Governor, Vermont Hospitals announce partnership on Vermont Health Connect

Governor Peter Shumlin, the Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems, and other hospitals today announced a partnership to promote outreach and expand participation in Vermont Health Connect, the new insurance marketplace. ‘
Under the plan, hospitals across the state have agreed to help with outreach in the following ways (it varies from hospital to hospital):
‘¢’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Train certified application counselors and navigators;
‘¢’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Provide information about VHC on their websites;
‘¢’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Provide onsite enrollment or refer patients to navigators for enrollment help;
‘¢’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Distribute information about VHC to patients during the registration process;
‘¢’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Display and distribute information in waiting areas and patient rooms;
‘¢’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Ensure patients have materials about VHC upon discharge from the hospital;
‘¢’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Use existing Blueprint Teams to provide education and enrollment services, which may include public information sessions or classes;
‘¢’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Host public forums or other kinds of educational events; and
‘¢’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Provide information to their patient financial services staff.’
Gov. Shumlin said 18 hospitals have agreed to participate. He said this is especially important because these facilities are connecting with Vermonters when they are sick or injured, and need coverage the most. ‘
‘I want to thank the hospitals and their staffs for reaching out to Vermonters and helping them make the best coverage choices through Vermont Health Connect for their families,’ Gov. Shumlin said at a press conference at the Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin. ‘This is a first step toward controlling increases in health care costs, and ensuring everyone had access to quality, affordable coverage.’’
‘Vermont hospitals are committed to ensuring Vermonters receive the coverage and care they need to thrive,’ said Judy Tartaglia, Chair of the Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems (VAHHS) and CEO of the Central Vermont Medical Center.’ ‘This partnership is one of many ways hospitals are engaged in initiatives to continually improve care and help bend the cost curve.’
Source: Governor's office 11.12.2013