Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Treasurer Mike Pieciak and Commissioner of Financial Regulation Kevin Gaffney on Monday paid a lively visit to award-winning teacher Courtney Poquette’s classroom at Winooski High School. Together they marked the beginning of Financial Literacy Month and a partnership between their offices to highlight financial literacy and empowerment concepts throughout the month of April. National Financial Literacy month is recognized annually in April to promote the importance of financial well-being, increase public awareness about the need for personal finance education, and encourage smart money-management skills that can help Americans improve their understanding of things like banking, credit management, and home ownership.

Vermont Business Magazine WalletHub drew upon the various findings of positive-psychology research in order to determine which among more than 180 of the largest US cities is home to the happiest people in America. They examined each city based on 30 key indicators of happiness, ranging from the depression rate to the income-growth rate to average leisure time spent per day. Vermont had two cities in the Top Ten: South Burlington ranked 9th, mostly for its Emotional & Physical Well-Being; and Burlington ranked 10th, by finishing first in the Income & Employment category. Turns out South Burlington is best in the sub-categories of Sleep and Sports and Burlington is best for Work Hours. Overall, Fremont, CA, ranked first and nearby San Jose finished second. The last two on the list were Huntington, WV, and Detroit.

by Devon Green, Vice President of Government Relations, Vermont Association of Hospitals & Health Systems A lot happened last week, so let’s dive in: Regulatory Flexibilities: The governor signed the COVID regulatory flexibilities bill, H.411, into law last week just shy of the March 31st deadline. VAHHS appreciates the quick work on this bill from the legislature and the governor’s office. The biggest takeaway is that out-of-state health care providers who are in good standing and working in a health care facility are deemed licensed after registering with the licensure entity. The exception is if there is a provisional license offered by the Office of Professional Regulation. The Office of Professional Regulation currently provides provisional licenses for nurses.

Vermont Business Magazine On National Doctor’s Day, March 30, Rutland Regional Medical Center announced the 2022 Providers of the Year. The winners, representing a physician or nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or other advanced practice provider are recognized for their contributions to the greater Rutland community, staff, and patients. These individuals represent the highest ideals in health care. Several years ago, Rutland Regional expanded these awards to include two Rutland community primary care providers. Rutland Regional Medical Center Providers: Physician of the Year is Sarah Rich, MD; Advanced Practice Provider of the Year is Danielle Robillard, APRN. Rutland Community Providers: Primary Care Physician of the Year is Amy Ferguson, MD; Advanced Practice Provider of the Year is Suzanne Jones, PA-C.

Vermont Business Magazine Preparing for the unknown can feel daunting but your family, friends and health care providers need to know what your wishes are should you not be able to voice them. That’s why Gifford is hosting an Advance Care Planning Fair on Friday, April 21^st from 1-4 p.m. at Gifford Medical Center’s conference room.

This all-ages community event will allow attendees to learn more about the importance of designating a health agent and completing Advanced Directives. Gifford staff will be joined by community partners including Bayada Hospice, Central Vermont Council on Aging, Day Funeral Home, SASH (Support and Service at Home) and the Visiting Nurse and Hospice for VT and NH.

Vermont Business Magazine Mt Ascutney Hospital and Health Center (MAHHC) commemorated National Doctors' Day on Thursday, March 30, 2023, by donating $1,500 to the Hope Fund, the same recipient the MAHHC Medical Executive Committee selected in 2021. The Hope Fund provides grants to aid MAHHC and Ottauquechee Health Center employees who are experiencing hardships or financial emergencies. President of the MAHHC Medical Executive Committee, Richard Marasa, MD, said the Medical Executive Committee voted unanimously to direct this year’s donation to support the fund.

Vermont Business Magazine Representative Becca Balint announces new position as Vice Ranking Member of the Government Operations and Federal Workforce Subcommittee on the Committee on Oversight and Accountability. The Subcommittee on Government Operations and Federal Workforce has jurisdiction over the federal civil service, federal and state government relations, public information, and other federal services such as the US Postal Service. Kweisi Mfume is the Ranking Member of the subcommittee.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF) released the first set of modules of its new Business Sense series, next level tools for entrepreneurs and small business owners. Business Sense is a no-fluff source of information that gets right to the heart of what small business owners need: essential tools and relevant resources to help their businesses grow. The Financial Literacy Series and the Business Operations Series are the first two modules of six planned modules to debut in 2023 to support Vermont’s small business owners and entrepreneurs. Written by VSJF’s team of business coaches, the resource series shares their decades of experience in areas such as financials, operations, sales and marketing, human resources, leadership, and governance. Business Sense is designed to provide entrepreneurs and small business owners in various sectors with recommendations and practical advice to help their businesses not only survive but thrive.

by Stephanie Yu, Public Assets Institute The Vermont Senate voted Friday to repeal the brand-new Child Tax Credit (CTC) in order to redirect funds to early care and education. But there is no reason to pit the two against each other. Vermont needs both. The credit, which Vermonters can now claim for tax year 2022, allows families with household incomes up to $125,000 to claim a $1,000 tax credit for each child under 6. Partial credits are available for families with incomes up to $175,000. The credits are refundable, which means the family will receive a cash refund if the credit exceeds what they owe. The state credit is patterned after the federal Child Tax Credit, which was designed to get cash directly in the hands of families. When the feds temporarily expanded the credit during the pandemic, child poverty declined dramatically across the country, including lifting 4,000 kids out of poverty here in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) and Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) announced the introduction of the Drug Price Transparency in Medicaid Act of 2023, legislation to limit abusive pricing practices by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), including the use of a technique called ‘spread pricing,’ where PBMs charge Medicaid more than they pay pharmacies for a particular drug. In so doing, PBMs increase their profits, while driving up costs for Medicaid and independent pharmacies that are already struggling to stay in business. The bill would save Medicaid an estimated $1 billion over 10 years.  

Vermont Business Magazine In the lead up to Earth Day, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is challenging Vermonters to save money and prevent food waste. From April 3 through April 22, learn how to prevent food waste, help the environment, and save money with the self-guided Scrap Food Waste Challenge from the department’s Solid Waste Program. Participants will receive three emails per week and can join weekly virtual discussions. The Challenge will guide participants to track their food waste and supply tips about meal planning, strategic shopping, food storage, and use-it-up recipes. An in-person workshop will take place at the Aldrich Library, in Barre, on April 4, at 5 PM.