Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Rutland Regional Medical Center is welcoming the public for a free film screening of the inspiring documentary “Kili Big” on Thursday, February 1, 5:30pm in the CVPS/Leahy Community Health Education Center at the hospital. The film screening is a collaboration between the Rutland Regional’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) steering committee and Come Alive Outside. Following the film, a panel discussion will be facilitated by Come Alive Outside, Executive Director and plus-size adventurer, Arwen Turner, the panel will include the following body inclusion advocates and experts: Kara Hardman, Co-Founder of Thicket Adventure and Curvy Kili Crew member, and Paige Emerson, Social Media Influencer, Chubby Hiker Reviews.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont state Senate fell short today in its attempt to override the governor’s veto of legislation that would have modernized the state’s 52-year-old Bottle Bill program. Seventeen of the 30 senators voted to override, with 20 required in order to achieve the two-thirds necessary for the override to succeed. The House overrode the veto on January 4 by a vote of 112 to 32, with 100 votes needed. The bill, H.158, would have updated the legal definitions of “beverage” and “container” to expand the types of products in the existing 5-cent deposit system by 2027. Wine bottles would be added to the list and have a 15-cent deposit.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations fell last week after a long period of edging higher since last summer. Cases and hospitalizations were both down about 20 percent from the week. Hospitalizations are about what they were last winter. Fatalities have not seen a related spike nor decline. There were 6 deaths reported by the Vermont Department of Health last week and 6 the week before, for a pandemic total now of 1,100 as of January 13, 2024 (the most recent data available). Deaths have been running at about that level for several months. The VDH reported January 17, 2024, that COVID-19 hospitalizations were down 9 last week to a statewide total of 50. COVID-19 activity remains in the "Low" range, according to the VDH. Reported cases last week were 365, down 90 for the week. 

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Vermont Department of Labor reported that the December 2023 unemployment rate was 2.2 percent. This reflects an increase of one-tenth of one percentage point from November. The civilian labor force participation rate was 64.6 percent in December, an increase of two-tenths of one percentage point from the prior month’s revised estimate. Along with a significant rise in the Labor Force of 1,005, the total Employed increased by 810, while the total Unemployed rose slightly by 195. The unemployment rate increase was largely due to an increase in the Labor Force, which is the denominator in the calculation. The comparable United States rate in December was 3.7 percent, no change from the revised November estimate. 

Vermont Business Magazine VC3, a leading managed service provider serving municipalities and commercial businesses based in South Carolina, announced Monday the acquisition of Williston's DominionTech, an IT services provider supporting Vermont and New Hampshire businesses. By acquiring this highly reputed regional company, VC3 significantly expands its presence in New England. The acquisition will not affect local staff or location and Brian Curtis will remain with the firm.

Vermont Business Magazine Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont (Blue Cross VT) announced the removal of prior authorization to Open MRI in Vermont and New Hampshire effective February 1, 2024. This strategic decision is part of Blue Cross VT’s commitment to enhancing health care accessibility, directing care towards high-quality, cost-effective services, and reducing the administrative burden on health care providers. The singular focus of the state’s only local, nonprofit health plan is to make health care work better for Vermonters. This change improves member access to a high-quality service that has a four times lower cost than other Vermont facilities that perform MRIs and will improve access and convenience to a quality service for members, while lowering premium costs.

Vermont Business Magazine The Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH) Community Health Fund Advisory Committee awarded a total of over $15,000 in grants to H.O.P.E., The St. Johnsbury Community HUB, Lyndon Institute, NEK Community Growth Center, Inc. and Northeast Kingdom Youth Services. These grant recipients will provide a range of programs, education and opportunities that ensure food access for youth, provide early prevention and wellness information, and support inclusion of vulnerable community members.

by Devon Green, VAHHS VP of Government Relations Although it was only the third week of the session, last week was a whirlwind. VAHHS testified in Senate Health and Welfare on S.211, the health care reform omnibus bill. VAHHS discussed the current health care landscape, including the fact that emergency departments are overwhelmed because 142 individuals statewide are in hospital beds because they have not place else to go. VAHHS advocated for greater clarity, predictability, and greater availability of technical stakeholder input. VAHHS also discussed the need for clarifying regulatory versus policy roles as Vermont moves forward with the AHEAD model and global budgets. Multiple witnesses testified for the need to ensure clarity around policy versus regulation, but struggled with how to define policy. 

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Vermont Business Magazine Last week, Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) joined Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and other colleagues at an abortion rights briefing ahead of the anniversary of Roe v. Wade to discuss Senate Democrats’ fight to pass federal legislation to protect reproductive rights. The Senator highlighted Vermont’s action to enshrine personal reproductive liberty in its state constitution and emphasized the significant impact of anti-abortion legislation introduced and enacted by many Republican-leaning states after the Dobbs decision. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living (DAIL) has awarded Riverflow Community Inc one of three Act 186 pilot planning grants to develop new and innovative housing options for individuals with developmental disabilities. Act 186 of 2022 appropriated $500,000 for housing and residential service pilot planning grants. DAIL has awarded Riverflow Community Inc. a grant of up to 169,500 for this work. The Riverflow Community project aims to plan a housing and service project in Monkton, spread across 30 acres. The project will strive to provide accommodation and services for a minimum of 15 people with developmental disabilities.

Vermont Business Magazine Banish the winter blues this year by participating in Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont’s Snow Days event. Blue Cross VT, Vermont’s only local, non-profit health plan, holds its Snow Days event each winter to help Vermonters get outside and be active. Enjoying the great winter activities that Vermont offers connects people with nature, builds ties within the community, and supports personal wellness.