Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Department of Financial Regulation (DFR) is actively monitoring the circumstances relating to healthcare provider payment delays that appear to have resulted from implementation of BlueCross BlueShield of Vermont’s (BCBSVT) new claims payment system. DFR has been working with affected providers and BCBSVT to understand the scope of the problem and ensure it will be resolved quickly.

The delay in payments results from certain claims being held and evaluated individually by BCBSVT rather than being automatically processed, as well as some ongoing technical issues.

BCBSVT has reported to DFR that approximately 580,000 – or approximately 90% – of claims made since January 1, 2019 have been properly adjudicated. Further, BCBSVT is required to pay 12% interest on claims not paid within 30 days, and to date has remitted approximately $109,000 of interest to healthcare providers. 

Vermont Business Magazine BioTek Instruments is very pleased to announce receipt of the 2019 Governor’s Excellence in Worksite Wellness Award - GOLD Level, bestowed by the Vermont Department of Health and the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. The honor was presented at the 2019 Worksite Wellness Conference, held March 21 in Burlington.

Vermont Business Magazine Howard Center has been named the recipient of the National Council for Behavioral Health’s 2019 Excellence in Addictions Treatment Award. Selected from 230 nominations from across the country, the award will be presented to Howard Center in Nashville, Tennessee, during the Awards of Excellence Celebration in conjunction with the National Council Conference – NatCon19.

The National Council for Behavioral Health’s Awards of Excellence recognize and honor individuals and organizations in behavioral health care for their ingenuity, hard work and dedication to improving the lives of Americans living with mental illnesses and addictions.

Vermont Business Magazine For the second year, Vermont Gas’ (VGS) efforts to increase overall worksite and employee wellness is being recognized. The Vermont Department of Health and the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness selected VGS for an Excellence in Worksite Wellness award.

Vermont Business Magazine With the help of almost two hundred generous donors and community support, the Intervale Center is pleased to announce the completion of Celebrate Intervale, a $1 million capital campaign to increase the productivity, accessibility and beauty of the Intervale. The Intervale Center, a food and farming non-profit, manages 340 acres of open space in the heart of Burlington, VT for agriculture, conservation and recreation. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Fresh Network has been awarded a Conservation & Community Grant from the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership (CVNHP) to tell the story of modern food production, sustainable agriculture, and agricultural heritage in the Lake Champlain basin through the development of educational and promotional resources for the Lake Champlain Tasting Trail. 

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos today announced that Vermont has been ranked 11th in total voter turnout for the 2018 Midterm Election across all 50 states in the 7th biennial edition of the "America Goes to the Polls" report, released by the nonpartisan groups Nonprofit VOTE and the US Elections Project this week.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Attorney General TJ Donovan announced today that his office has reached a settlement with Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc to resolve violations of Vermont’s Hazardous Waste Management Regulations. Under the court-approved settlement, Safety-Kleen resolved claims that it failed to properly identify and manage hazardous waste as required by the Hazardous Waste Management Regulations and Safety-Kleen’s Hazardous Waste Facility Permit.

Vermont Business Magazine At an event last Thursday in Los Angeles, Bennington College announced that it has already raised $78.5 million — or more than half — of its ambitious $150 million capital campaign goal. The event was the first of two kick-off celebrations for the historic campaign, which will support Bennington students, programs, and facilities for years to come.

Senator Patrick Leahy I forcefully urge Attorney General Barr - in the interests of the integrity of the Justice Department, in the interests of the American people, in the interest of the rule of law - to publicly release the full Mueller report. Any attempt to hide swaths of the Mueller report from public scrutiny will only fuel suspicions that President Trump's Justice Department, which represents the United States, is playing the role of President Trump's defense team. We all deserve better. 

Leonine Public Affairs The focus this week revolved around floor activity in both the House and Senate. Both chambers debated and voted on the avalanche of bills that came out of the committees last week in order to meet the March 15 crossover deadline for policy bills. The bills that were on both floors this week address a wide variety of subjects and for the most part there was little controversy. 

Vermont Business Magazine Northern Vermont University President Elaine Collins announced today that the groundbreaking Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award-winning songwriter, performer, and social activist Cyndi Lauper will deliver the commencement address at Northern Vermont University-Johnson on May 18.

Lauper attended Johnson State College, now NVU-Johnson, in 1973 and 1974. She will receive a Doctor of Letters Honorary Degree (Litt.D) at the commencement ceremony.