§ 1901c - Medical care advisory committee
§ 1901c. Medical care advisory committee
(a) The director of the office of Vermont health access shall appoint a medical care advisory committee to advise the office about health care and medical services, consistent with the requirements of federal law.
(b) The medical care advisory committee shall be given an opportunity to participate in policy development and program administration for Medicaid, the Vermont health access plan, VPharm, and VermontRx. It shall have an opportunity to review and comment upon agency policy initiatives pertaining to health care benefits and beneficiary eligibility. It also shall have the opportunity to comment on proposed rules prior to commencement of the rulemaking process and on waiver or waiver amendment applications prior to submission to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Prior to the annual budget development process, the office shall engage the medical care advisory committee in priority setting, including consideration of scope of benefits, beneficiary eligibility, funding outlook, financing options, and possible budget recommendations.
(c) The medical care advisory committee shall make policy recommendations on office of Vermont health access proposals to the office, the health access oversight committee, and the standing committees on health and welfare. When the general assembly is not in session, the director shall respond in writing to these recommendations, a copy of which shall be provided to each of the legislative committees.
(d) During the legislative session, the director shall provide the committee at regularly scheduled meetings updates on the status of policy and budget proposals.
(e) The director shall convene the medical care advisory committee at least six times each year.
(f) At least one-third of the members of the medical care advisory committee shall be recipients of Medicaid, VHAP, or VermontRx. Such members shall receive per diem compensation and reimbursement of expenses pursuant to section 1010 of Title 32, including costs of travel, child care, personal assistance services, and any other service necessary for participation on the committee approved by the director.
(g) The director shall appoint members of the medical care advisory committee for staggered three-year terms. The director may remove members of the committee who fail to attend three consecutive meetings and appoint replacements.
(h) For purposes of this section, "program administration" means annual and long-term strategic planning, including priority setting, relative to scope of benefits, beneficiary eligibility, funding outlook, financing options, and possible budget recommendations. (Added 2003, No. 122 (Adj. Sess.), § 130a; amended 2005, No. 174 (Adj. Sess.), § 95; 2007, No. 172 (Adj. Sess.), § 10.)