H 848

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 2026  Page 1 of 3
1H.848
2 Introduced by Representatives North of Ferrisburgh, Burtt of Cabot, Critchlow
3of Colchester, Demar of Enosburgh, Lueders of Lincoln,
4McFaun of Barre Town, Powers of Waterford, and Tagliavia of
5Corinth
6 Referred to Committee on
7 Date:
8 Subject: Health; hospitals; hospital networks; outpatient services; facility fees
9 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to prohibit
10 hospitals and hospital networks from charging a facility fee for certain
11 categories of outpatient services and services delivered through telehealth. It
12 would also require hospitals to provide written notice to patients before
13 delivering services that will incur facility fees.
14    An act relating to limiting facility fees for certain outpatient services and
15    telehealth
16 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
17 Sec. 1. 18 V.S.A. § 1856 is added to read:
18 § 1856. NOTICE OF AND LIMITATIONS ON FACILITY FEES
19    (a) As used in this section:
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 BILL AS INTRODUCED  H.848
 2026  Page 2 of 3
1(1) “Facility fee” means any fee charged or billed by a hospital or
2 hospital network for outpatient services provided by a hospital-owned or
3 hospital-affiliated facility that is:
4(A) intended to compensate the hospital or hospital network for its
5 operational expenses; and
6(B) separate and distinct from a professional fee.
7(2) “Health care provider” has the same meaning as in section 9402 of
8 this title.
9(3) “Hospital” has the same meaning as in section 9451 of this title.
10(4) “Hospital network” has the same meaning as in section 9451 of this
11 title.
12(5) “Hospital outpatient department” means a unit of a hospital, whether
13 on or off the main hospital campus, that is owned by or otherwise affiliated
14 with the hospital and is designed to treat patients who do not need to be
15 admitted to the hospital.
16(6) “Professional fee” means any fee charged or billed by a health care
17 provider for professional medical services provided in a hospital-owned or
18 hospital-affiliated facility.
19(7) “Telehealth” has the same meaning as in 26 V.S.A. § 3052.
20    (b) A hospital or hospital network shall not charge or collect a facility fee
21 for:
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 BILL AS INTRODUCED  H.848
 2026  Page 3 of 3
1(1) health care services delivered in a hospital outpatient department, or
2 any other outpatient hospital services, that use a Current Procedural
3 Terminology (CPT) evaluation and management code or assessment and
4 management code; or
5(2) health care services delivered through telehealth.
6    (c) A hospital shall provide a patient with notice in writing of any
7 applicable facility fees prior to delivering any health care service that will
8 result in the charge or collection of a facility fee.
9 Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE
10    This act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.
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