Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Speaker of the House Shap Smith announced today that he is withdrawing from the race for governor of Vermont because his wife has been diagnosed with breast cancer. On his campaign Web site and at a press conference this afternoon in Montpelier, Smith said he and his wife, Dr Melissa Volansky, are optimistic of a full recovery. Smith, partner in the Burlington law firm Dinse Knapp McAndrew and a resident of Morrisville, was a leading candidate for the Democratic nomination. Smith will have served eight years as Speaker. Ralph Wright was the longest serving Speaker at 10 years.

Shap Smith and Melissa Volansky from campaign Web site.

Shap Smith's statement:

Vermont Business Magazine Two weeks into the third annual open enrollment period for Vermont Health Connect, Governor Peter Shumlin and top health care officials today provided an update and pointed to the long road the state has traveled to improve the health care marketplace since its launch in 2013. So far this open enrollment period, more than 18,000 individuals are completely through the renewal process, having had their 2016 plans confirmed with Vermont Health Connect’s payment processor and insurance carrier partners. It is expected that all customers will be processed into their 2016 plans by the end of November in time for their January invoice, which mails in early December. There are approximately 30,000 individuals currently enrolled in qualified health plans through Vermont Health Connect.

Vermont Business Magazine November 19, 2015 marks the date of the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout, when cigarette smokers are asked to refrain from smoking for one day in hopes that the effort will lead to quitting forever. Most people know a smoker they would like to see stop, but wonder if making that request is appropriate. Research from the University of Vermont (UVM) says “yes” – smokers who are exposed to cues to stop are twice as likely to try to quit.

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.