Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont (BCBSVT) has announced its competitively priced Medicare Part D prescription drug plan options for the 2016 open enrollment period. BCBSVT, in a joint venture with three other New England Blue plans, contracts with the federal government to offer prescription drug coverage, called Blue MedicareRx (PDP). The 2016 open enrollment period runs from October 15 to December 7, 2015. Enrollment is effective on January 1, 2016.

Vermont Business Magazine Prescription drugs are Vermont’s most dangerous leftovers, warns Health Commissioner Harry Chen, MD in a new 30-second ad. “Most people who abuse prescription painkillers got them from friends or family,” said Dr Chen, who practiced emergency medicine in Rutland for more than 20 years. “Often, these drugs came straight out of the medicine cabinet. Every one of us can take action to keep drugs out of the hands of those who should not have them.”

Safe use begins with asking: ‘Do I really need this,’ and ‘How much do I really need?’ Dr. Chen emphasizes that you can get addicted, even when prescribed by your doctor and used as directed.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) has approved $46.5 million in loan and bond financings for a number of commercial, agricultural, energy and small business projects throughout Vermont. Among the projects approved for financing assistance are manufacturing expansions in Middlebury and Barre that are expected to create 32 new manufacturing jobs within three years.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of VermontHealth Network - Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) in Plattsburgh, NY, has accomplished its yearlong goal of increasing hand hygiene compliance by 40% in just four months since implementing the award-winning DebMed GMS (Group Monitoring System) in acute care units as part of its infection prevention program. As the electronic hand hygiene compliance monitoring system – built on a group-based methodology– has provided accurate, immediate feedback to each unit, the culture of compliance has quickly transformed to one of team accountability and support.

Vermont Business Magazine EQ2, a Burlington-based leader in hospital computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS), and AMT Datasouth (AMT), a leader in printing and downtime solutions for hospitals and other markets, have completed the integration of their formerly standalone management, service, sales and marketing teams. The resulting synergies allow both brands to have focused efforts in supplying hospitals with unique, customized solutions. EQ2 was acquired by AMT in September 2013 and at first maintained separate service, sales and marketing teams. After identifying numerous synergies for reaching healthcare organizations that both businesses have long track records of serving, the two groups are now a fully combined team. EQ2 will continue to have staff in Burlington.

Vermont Business Magazine Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont finished one, two, three for patient access to physicians in a nationwide survey. As patients seek quicker access to physicians through urgent care centers, retail clinics, telehealth services and other "convenient care" offerings, a new ranking system incorporating 33 variables shows those states in which patients are likely to have the easiest access to physicians and those states where access is likely to be the most difficult.

Compiled by Merritt Hawkins, the nation's leading physician search firm and a company of AMN Healthcare (NYSE: AHS), the benchmarking data indicate that Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Delaware, and Maryland have the most positive physician access variables, while Mississippi, Texas, New Mexico, Nevada andOklahoma have the fewest.

Vermont Business Magazine The Dartmouth Addiction Research Center is enrolling volunteers in a new research study of a medication that may help problem drinkers overcome alcohol use disorders. The study is seeking 40 participants over the next two years and is intended for heavy alcohol drinkers over the age of 21 who want to reduce or quit drinking. Alcohol use disorder affects nearly 16.6 million people in the United States and results in an estimated $223.5 billion economic loss each year.

“There is a need for more interventions to treat people with alcohol use disorders,” said Dr. Alan I. Green, Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and Principal Investigator of the Dartmouth site of this study. “More treatment options could help minimize the negative consequences felt by people with alcohol problems, as well as the negative impact alcohol use disorder has on their families, their workplaces, and society.”

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General William Sorrell joined with 38 other states and the District of Columbia in filing a settlement with Education Management Corporation today. The agreement requires the for-profit college company to forgive $102.8 million in outstanding loan debt held by more than 80,000 former students, including $60,000 in loan forgiveness to 67 Vermonters. EDMC, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, operates 110 schools in 32 states and Canada through four education systems, including Argosy University, The Art Institutes, Brown Mackie College and South University.

Vermont Business Magazine Seldon Technologies of Windsor, global developer and manufacturer of EPA Compliant Nano Filtration Equipment for Clean Water, Fuel, and Oil Applications, is set to be auctioned on December 3, 2015. Seldon has retained the Thomas Hirchak Company, of Morrisville, to sell the intellectual and personal property of the company, in one lot, via sealed bid. Prior to closing operations, Seldon Technologies, which was founded in 2002, designed and manufactured multiple purification filtration systems for a variety of applications including emergency and disaster relief, humanitarian efforts, military and government, business and industry, remote location, and private use. The company employed approximately 32 people at its Windsor location.

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power announced today that it has created a new solar map, which can be found below, so Vermonters can see where solar is powering our state. The map allows Vermonters to see where solar energy is being generated and how it ties into the grid. This effort comes at a time when GMP is proposing a strategic limited extension of net metering so more Vermonters can put solar on their homes or businesses.

Vermont Business Magazine US and Vermont flags are lowered to half-staff, per presidential proclamation, as a mark of respect for the victims of the acts of senseless violence that took place on November 13, 2015 in Paris, France. Flags will be returned to full staff at sunset on November 19. Governor Peter Shumlin issued the following statement on the attack in Paris. “In the wake of this incredible tragedy, Vermont and the nation stand in solidarity with France. Our hearts go out to the families of victims, survivors, and the people of Paris.”

Vermont Business Magazine Between 1997 and 2008, Vermont’s prison inmate population grew by 86 percent. After years of work to create a more rational criminal justice system that locks up fewer Vermonters that trend has been reversed, and today Vermont’s inmate population is at its lowest point since the early 2000s, Governor Peter Shumlin announced Monday. “Creating a more rational criminal justice system is not only the right thing to do; it is the smart thing to do,” Gov. Shumlin said. “Policies to keep Vermonters out of jail and to reduce recidivism rates allow us to save money and invest in things like early childhood education, which we know can reduce incarceration rates over the long term. Locking people up is incredibly expensive. We should do everything we can to avoid it when possible and invest in programs that help individuals become productive members of our communities.”