by Devon Green, VAHHS Vice President of Government Relations
Last Week
Audio-Only Telehealth: The House Health Care Committee came to consensus to extend the current coverage and reimbursement of audio-only telehealth until January 1, 2025. This means that an audio-only office visit will be covered and reimbursed in the same way as an inpatient office visit after the patient provides proper informed consent.
Nurse Licensure Compact: The Senate Health and Welfare Committee took testimony on S.48, the Nurse Licensure Compact. The bill has broad support from VAHHS, the Coalition of Health Care Associations, the Vermont Health Care Association, the Board of Nursing, the Vermont Nurses Association, The Organization of Nurse Leaders and the Office of Professional Regulation. VAHHS Board Member Carol Conroy testified on behalf of the Organization of Nurse Leaders and enumerated multiple benefits of the Nurse Licensure Compact, including coordination of treatment via telemedicine, access in rural areas, improved safety through finger-print background checks and support for more rapid staff responses during disasters or public health emergencies.
Nurse Tax Incentives and Workforce Development: The House Health Care Committee heard AHS’s Director of Health Care Reform and the Tax Department present the Administration’s proposed nurse tax incentive that would exempt recent graduates from Vermont nurse education programs from 100 percent of state income taxes in the first year, 70 percent the second year and 50 percent in the third year after graduation. Laura Pelosi testified on behalf of the Health Care Provider Association Coalition in support of the incentive, noting that 33 percent of graduates from Vermont nursing programs leave the state. Pelosi also provided compelling testimony summarizing the workforce needs of Vermont’s health care providers and supporting ongoing funding for nursing and physician scholarships, as well as one-time funding for developing provider and higher education partnerships to increase nurse education programs.
Regulation of Stem Cell Therapy Not Approved by the FDA: The Senate Health and Welfare Committee heard a summary of S.22, a bill that requires stem cell therapy that is not approved by the FDA to disclose to patients and in its advertising that the therapy is not approved. The committee will act quickly on this bill.
This Week
Health Care Budget: The House Health Care Committee started digging into its budget priorities last week and will continue their discussion this week. Topics for potential discussion include funding positions for health equity, suicide prevention, health care workforce and how to spend one-time federal funding related to COVID-19.
COVID-19 Regulatory Flexibilities: The Senate Health and Welfare Committee will likely incorporate the House Health Care’s consensus on audio-only telehealth into a bill that would extend current COVID-19 regulatory flexibilities.