Current News

by Morgan True vtdigger.org Health care networks in Vermont known as accountable care organizations (ACOs) didn’t exceed savings targets for treating Medicare patients by enough to receive incentive payments in the first year of a federal initiative to reduce spending and improve care. Nationally, only 52 of 220 ACOs participating in the Medicare Shared Savings Program were able to reduce spending by enough to get a portion of $300 million in incentive payments from the federal government, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services(CMS).

Medicare saved $652 million through the program, a key aspect of the Affordable Care Act’s efforts to reform payments to doctors and hospitals. But that’s only one one-thousandth of the $492 billion spent on Medicare in 2013.

The state’s first adult day center, Project Independence, got its start in Barre in 1975 when a nursing home activity director, Lindsey Wade, recognized an opportunity to do things better and more cost effectively. Wade encountered nursing home residents who didn’t seem to medically belong there. Others were visiting the nursing home daily for the social interaction. Wade had an idea. The area needed an adult day care and not a medical model adult day, but a social model – something that didn’t exist anywhere else in the country.

An active board and an interested city brought to life Project Independence on Washington Street and in the decades since, its model has not only flourished but expanded statewide. There are currently 14 adult day programs in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine is proud to announce the winners of its Rising Stars recognition award. The list is comprised of 40 winners under the age of 40. Award recipients were selected by a panel of judges for their commitment to business growth, professional excellence and involvement in their communities.

“We are thrilled by the response to this initiative to recognize these up-and-coming leaders,” said VBM Publisher John Boutin. “We received over 150 outstanding nominations, the most nominations since the program started in 2010. The judges had a difficult time picking the top 40. These young professionals have chosen to make Vermont home. For these young professionals it’s not just about business. It’s about them making a difference in their communities,” Boutin said.

by John McClaughry A recurring argument of those favoring a government takeover of any large sector of the economy - such as health care - is “the free market has failed!” These people are invariably oblivious to the effects of a hundred years of government intervention that has restricted what a free market might otherwise achieve.

Admittedly some of that intervention has been beneficial. Governments required would-be doctors to obtain a license before offering medical services to the public. They required infirmaries and sanitariums to meet standards for cleanliness, fire safety, and trained caregivers. After 1930, state governments required the newly-appeared health insurance companies to make truthful claims and maintain adequate reserves to pay claims.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont’s (BCBSVT) First Wednesday Wellness for the month of October will take place on October 1 from 5 to 7 p.m. BCBSVT will host the free event at their Information and Wellness Center located in the Blue Mall at 150 Dorset Street in South Burlington. BCBSVT will provide free flu vaccinations in place of the normally provided biometric screenings offered at their First Wednesday Wellness events. The flu shots are free for all participants 18 and older, regardless of their insurance status. Those without health insurance are welcome.

“I encourage you to make time in your busy schedule to get a flu vaccination this autumn. Every year, thousands of adults and children become seriously ill with influenza. Vaccination helps protect you and also helps reduce the spread of the flu virus to your coworkers, family and community,” says Dr. Robert Wheeler, M.D., vice president and chief medical officer of BCBSVT.

Last Thursday afternoon in Barre, Representative Peter Welch announced bipartisan legislation to improve Medicare reimbursements for ambulance services providers. Welch was joined at the press conference by Jim Finger, President of the Vermont Ambulance Association, Barre Mayor Thom Lauzon, and Joe Aldsworth, Deputy Chief of the Barre Fire Department. Currently, ambulance service providers around the country, especially in rural areas like Vermont, face unnecessary financial uncertainty due to the failure of Congress to annually extend, in a timely fashion, a key Medicare reimbursement program. Welch’s bipartisan legislation will make permanent in the Medicare fee schedule the special payment for services performed by ambulance providers in rural areas.

The Medicare Ambulance Access, Fraud Prevention, and Reform Act (H.R. 5460) was co-authored by Rep. Welch, Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA) and Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA).

Vermont’s Congressional Delegation and Governor Peter Shumlin today announced a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) award of $2.4 million to the Community College of Vermont in Waterbury for job training. The funds are a part of a $2 billion DOL program investing in job training at community colleges around the country.

“These funds will be a big boost to the Community College of Vermont’s efforts to prepare Vermonters for tomorrow’s economy,” said Senator Leahy, Senator Sanders and Representative Welch in a joint statement. “In order for Vermont to stay competitive, our colleges must equip the workforce with skillsets that match the changing needs of local businesses. This award affirms the important work that CCV is doing training Vermont workers and it is an important investment in our economy’s future.”

Today, Vermont Realtors announced the results of an August 2014 telephone survey of Vermont registered voters which demonstrates significant dissatisfaction with current property tax rates and increasing support for candidates who are committed to working towards meaningful property tax reform. VR has shared the results of the survey directly with candidates for office in an effort to initiate a dialogue about the need for property tax reform, and the level of importance this issue has for voters this election season.

The survey reached 500 adults, age 18 or older that indicated they were registered to vote and who plan to vote in Vermont’s November. The survey was conducted August 20-24, 2014.

Fletcher Allen Health Care filed a Certificate of Need (CON) application today with the Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB) seeking the Board’s approval to build a 128-bed inpatient building to replace the most outdated inpatient facilities on the Medical Center Campus. The submission of this CON is part two of a three-part process, where part one was preliminary planning under the Conceptual CON issued August 2013 and part three will be the submission of final project costs in November 2014 after construction costs associated with the final design documents have been verified.

· Building would contain 128 single-bed inpatient rooms

· Estimated cost of $187.7M to be confirmed in November

· Occupancy anticipated in September 2018

by John Herrick vtdigger.org Spent radioactive fuel will be removed from the reactors at the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant by 2020, the plant’s corporate owner told a citizen oversight panel Thursday. But Louisiana-based Entergy said it does not know when it will begin tearing down Vermont Yankee after it stops producing power in December. The plant has already begun to slow power production and plans to cut 40 percent of its workforce by January.

According to the Vermont State Police, at approximately 1315 hours on 09/27/14 Burlington Airport Tower notified the Vermont State Police, New Haven of a possible Aircraft crash at the Basin Harbor Airport, Ferribsurgh, VT. Upon arrival it was discovered that a 1958 Piper "Tri-Pacer" fixed wing prop-plane had made and emergency landing in a field near the Basin Harbor Airport. The Pilot, Roger Teese and his passenger were not injured as a result of the field landing.

IBM’s semiconductor manufacturing facility in Essex Junction, VT, has immediate openings for those interested in working in an advanced technology environment. Openings exist for candidates with a high school diploma (GED), 2 and 4 year college degrees, experienced and entry level.

When: Friday, October 3, 2014 from 12 noon to 6:00 p.m.

Where: Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center,

Williston Road, South Burlington, VT

Immediate Job Openings

IBM’s semiconductor manufacturing facility in Essex Junction, VT has immediate openings for those interested in working in an advanced technology environment. Openings exist for candidates with a high school diploma (GED), 2 and 4 year college degrees, experienced and entry level.

Immediate openings exist for the following positions:

Manufacturing Operators (Supplemental)