Current News

by Chris Graff Jim Douglas’ new autobiography offers up its share of news nuggets: We learn that in 2009 President Obama offered Douglas an ambassadorship, that Douglas stands by his veto of gay marriage, he remains a fan of George W Bush, and that he is really irked by the press. But those looking to best understand Vermont’s 80th governor will find a wealth of stories that taken together paint a very clear picture.

Take, for example, this almost throwaway comment tucked into the chapter on Douglas’ years as state treasurer:

“I noticed that the attire of our employees did not reflect the professionalism I wanted our office to convey to the public,” he writes. “I decided to insist all male staffers wear a tie… I confess to being more than a little old-fashioned in this regard… but I think how someone dresses at work suggests the level of pride he or she has in the office.”

by Morgan True vtdigger.org If hospitals are going to be paid based on keeping the people they serve healthy — one of Vermont’s health care reform goals — they need to invest in primary care services, state regulators and hospital executives say. That’s difficult when their income is still dependent on billing for each patient visit or procedure they perform — what’s known as the fee-for-service model — especially when primary care is less lucrative than other hospital services.Hospitals, government and private insurers are actively adapting payments to meet that goal, but for the state’s smaller community hospitals the change can’t happen quickly enough.That’s because many are seeing a decline in the demand for their services, even as state regulators are pushing them to invest in the “population health” model of care.

Five New England Governors, including Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin, this week called on the federal Health and Human Services Department “to prevent easily abused and highly addictive painkillers, such as Zohydro ER, from entering the market.” In addition the group also wrote Canadian health officials to support their efforts to require abuse-deterrent measures for pain medications that too often lead to addiction.

by Morgan True vtdigger.org A lack of leadership at Vermont Health Connect left the tech firm CGI unaccountable for work it was supposed to complete on the state’s health care exchange, according to a consultant’s report released August 22. The state “ceded” responsibility for the project’s success to CGI, says the report written by Optum — the firm now in negotiations to take over the project — and as a result, “CGI has not met its commitments.”

There are “several critical functional requirements” that CGI did not complete, according to the report, but the firm will still walk away with $67 million of its $84 million contract.

The report is a snapshot of the project as of June, state officials said, and many of the issues it raises have been addressed.

by John McClaughry Six months ago Governor Peter Shumlin hailed the state’s progress on launching an essential ingredient of single payer health care: Accountable Care Organizations. ACOs are the device for moving Vermont from traditional fee-for-service medicine into the new era of “payment reform”. Under fee-for-service, the providers generate their revenue by adding up billable services (X-rays, EKGs, catheterizations, inpatient days, office visits, etc). The payers, whether governments, insurance companies, or self-pay patients, can end up paying for lots of services that may swell the providers’ income and protect them from malpractice suits, but which do the patients little good.

Former FBI Director Louis Freeh and his office asked Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) to release the following statement on his behalf after Leahy visited him Friday at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH. Freeh was involved in a one-car accident in Barnard on Monday. See the Vermont State Police report below.

Freeh statement: "I wish to thank Senator Patrick Leahy, my close friend of 24 years, as well as my dear friends Vice President Joe Biden, Senator Tom Carper, Attorney General Beau Biden, former Senator Joe Lieberman, former Attorney General Mike Mukasey, and so many others, for their outpouring of concern following my automobile accident.

Black River Produce, based in Proctorsville, has announced today that Sean Buchanan has been appointed president of the company effective immediately. Buchanan previously held the position of Business Development Manager.

“Sean has been an invaluable manager through a time of dynamic change for our company,” said Steve Birge, Co-Owner and Founder of Black River Produce. “Our company and customers demand strong logistical skills, personal integrity, and a keen culinary palate. Sean’s mastery of these attributes plus his appealing sense of humor, make him the right candidate for leading our company into a time of growth.”

The spiny water flea (Bythotrephes longimanus) is the first aquatic invasive zooplankton to be confirmed in Lake Champlain, bringing the known number of nonnative and aquatic invasive species in Lake Champlain to 50. These specimens were collected this August in the Main Lake segment of Lake Champlain as part of the Lake Champlain Long-term Biological Monitoring Program supported by the Lake Champlain Basin Program. Sample analysis by the Lake Champlain Research Institute at SUNY Plattsburgh confirms multiple specimens from two different monitoring stations. Additional samples are being examined. Dr. Tim Mihuc, Director of the Lake Champlain Research Institute, states, “This is truly a sad day for Lake Champlain. The spiny water flea has potential to severely impact the planktonic food web and will be a huge nuisance to anglers.

GW Plastics, based in Bethel, has announced the graduation of its first summer internship class. This year’s class included Tommy Zani, University of Maine ’16; Glen Rogers, Vermont Technical College ’16; Brendan Hackett, University of Vermont ’15; Griffin Thomas, University of Mississippi ’16; and Camden Houghton, University of Vermont ’15. All of this year’s graduates are pursuing degrees in mechanical or electromechanical engineering.

Governor Peter Shumlin today announced that he will officially launch his reelection campaign on Tuesday, September 9 and has hired Scott Coriell as his campaign manager. Coriell has served as a Special Assistant in the Governor's Office since September 2013, and is leaving state service immediately to help launch Gov. Shumlin's campaign. A Killington native, Coriell served previously as Communications Director for Congressman Peter Welch and worked on the 2012 Obama for America campaign in New Hampshire.

"My campaign will focus on the challenges and opportunities facing our great state in the years ahead," Shumlin said. "We have made great progress, but I will not rest until all Vermonters have the economic security and quality of life they deserve. It has been a great honor to serve as Vermont's governor and I look forward to traveling the state over the coming weeks and asking Vermonters for their support for two more years of progress."

Vermont borrowers who took out a loan from Western Sky (also known as CashCall or Delbert), one of the largest online lenders of high-interest consumer loans, are reminded that September 1, 2014, is the deadline to file their claim for a cash refund. Specific details regarding the Western Sky/CashCall settlement and how to file a claim are available here. To date, the Vermont Attorney General has settled with four lenders and one payment processor, resulting in over $1,100,000 in combined total restitution for Vermont borrowers, and $105,000 in direct payments to the State. Borrower refunds for these other settlements are being issued automatically.

The National Collegiate Athletics Association has given the go-ahead to Southern Vermont College for an athletics consortium with Bennington College starting this fall. Through the consortium, Bennington College students would be permitted to participate in SVC’s New England Collegiate Conference/Division III athletics. SVC’s first men's soccer game is Saturday, August 30, and a Bennington student-athlete will be participating.

“This is a tremendous opportunity, not only broadening our athletic programs but also partnering with our collegiate neighbors in a way that enhances both institutions athletically and academically,” said SVC Director of Athletics Michael McDonough who filed the application for the consortium to the NCAA.