Current News

by Morgan True vtdigger.org The process for determining Vermont Health Connect premium rates starts Monday. State officials say rates next year will likely go up because of a variety of factors. In its first year, the state’s federally mandated online insurance marketplace enrolled 60,835 people in small group and individual market health plans. The rates approved by the board will determine what those people pay in premiums and out-of-pocket costs in 2015. The two carriers participating in the state’s health insurance exchange were required to submit their rate requests to the Green Mountain Care Board on Monday.

The board will have 90 days to evaluate the assumptions underlying the rate requests from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont and MVP Health Care and to then approve a new set of rates. (Last year’s rates can be seen here.)

The Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems and Vermont Student Assistance Corp marked national 529 Day by starting a college savings account for Skyra Musgrove – the first baby born May 29 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Baby Skyra, who weighed in at 7 pounds, 7 ounces, was born at 12:36 am in Brattleboro, one of the participating hospitals in 529 Day event.

“We are so excited to be able to partner with VSAC and the Vermont Higher Education Investment Plan to award our ‘529 Baby’ with money for their college savings,” said Jill Olson, vice president of policy and legislative affairs for the hospital association. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for a family to receive money for college.”

Ameritox, the nation's leader in medication monitoring solutions, today announced a new agreement with MVP Health Care to provide urine drug monitoring services to MVP plan members in New York, Vermont and New Hampshire. Ameritox's services will be a covered benefit in all health plans offered by MVP, including Medicare and Medicaid.

"Ensuring the safety and well-being of our members is important to us," stated Dr Carl Cameron, Vice President of Medical Management at MVP Health Care. "The critical insight and knowledge gained by providing prescription medication monitoring, will allow physicians to more adequately assess a patient's progress and maintenance of chronic conditions."

Vermont Business Magazine Expenses related to federal health policy changes and increases in the prices for medical care and prescription drugs in Vermont require a 9.8 percent increase in premiums for Exchange-related qualified health plans, according to a rate filing prepared by the state’s largest health insurer. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont filed with Vermont’s Green Mountain Care Board proposed rates for 2015 coverage through Vermont’s health benefits exchange, Vermont Health Connect. The rates filed by the company would increase premiums for individuals and small businesses by an average of 9.8 percent. MVP Health Care, the only other carrier on the Exchange, has requested a 15.4 percent average annual increase compared with 2014 rates.

On Thursday, June 5, IBM specialists will deliver a disaster preparedness workshop to Vermont FoodBank members from flood-prone communities to ensure that organizations caring for some of the state's most vulnerable people have strategies in place before the next disaster strikes. The outcome will be plans that outline how several organizations providing food for Vermont residents can maintain its mission during periods of extreme emergency. This workshop is the last in a series of six sessions provided by IBM in partnership with the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) to help support the state's recovery from Tropical Storm Irene.

Governor Peter Shumlin on Monday signed the FY 2015 Transportation Bill, which contains the largest investment in transportation infrastructure in state history. The bill approves $685.7 million in infrastructure improvements and maintenance, and supports the Agency of Transportation’s (VTrans) vision of a safe, efficient, multimodal transportation system that promotes Vermont’s quality of life and economic growth. Key components of this budget emphasize economic development, safety, preservation and maintenance of the existing transportation system, energy efficient transportation choices, and the continued rebuilding of infrastructure damaged by Tropical Storm Irene and other recent natural disasters.

Northstar Travel Media, the leading business-to-business information company serving the travel and meetings industries, has acquired a majority interest in Inntopia, the Stowe-baed provider of e-commerce reservation technology and services to destination marketing organizations, ski resorts, tour operators, lodging suppliers and activity, event and transportation suppliers. Other partners include Inntopia’s founder and CEO, Trevor Crist, Aspen Skiing Company and Intrawest Resorts Holdings Inc. Itrawest owns Stratton Mountain Resort in Vermont and Mont Tremblant in Quebec, among others.

Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) on Monday praised the historic announcement by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and President Obama of a plan to cut carbon emissions from the power sector by 30 percent by 2030. Leahy was joined in his support of the stricter standards by his Vermont colleagues in Congress, Senator Sanders and Congressman Welch, by Governor Shumlin, and Green Mountain Power CEO Mary Powell. The move is the latest step under President Obama’s Climate Action Plan and will reduce carbon pollution from power plants, which are the nation’s largest source of carbon pollution. Leahy has long championed clean air and water policies and has been the Senate’s leader in pressing for curbs on power plant mercury pollution that has threatened the nation’s waterways and fisheries, and particularly the health of young children. The president signled out Vermont's efforts in carbon control.

At the annual meeting of the National Bank of Middlebury on May 6, G Kenneth Perine, President and CEO announced a leadership transition for the bank. As of December 31, 2014, Perine will step down as president and chief executive officer after 23 years at the helm. Caroline Carpenter, a seventeen-year veteran of the bank and current executive vice president, will assume the presidency and position of chief executive officer as of January 1, 2015. Carpenter is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Vermont, majoring in mathematics, and a 2000 graduate of New England School of Banking at Williams College, where she earned distinction as a Jordan Scholar.

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power announced Friday that it has reached an agreement with the Vermont Department of Public Service and other stakeholders to decrease electric rates by 2.46 percent. The rate decrease will take effect on October 1, 2014, and is the result of the work between several key stakeholders, including the Vermont Department of Public Service, IBM and Associated Industries of Vermont, in an effort to provide lower electric rates for the families and businesses of Vermont. The rate filing is subject to Public Service Board approval.

by Hilary Niles vtdigger.org Operations at the Moretown Landfill, including cleanup, are stuck in a holding pattern while the state reviews a new proposal for groundwater remediation. Moretown Landfill Inc. wants to cap its recently closed cell in a way that will allow for expanded operations. But first, MLI and its parent company, Florida-based Advanced Disposal, will have to address groundwater concerns at the central Vermont site. A revised proposal to that effect was filed this month, but review could take weeks or even months. The landfill, in close proximity to the Winooski River off US 2, stopped accepting new trash in July 2013 when it lost state certification. Activity now is limited to odor control and water monitoring. Cell 3 is capped with an intermediate cover to keep smells in and rain out, while the landfill’s parent company responds to civil litigation and state environmental requests.

by Hilary Niles vtdigger.org FairPoint Communications and its unionized employees in northern New England have returned to the bargaining table. Their current five-year contract agreement expires August 2. The company is seeking cuts to all manner of benefits, according to union representative Mike Spillane, of IBEW Local 2326. The chapter represents about 350 workers in Vermont. Another 100 customer service representatives in Vermont are represented by Communication Workers of America. The negotiations collectively cover about 1,800 employees in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

FairPoint Vermont President Beth Fastiggi said in an April interview that the company is looking for cost savings.

IBEW 2327 members in Maine demonstrate in 2009 against FairPoint outside Seadogs Stadium in Portland. Photo by Bernard Pollack/Creative Commons