Committee reviews draft 2.1 on inmate medical care and MOUD; debates definitions, 28‑day supply and methadone rules

The Corrections & Institutions Committee on Wednesday reviewed draft 2.1 of statutory language that would amend standards for medical care of people in correctional custody and clarify continuity of medications, including medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD).

Legislative staff member Katie McLennan walked the committee through the draft and highlighted structural changes: the bill moves the medical‑necessity and related definitions to the top of the subchapter and adds “or its contractor” in multiple places to reflect that the Department of Corrections often contracts medical delivery to an outside vendor. The draft applies the new definitions to two sections: medical care of inmates (28 V.S.A. § 801) and MOUD (28 V.S.A. § 801b).

The committee discussed several technical but consequential issues. Among them:

- Definitions and scope. The draft adds a new definition of “detainee” limited to the two amended sections and clarifies “health care practitioner” language to reference acting within the lawful scope of practice. Committee members asked staff to limit the relocated definition to the two sections to avoid unintentionally changing other parts of Title 28.

- Screening and assessment timing. The bill requires a substance‑use screening within 24 hours of admission and a…