§ 1825. Health benefits

(a)(1) Green Mountain Care shall include primary care, preventive care, chronic care, acute episodic care, and hospital services and shall include at least the same covered services as those included in the benefit package in effect for the lowest cost Catamount Health plan offered on January 1, 2011.

(2) It is the intent of the General Assembly that Green Mountain Care provide a level of coverage that includes benefits that are actuarially equivalent to at least 87 percent of the full actuarial value of the covered health services.

(3) The Green Mountain Care Board shall consider whether to impose cost-sharing requirements; if so, whether to make the cost-sharing requirements income-sensitized; and the impact of any cost-sharing requirements on an individual's ability to access care. The Board shall consider waiving any cost-sharing requirement for evidence-based primary and preventive care; for palliative care; and for chronic care for individuals participating in chronic care management and, where circumstances warrant, for individuals with chronic conditions who are not participating in a chronic care management program.

(4)(A) The Green Mountain Care Board established in 18 V.S.A. chapter 220 shall consider whether to include dental, vision, and hearing benefits in the Green Mountain Care benefit package.

(B) The Green Mountain Care Board shall consider whether to include long-term care benefits in the Green Mountain Care benefit package.

(5) Green Mountain Care shall not limit coverage of preexisting conditions.

(6) The Green Mountain Care Board shall approve the benefit package and present it to the General Assembly as part of its recommendations for the Green Mountain Care budget.

(b)(1)(A) For individuals eligible for Medicaid or CHIP, the benefit package shall include the benefits required by federal law, as well as any additional benefits provided as part of the Green Mountain Care benefit package.

(B) Upon implementation of Green Mountain Care, the benefit package for individuals eligible for Medicaid or CHIP shall also include any optional Medicaid benefits pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1396d or services covered under the State plan for CHIP as provided in 42 U.S.C. § 1397cc for which these individuals are eligible on January 1, 2014. Beginning with the second year of Green Mountain Care and going forward, the Green Mountain Care Board may, consistent with federal law, modify these optional benefits, as long as at all times the benefit package for these individuals contains at least the benefits described in subdivision (A) of this subdivision (b)(1).

(2) For children eligible for benefits paid for with Medicaid funds, the benefit package shall include early and periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment services as defined under federal law.

(3) For individuals eligible for Medicare, the benefit package shall include the benefits provided to these individuals under federal law, as well as any additional benefits provided as part of the Green Mountain Care benefit package.