Devon Green, VP of Government Relations
Legislative Update
Just when it seems impossible, the legislative session is wrapping up according to schedule. Many issues hang in the balance, such as universal childcare and the FY ’24 budget, but our legislative priorities looking to help stabilize hospitals and maintain access for patients look to be heading to the governor’s desk:
- Public safety via workplace violence protections
- Mental health in the form of mobile crisis units, adolescent inpatient care, and alternatives to emergency departments
- Workforce initiatives, including $3 million for nursing forgivable loan program and $3.8 million for critical occupation scholarships
- Stability initiatives, such as increasing Medicaid primary care rates to 110% of Medicare and increasing Medicaid specialty rates by 3.8%
Still holding my breath and knocking on my office’s wood window frame right now, but I want to thank all the legislators for their hard work. None of this is easy, and we appreciate your support so that we can better serve our communities.
For more details on what we’ve been following, click here.
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Phil Scott signs 'shield bills' to protect abortion providers in Vermont from out-of-state prosecution |
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Vermont Public
As state legislatures across the United States enact new prohibitions against abortion and gender-affirming medical care, Republican Gov. Phil Scott Wednesday signed two bills that will protect health care providers and their patients from criminal charges filed by prosecutors outside the state of Vermont.
Nineteen states have enacted at least partial bans on abortion since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year, and 14 states now restrict gender-affirming care for minors.
Health care organizations in Vermont have made it clear that they’ll offer reproductive and gender-affirming care to patients who need to travel across state lines in order to receive it.
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UVM Health Network and Vermont State University partner to support respiratory care in Vermont |
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VTDigger
Amid a national staffing shortage at health care facilities across the country, The University of Vermont Health Network and Vermont State University announced plans Thursday to expand funding for the university’s respiratory therapy training program.
In the wake of the pandemic, which left many Vermonters needing specialized respiratory care, the partnership’s goal is “to preserve and expand Vermont’s only pipeline for these crucial health care team members,” according to a press release.
Respiratory therapists are highly trained medical specialists who care for patients with breathing or cardiopulmonary disorders, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome, a condition that can occur after injuries or following an illness such as Covid-19.
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VSAC, hospitals to collaborate on 5/29 project |
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VBM
Vermont babies born on May 29, 2023 will receive $100 deposits into Vermont 529 college savings accounts opened by the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC).
Plus, one lucky Vermonter – baby or not – will be chosen to receive $529 in a college savings account in an online month-long drawing. To enter, visit vsac.org or vheip.org before May 29.
The Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems is joining VSAC, which administers Vermont’s 529 college savings plan, to help educate Vermont families about saving for college for their children.
“Vermont hospitals believe that a healthy, vibrant Vermont is possible, and while excellent health care is an essential component, addressing the social determents of health is equally important,” said VAHHS President and CEO Mike Del Trecco. “Specifically, education has a profound impact on population health, and that’s why VAHHS partners with VSAC for 529 Day. We know that investments in education will provide health benefits for our children, families and communities.”
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A Promising but Controversial New Depression Treatment Is Now More Accessible in Vermont |
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Seven Days
A primary care doctor at the University of Vermont Health Network will soon start treating depression with a mind-altering drug that's shown promise in helping people who don't respond to traditional medicine.
The medication — known as esketamine and sold by Johnson & Johnson under the brand name Spravato — is chemically similar to ketamine, a substance that's been used in medical settings as an anesthetic, on the streets as a party drug and, more recently, as an off-label treatment for mood disorders.
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration approved esketamine in 2019 as a fast-acting treatment for patients who have failed to find relief from at least two other antidepressants. It comes in a nasal spray that's prescribed in conjunction with a traditional antidepressant and must be taken under the supervision of medical professionals because it can cause dizziness, blood pressure spikes and psychedelic, out-of-body experiences.
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Save the date for the 2023 Annual Meeting, Community Connections: September 21 and 22. |
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