Current News

by Tom Huebner, Chair of the Board, Vermont Care Organization (VCO) and CEO and President of Rutland Regional Medical Center In October, Vermont leaders signed an historic agreement with leaders from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in Washington to create a new model for delivery, evaluation and reimbursement of healthcare services and providers in Vermont.

Experts noted that Vermont is the first state in the US to fully adopt what’s called an “All-Payer Model” (APM) for health care providers, a system that focuses on keeping people healthy.

CMS called the Vermont model “historic in terms of its scope, aiming to include almost all providers and people throughout the state in an all-payer Accountable Care Organization (ACO) model to drive improved quality, better care coordination, healthier people and smarter spending. “

Vermont Business Magazine AAA Northern New England will host a press conference along with the Vermont Agency of Transportation, Vermont State Police, Vermont Highway Safety Alliance and the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation to raise awareness for vehicle safety during this winter season. 

Each year, ice and snow brings a rash of crashes to Vermont’s roads as drivers reacquaint themselves with winter conditions.  Last year, AAA came to the rescue of over 175,000 members in Northern New England, during the winter months and in most cases the situation could have been avoided by being better prepared for the conditions and modifying driving behavior.

AAA and the State of Vermont are urging motorists to plan ahead, slowdown in adverse driving conditions, give plow trucks plenty of room, and prepare your car and yourself for the challenges Vermont weather brings.  

Vermont Business Magazine In a settlement announced Friday, United Advisors Group LLC (“UAG”) agreed to stop doing business in Vermont, to reimburse $5,000 to Vermont residents who paid for their services, and to pay a penalty of $6,500. The company purported to aid consumers in consolidating their student loans in order to reduce their debt.

Rather than aid Vermonters in lowering their debt, UAG entered some consumers into debt deferral programs and collected fees while the debt grew, unbeknownst to the consumers. UAG’s behavior violated Vermont’s Consumer Protection Act. UAG also did business in Vermont without obtaining a Debt Adjuster License or the necessary bond.

“High student debt is enough of a problem without dishonest companies coming in and taking advantage of Vermonters in need,” said Attorney General William H. Sorrell. United Advisors Group was one of the most active student loan debt consolidators doing business in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Merchants Bank has partnered with WARMTH again this year to help prevent low-income Vermonters across the state from going without heat this winter. Merchants Bank is offering a matched dollar-for-dollar donation raised for WARMTH beginning on Giving Tuesday, November 29^th and running through the end of December 2016. Merchants Bank will match $35,000 in donations!

"When people see that their donation is matched they tend to LEAP on board! Thank you, it truly makes a difference," said Joan White, Development Director at CVOEO. The $35,000 challenge grant will be distributed by CVOEO for use by all five community action agencies statewide for the emergency-based WARMTH program to help offset home heating bills.

Vermont Business Magazine A national network of children’s hospitals has recognized the University of Vermont Children’s Hospital for the exceptional achievement of going one year without a single patient in its neonatal ICU, pediatric ICU, and pediatric inpatient unit contracting a common and dangerous bloodstream infection. Because of this success, the 100-member Solutions for Patient Safety National Children’s Network selected the UVM Children’s Hospital as a Top Performing Hospital for 2016.  The infection involved - central line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) - occurs when bacteria or other germs travel down a large IV line that delivers medicine directly to the heart.  They cause thousands of deaths each year in the U.S., and cost billions of dollars to treat.

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims last week and are now below levels from last year. Claims had been rising this fall, while running even year-to-year. Among industrial sectors, actual job losses were down across the board, especially in Manufacturing. Looking ahead, the holidays typically produce wild swings in unemployment claims, because of an increase in hiring in the Service sector, from retail to delivery-related businesses, and then an abrupt round of layoffs after Christmas.

For the week of November 12, 2016, there were 542 claims, down 191 from the previous week's total and 124 fewer than than they were a year ago.

Altogether 3,727 new and continuing claims were filed, a decrease of 63 from a week ago, and 478 fewer than a year ago.

Vermont Business Magazine Speaker of the House Shap Smith delivered the following statement from Legislative leaders today at a press conference held by Vermont Interfaith Action on the steps of the State House in response to hateful language and actions occurring across the state following the Presidential Election. “We have a lot to be proud of as Vermonters.

“We pride ourselves on being a community that embraces diversity. One that protects the environment which sustains us. A community that strives to uphold justice for every person, regardless of the color of their skin, their gender identity or expression, whom they love, whom or what they worship, or whether they were born here or elsewhere.

Vermont Business Magazine A number of Vermont education leaders have released the following statement, which has also been signed by Governor Peter Shumlin and Governor-elect Phil Scott. A full list of signers is copied below.It states that Vermont will continue to support all Vermonters and welcome people of all backgrounds.

“Vermont has fought for centuries for freedom and unity, equity and openness. Vermont remains a beacon of hope and opportunity, community and shared humanity. Vermont was the first to commit to the abolition of slavery in our state constitution and a leader in the fight for marriage equality. We will continue to support all Vermonters and welcome people of all backgrounds to the Green Mountain state.

Vermont Business Magazine The Burlington Electric Department today announced that it will install two 240-volt, dual port electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in the Hannaford supermarket parking lot in the New North End’s Ethan Allen Shopping Center, allowing for the simultaneous charging of four EVs and raising to 24 the number of EV charging ports Burlington Electric has installed around the City. The location was selected based upon the results of a community survey launched by Burlington Electric during Drive Electric Week in September. Installation of the new stations demonstrates Burlington Electric’s continued commitment to increase the number of EVs on the road and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Labor announced today that the seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for October was 3.3 percent. This reflects no change from the revised September rate. The national rate in October was 4.9 percent. The seasonally-adjusted Vermont data for October show the Vermont civilian labor force decreased by 550 from the prior month’s revised estimate. Typical of this time of year, adjusted and unadjusted (actual) numbers appear to be headed in the opposite direction, with seasonally adjusted jobs falling for the third consecutive month and unadjusted numbers increasing.

Vermont Business Magazine The following is a statement issued Friday morning by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, on reports that Senator Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama) will be nominated to be the Attorney General of the United States. Leahy has opposed Sessions on many fronts over the years, including immigration and civil rights, but vows to give him a fair hearing, something, he said, that Republicans have not done with many nominees offered by President Obama.

Vermont Business Magazine The State of Vermont and Mousetrap Pediatrics PC, have reached an agreement settling an investigation into whether Mousetrap submitted false claims or received overpayments from the Vermont Medicaid Program. Mousetrap operated as a pediatric physician group for over 25 years in the Franklin County area, until its dissolution in January 2016. The settlement resolves an investigation into Mousetrap’s Medicaid claims related to after-hours office visits. Mousetrap will pay $66,553.65 to settle potential claims under the Vermont False Claims Act. Under the settlement agreement, Mousetrap will repay the Medicaid Program the $51,553.65 it improperly received and a $15,000 civil penalty.