Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The White River Junction Veterans Affairs (VA) Healthcare System and Middlebury College are partnering in the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out. On April 10th the White River Junction VA will be administering first doses of Janssen COVID-19 vaccine at Middlebury College’s Athletics Complex on South Main Street. This clinic is for Veterans and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employees by appointment only.

by John McClaughry Paul Jarris MD, one of the best Commissioners of Public Health (2003-2006) that Vermont has ever had, often said forthrightly that “about forty percent of what Vermont spends on health care is simply wasted.”

Since then Vermont has gone through Catamount Health, Green Mountain Care, and All Payer. Have we gained much ground toward achieving our goals for a healthy and affordable Vermont?

OneCare is the Accountable Care Organization created when Governor Shumlin’s single-payer plan fizzled out in 2014, and was succeeded by All Payer. OneCare controls the flow of health care money from commercial insurers, Medicare and Medicaid.

Its purpose is to force the providers to meet the health care needs of a defined group of patients at a contracted price, rather than add up “fee for service” billings that are a major factor in health care cost inflation.

Vermont Business Magazine Southwestern Vermont Health Care’s (SVHC) Medical Matters Weekly with Dr Trey Dobson, a weekly interactive, multi-platform medical-themed talk show, will feature David Veltre, MD, as a guest on its April 7 show. Dr Veltre is a hand and upper extremity specialist at SVMC Orthopedics and Northern Berkshire Orthopedics. They will discuss the most common conditions he sees in his practice and their treatments.

The show is produced with cooperation from Catamount Access Television (CAT-TV) and airs live at 2 pm on Wednesdays. Viewers can see Medical Matters Weekly live on Facebook at facebook.com/svmedicalcenter and facebook.com/CATTVBennington. Those viewing on Facebook will be able to contribute questions through the chat function.

Vermont Business Magazine The annual “Big Change Roundup for Kids” to support The University of Vermont Children’s Hospital raised a total of $200,650.22 this year. The annual three-month long coin collecting campaign is the largest annual fundraiser for the hospital, and is a joint project of the UVM Children’s Hospital and 98.9 WOKO-FM. Local businesses and volunteers from throughout the region raised funds to help pay for medical equipment; Child Life activities that educate, entertain and improve the health care experience for pediatric patients; and many more initiatives that support high-quality, child-friendly, family centered care.

by Devon Green, VAHHS Vice President of Government Relations April is usually a make or break month at the legislature—as in, you try to make it through the month without it breaking you. This year feels particularly make or break not only at the legislature, but also with Vermont’s race to vaccinate against the emergence of new variants.

Vermont Business Magazine This past year dealing with COVID has emphasized the importance of financial well-being. April’s Financial Literacy Month highlights that everyone benefits from financial education. NEFCU has announced a unique digital solution to enhance personal finance - an app called Zogo. NEFCU has partnered with Zogo to provide free financial education for all Vermonters 13 years of age and older. This mobile app is a fun and engaging way to increase financial literacy.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today issued the following statement: There is no better, safer, or faster way to defeat this virus and revitalize our economy than to make vaccinations available to every Vermonter. Unfortunately, the legacy of racism in America, and in Vermont, still drives a lot of anger and fear. Recently, my office, the Health Department and those hardworking individuals getting us vaccinated, have been subjected to vitriolic and inappropriate comments in social media and other forums regarding this decision.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of health today is reporting 116 more cases of COVID-19 as cases exceeded 20,000 over the weekend. There have also been one more death since Friday for 229 total statewide. The state has also surpassed 40 percent of its adult population (or nearly 220,000 Vermonters) getting at least one dose of vaccine. More than 15,000 Vermonters age 40 and older had made appointments today for the COVID-19 vaccine on the first day of their eligibility.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and First Lady Diana McTeague Scott today received their COVID-19 vaccinations at a clinic run by the Vermont Department of Health at Montpelier High School. Both the Governor and the First Lady received the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Johnson & Johnson.

Vermont Business Magazine Scott Giles, president and CEO, Vermont Student Assistance Corp commented today on the US Department of Education’s expanded ‘pause’ on federal student loan interest and collections for defaulted FFEL loans. On March 30, 2021, the US Department of Education (Department) announced an expansion of the pause on federal student loan interest and collections to all defaulted loans in the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program. This action will help more than one million additional borrowers burdened by debt during the COVID-19 emergency.

The Vermont State Police is investigating an incident in which a pedestrian was struck and killed by a vehicle on Interstate 91 southbound in the town of Hartland at about 5:50 am Monday, April 5, 2021. Investigators determined that a tractor trailer driven by Gary Starr, 66, of Jay was southbound on the interstate when it became disabled, and Starr pulled over into the breakdown lane. He had activated his four-way flashers and set up several traffic triangles behind his vehicle. For unknown reasons, Starr was walking in the southbound travel lane of I-91 when a 2013 Dodge Dart driven by Tristan Blanchard, 35, of North Springfield came around a bend in the highway and struck Starr.

Vermont Business Magazine Women Business Owners Network (WBON) announces a new annual partnership with Vermont Federal Credit Union. WBON board member, Pat Heffernan, said becoming an annual partner shows an organization is committed to supporting participation by current and aspiring women business owners in a gender-equal economy.