Vermont Health Care Ombudsman renamed Vermont Health Care Advocate

The Office of Health Care Ombudsman, which has provided free advice and assistance to more than 37,000 Vermonters with health care and health insurance concerns since it was created by the Vermont legislature in 1998, will become the Office of Health Care Advocate on January 1, 2014. The name change is the result of a law enacted by the legislature earlier this year.’
Vermont Legal Aid, which has managed the Health Care Ombudsman Project since its creation, was selected through a formal bid process to manage the Health Care Advocate Project. Unlike other legal aid projects which generally serve populations with low incomes, the health care project serves all Vermonters regardless of income, resources or insurance status.
‘In addition to providing critical individual assistance to help Vermonters get insurance and access to services, the Health Care Ombudsman has acted as a voice for consumers in health care policy matters before the Vermont legislature and as their advocate before government agencies that oversee state insurance and other health care programs,’ said Trinka Kerr, the Vermont Health Care Ombudsman. ‘As the Office of Health Care Advocate, we will continue to provide the same high-quality representation and responsive assistance to all Vermonters.’
‘Part of our statutory mandate is to represent the public in rate reviews and other matters including hospital budgets and certificates of need before the Green Mountain Care Board,’ Kerr said. ‘In recent years we have been given more responsibilities.’ The new law includes some additional funding that will enable us to better serve Vermonters and to meet our statutory obligations.’
Kerr joined the Health Care Ombudsman office as a staff attorney in 2000 and has led the organization since 2006. She oversees the work of seven advocates, three attorneys, a policy analyst and an outreach specialist. Beginning January 1, she will serve as Vermont’s Chief Health Care Advocate.
Vermont Legal Aid is a private, non-profit law firm with offices in Burlington, Montpelier, Rutland, Springfield, and St. Johnsbury.’
Source vtlegalaid.org.