§ 4655. Implementation provisions

Upon the last to occur of the General Assembly enacting a method of financial support pursuant to section 4654 of this chapter and receipt of certification and approval by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Agency of Human Services shall begin implementation of the wholesale prescription drug importation program and shall begin operating the program within six months. As part of the implementation process, the Agency of Human Services shall, in accordance with State procurement and contract laws, rules, and procedures as appropriate:

(1) become licensed as a wholesaler or enter into a contract with a Vermont-licensed wholesaler;

(2) contract with one or more Vermont-licensed distributors;

(3) contract with one or more licensed and regulated Canadian suppliers;

(4) engage with health insurance plans, employers, pharmacies, health care providers, and consumers;

(5) develop a registration process for health insurance plans, pharmacies, and prescription drug-administering health care providers who are willing to participate in the program;

(6) create a publicly available source for listing the prices of imported prescription drug products that shall be made available to all participating entities and consumers;

(7) create an outreach and marketing plan to generate program awareness;

(8) starting in the weeks before the program becomes operational, create and staff a hotline to answer questions and address the needs of consumers, employers, health insurance plans, pharmacies, health care providers, and other affected sectors;

(9) establish the audit function and a two-year audit work-plan cycle; and

(10) conduct any other activities that the Agency determines to be important for successful implementation of the program. (Added 2017, No. 133 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. May 21, 2018.)