by Mike del Trecco, VAHHs As I write, Vermont’s hospitals are just wrapping their annual budget hearings with the Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB). These conversations follow their July 1 budget submissions and offer an opportunity for our non-profit hospitals to tell their unique story that underpins their budgets. The conversations are complex, inspiring, and sometimes hard, but they are vital as we all work to manage the challenges of time including financial pressures and workforce shortages. The GMCB will now deliberate before issuing orders in September. I’m incredibly proud of our hospitals for proposing responsible and forward-looking budgets that address the acute health care challenges of the moment, while also planning for the future and shifting patient needs.
When that work wraps up each year, we look forward to our Annual Meeting which is a chance for hospital leaders, policymakers and partners to gather, step back from daily demands, and focus on the future of health care in Vermont. This year’s theme, Era of Change: Healthcare Transformation, Challenges and Opportunities, reflects the pivotal moment we’re in. In fact, our keynote speaker Jeff Goldsmith, is one of the most sought-after keynote speakers on the future of health care, technology, economics and leadership. Surely his remarks will jumpstart what will be a thought-provoking couple of days.
We have breakout sessions that cover topics from peer support systems to regionalization to collaboration and interoperability. And we’ll wrap with a Friday keynote on housing and other challenges facing Vermont moderated by Kevin Chu of the Vermont Futures Project and Maura Collins of Vermont Housing Finance Agency.
Some of the most valuable moments at the Annual Meeting happen outside the formal sessions and over a meal, in a hallway conversation, or during a networking activity.
These one-on-one connections with leaders from hospitals and health care organizations across Vermont are a rare and important opportunity to exchange ideas, learn from each other’s experiences, and strengthen the good work happening statewide.
I hope you’ll join me and the VAHHS team this year at Jay Peak for our Annual Meeting. Registration and our room block are open now.
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