North Country Hospital has announced the appointment of Tom Frank as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective April 17, 2023.

Frank brings over 25 years of experience in healthcare leadership positions to this role, and for the last four years has served as Vice President of Medical Group Operations for Rutland Regional Medical Center.

Prior to that, Frank used his expertise at North Country when he served as Chief Operating Officer.

Frank’s breadth of experience in establishing a positive work culture, and achieving strong financial results, in addition to quality and service excellence, has been evident in each of his past positions.

“We are very fortunate to have Tom returning to North Country Hospital,” said Frank Knoll, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “We believe that he has the experience, vision, and leadership skills necessary to guide our hospital through the challenges and opportunities ahead.”

Dr. Sunny Eappen arrived in Burlington last November, from a top position at Brigham and Women's hospital in Boston.

Dr. Eappen is now in charge of Vermont's largest medical system, UVM Health, which serves over 1 million patients in two states each year.

UVM Health is currently under pressure from regulators and insurance companies, and is facing a tough labor market.

Eappen sat down with NBC5's Stewart Ledbetter for his first in-person interview since taking over as president last year.

Dozens of primary care practices are likely to receive all or close to all of the accountable care organization funds they anticipated in 2023, two recent developments suggest.

The funds in question that were budgeted to go to primary care practices amount to $4 million to $5 million per year, over and above what they would expect to receive for patient care.

That arrangement was altered when the state’s largest insurer, BlueCross BlueShield of Vermont, announced in late December that it would not contract with OneCare in 2023.

This year, 40 practices employing around 80% of all primary care practitioners are participating in payment programs offered through OneCare Vermont, which is the state’s only “all payer” accountable care organization, or ACO. (“All-payer” means the ACO contracts with Medicare, Medicaid and private health insurers.)

Vermonters losing health insurance coverage because UnitedHealthcare canceled its contract with the University of Vermont Health Network are protected by a federal law that requires continued care for patients undergoing treatment for conditions such as cancer, as well as those who are pregnant, according to a Vermont regulator.

The Vermont Department of Financial Regulation said last week the No Surprises Act requires health plans to allow patients being treated for "serious and complex conditions" to receive the same benefits, under the same terms and conditions as would have applied if the plan wasn't terminated − for the "full course of treatment furnished by the provider."

Department of Financial Regulation Commissioner Kevin Gaffney said Monday he has talked directly to UnitedHealthcare and has "no concern" about their commitment to comply with the No Surprises Act.

Southern Vermont Area Health Education Center is offering two MedQuest Program sessions to high school students this summer at Rutland Regional Medical Center, Springfield Hospital, and North Star Health. This hands-on career exploration day camp will take place July 24-26 at Springfield Hospital and North Star Health, and Aug. 2-4 at Rutland Regional Medical Center.

Southern Vermont Area Health Education Center is a nonprofit, educational organization dedicated to growing and sustaining southern Vermont’s health workforce, especially in rural and underserved communities.

The Green Mountain Care Board continues to wrestle with how to handle funds held by the University of Vermont Health Network earmarked for increasing inpatient psychiatric care. 

Regulators were set to vote Wednesday on whether to give the state’s largest health care provider greater leeway on how it spends what remains of $21 million in surplus profits from 2017. But Owen Foster, the care board chair, pulled the question in order to give staff and board members more time to consider a more restrictive approach.

“I personally would like a bit more time to think about this because it is really critically important,” said Foster, pointing to the significant number of public comments on the issue.