by Devon Green, VP of Government Relations, VAHHS The budget wrapping up is usually a signal of the end of the session, but we’re going longer this year due to work on education reform, so expect to see a lot happening in the health care reform space as well. See below for the latest.
Budget: The Senate is moving the budget along with the Appropriations Committee and Finance Committee advancing H.493. The bill includes items that were previously in the failed Budget Adjustment Act, including $11 million in reconciliation payments for the Brattleboro Retreat, $10 million for health care stabilization grants, and $4 million for the Medicaid global hospital payment program to cover tail end claims and bring in additional hospitals.
Hospital Transformation: The health care committees held a joint committee meeting to receive updates on Act 167 and hospital transformation implementation. Jessica Holmes, Member, Green Mountain Care Board, presented on the urgent need for change. Tom Frank, President and CEO, North Country Hospital, Michael Costa, President and CEO, Gifford Health Care, and Bob Adcock, CEO of Springfield Hospital. They testified on hospital efforts to coordinate care and share resources while reducing administrative costs. The Agency of Human Services updated the committees on their hospital transformation efforts and timelines. The Green Mountain Care Board noted that $200 million dollars would be needed to reduce premiums for 2026 and urged hospitals to immediately find savings.
340B Protections: The Senate Health and Welfare Committee discussed further reporting requirements in H.266 and repealing Vermont’s “white bagging” law.
Repeal of Prohibition on Holding Intoxicated Individuals in Correctional Facilities: Thank you to all the health care providers who contacted their representatives to vote “no” on an amendment that would delay instead of repeal the prohibition against holding intoxicated individuals in correctional facilities in S.36. The amendment was voted down at Second Reading.
Expansion of Green Mountain Care Board Powers: The Senate Health and Welfare Committee acknowledged that some process would be needed to reduce reimbursement rates through H.482, the bill that adjusts reimbursement rates when a domestic insurer is near insolvency and allows for an independent monitor in hospitals that materially misrepresent information or are materially noncompliant with their budget.
Primary Care: As part of their high level review of S.126, the health care reform bill, The House Health Care Committee heard testimony from several providers from the Green Mountain Care Board’s Primary Care Advisory Group. The primary care providers advocated for growing the primary care workforce through funding the Maple Mountain Consortium, interoperable and simplified electronic health records, and ensuring that specialists refer patients back to primary care when appropriate.
Data Integration: The House Health Care Committee heard testimony on Section 10 of S.126, which integrates claims and clinical data. VAHHS testified that their priority is interoperability and presented the pros and cons of building direct electronic medical record connections between current platforms; integration of Vermont’s health information exchange data; and a national network. The committee is interested in more seamless integration of VITL data into electronic medical records.
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