Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The State of Vermont is bolstering the cybersecurity of Vermont’s public sector by providing centralized resources and expert guidance to help protect critical infrastructure. As of October 1, the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) shifted to a tiered, fee-based model for state, local, tribal, and territorial government members. Many of the eligible public sector entities are small organizations that lack access to dedicated cybersecurity resources—and in many cases, do not have dedicated IT staff at all—making centralized support and guidance especially critical.

by Katrina Menard, Public Assets Institute Last July, Congress cut Medicaid by nearly $1 trillion over a decade as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). Over 150,000 Vermonters—including 60,000 children—receive health insurance through Medicaid. Up to ten percent of adults could lose health coverage due to changes in eligibility and enrollment requirements, and kids may also lose coverage. For Vermont’s schools and students, reduced Medicaid payments could mean budget shortfalls. Under federal law, states may receive reimbursements for certain health care services provided to students with Medicaid and for related administrative costs. Medicaid is the fourth-largest funding stream for public schools, providing over $7.5 billion nationally each year.

Vermont Business Magazine The Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living (DAIL) is developing the next State Plan on Aging, a guiding document that outlines how the State of Vermont and the network of Area Agencies on Aging and service providers will strive to meet the changing needs of older Vermonters over time. The draft plan is online at: asd.vermont.gov under “Latest News.” Vermont has one of the oldest populations in the country, and its residents are getting older faster than in most states—making this more than a statistic; it’s a story about neighbors, families, and entire communities adapting to change. Older adults are one of Vermont’s greatest resources, contributing experience, wisdom, and a deep sense of community that strengthen the state in countless ways.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported for the second week that the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations have fallen to a very low level, similar to the negligible level seen last summer. There were no measles cases after one reported in Vermont in February in Washington County and the rate nationally is low. While there was no measles virus detected recently, RSV, Influenza B and Norovirus remained elevated at all the Vermont wastewater testing sites.

Vermont Business Magazine IPRO was recently awarded a contract from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to serve as the Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO) program for the 13th Statement of Work in the Northeast Region (Region 1), which encompasses Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Previously, IPRO had been named the QIN-QIO for the Mid-Atlantic Region (Region 2) which includes Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, DC. Under these contracts, IPRO will work directly with nursing homes, hospitals, and outpatient clinical practices to improve the quality and safety of care for 24 percent of the nation’s Medicare beneficiaries. Both contract terms run through May 2030.

by Devon Green, Sr. Vice President of Policy & Strategy, VAHHS A huge thank you to Chairs Black and Lyons and Rep. Berbeco and Sen. Gulick, along with all the members of the health care committees, for quickly shepherding through the House and Senate H.84, a bill that allows for recording of telehealth visits with consent. Not only will this bill support more engaged patient visits; it will also provide a better quality of life for our providers. Fun fact: it’s also one of the rare bills that remained unchanged from start to finish! Next stop is the governor’s desk for a signature.

Vermont Business Magazine On April 6, Governor Scott signed a bill of the following title: H.50, An act relating to identifying underutilized State buildings and land. When signing H.50, Governor Scott sent the following letter to the General Assembly: Dear Legislators: I’m writing to inform you that H.50, an act relating to identifying underutilized State buildings and land, has been signed into law. While I appreciate the Legislature reinforcing parts of Executive Order 06-25, H.50 falls far short of the reform required to address Vermont’s growing housing affordability crisis and ignores the most important changes made in both Executive Order 06-25, as well as the housing bill we’ve put forward (that has not been fully acted upon).

by Maggie Lenz and Gwynn Zakov At the governor’s weekly press conference last week, Governor Scott stood at the podium and in no uncertain terms, on the record, said that he's going to veto the budget. When a reporter asked whether he'd veto the House passed budget and yield bill as they stand, Scott's answer was a flat "Oh, yeah." He said the same about the House Education Committee's version of Act 73 implementation. Three vetoes, promised before the bills have even cleared the Senate. But the veto threats aren't the interesting part. The interesting part is the math, both fiscal and political math, and whether the legislature can thread a needle that may not have an eye. 

Vermont Business Magazine It is hard to imagine ourselves in a situation where we don’t have the ability to make sound decisions regarding our health care. Yet planning for a time when we might not be capable of making important medical decisions is crucial for each of us. It is something people of all ages should be thinking about. Having an advance directive in place can be extremely beneficial, as it allows you to make your wishes known and to select a significant other, family member, or friend as the decision maker regarding health care issues should you become unable to make medical decisions.

Vermont Business Magazine The Center for Living and Rehabilitation in Bennington announced today that it earned official Heart Failure Accreditation from the American Heart Association as it continues to focus on providing the highest quality care to patients. The elite designation makes CLR the first Vermont facility within the Allaire Health Services portfolio to receive this accreditation and one of only two facilities in the state of Vermont to hold the distinction. The AHA accreditation is awarded to facilities that demonstrate a rigorous commitment to following evidence-based clinical pathways and maintaining the highest quality standards for heart failure care.

Vermont Business Magazine Biswas Pradhan (Bis), MPH, MSW, Community Health’s new Director of Population Health and Quality, brings experience, insight, perspective and public health strategy to Community Health’s executive team as population health becomes a vital part of delivering quality health care. Earning degrees in business administration, social work and public health at prestigious universities in the US including the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Pradhan has addressed timely public health issues while working at federally qualified health centers serving Chicago’s southside and Boston’s underserved communities.

VermontBiz Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC (DRM) is honored to announce that they have been ranked as a Best Place to Work. The ranking was announced at a ceremony at the Doubletree by Hilton, Burlington on April 2nd. DRM ranked #4 in the Medium-size business category (100-249 employees).

“At DRM, our people are the foundation of everything we do,” said Will Dodge, CEO and Managing Partner. “Being recognized in the top five for Best Places to Work reflects the intentional effort we put into fostering an environment where individuals feel respected, supported, and motivated to do their best work. We’re proud of this honor and remain focused on building a culture that not only attracts talented professionals but also encourages them to grow and stay.  When it comes to all of our employees, we take nothing for granted and remain committed to improving on DRM’s traditions of mentorship, community involvement, a vibrant in-office culture, and best-in-class benefits.”