Statement Regarding Data Inaccuracies Underpinning Flawed Green Mountain Care Board Consultant Report
For Immediate Release
October 29, 2024
Contact: Jocelyn Bolduc
802-355-0915
communications@VAHHS.org
The following is a statement from Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems (VAHHS) CEO, Michael Del Trecco calling for the Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB) to repair the damage done by their consultant report which is underpinned by false and inaccurate data.
“Our hospitals have a history of collaboration with state partners on health care policies that focus on equity and improve care quality. Our commitment to this work is as strong as ever. We know we must transform to reduce health care costs, protect services and ensure all Vermonters have access to care, even in our most rural regions. To get there, we must make sound decisions based on accurate, transparent data. Unfortunately, the Green Mountain Care Board’s (GMCB) Act 167 report consists of significant flaws and should not be used as the basis for health care transformation.
“A review of the final report released in September reveals significant errors and inaccuracies in the foundational data used to justify sweeping recommendations about our health care system. In addition to already reported errors at North Country Hospital and Gifford Health Care, we now know that flawed data impacts virtually every hospital. This includes grossly inaccurate numbers of emergency department visits and inpatient visits on average off by as much as 33 and 41 percent respectively. Additionally, research used to justify the consolidation or closure of hospital obstetrics services has been refuted with the researcher herself concluding that rural hospitals need additional support, not less. An initial review of the major errors is expressed in the attached document.
“There has been much attention given to this report, which essentially calls for the closure of four hospitals in our rural regions, as well as the consolidation of health care services across Vermont. To make recommendations to close hospitals, move services, and build new outpatient free standing clinics based on incomplete data is very problematic. The impacts of this report are already having negative and counterproductive results for our health care system. Hospitals have had staffing agencies refuse to make placements, recruited providers change their minds, and much-needed health care workers leave hospitals over the findings of this report. This report is causing harm.
“We are deeply concerned by the disconnect between what this report recommends and where the provider community knows we need to go in health care reform. The Green Mountain Care Board and their consultant created a time-consuming and very expensive process that has already harmed our patients and weakened our health care system. Significant taxpayer dollars were spent on this report; dollars that would have been more effectively spent on our communities. We call on them to make this right in the following ways:
We ask that the Green Mountain Care Board retract this report and acknowledge that grossly inaccurate data underlies the hospital recommendations made.
We ask that the Green Mountain Care Board repair the damage caused to our patients, providers and communities by assuring them that care will be protected in their communities.
On behalf of our doctors, nurses and staff, we ask for a public apology from the Green Mountain Care Board to our provider community who are on the frontlines of providing health care in our aging and rural state. They have been disrespected and disrupted by this work and they need to know they are valued.
“Time is not on our side, and Vermonters are counting on us to evolve to meet their growing and changing needs. We reiterate our commitment to work with policy makers and stakeholders on a path forward that speeds progress to improve care and affordability for Vermonters. We will continue to partner in the process laid out by the Agency of Human Services and request that we move forward on a strong foundation of accurate data.”
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