency supply.
The act takes effect upon passage.

Frequently Asked Questions

What medications are included in the emergency stockpile?

The stockpile includes medications needed for reproductive health care services and , specifically including puberty blockers, hormone therapies, medications for the termination of a pregnancy, and contraceptive medications.

When must the Department of Health adopt emergency rules for the stockpile?

The Department of Health must adopt on or before September 1, 2025.

Who receives the annual report on the emergency supply?

The Department of Health must report to the General Assembly on or before January 15 of each year.

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Where This Stands

Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Procedural history

1 action

Jan 22, 2025HouseIntroduced
Read first time and referred to the Committee on Health Care

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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