UVM to transition St. Albans dialysis clinic to new provider; 40 patients affected in St. Albans
The fate of the St. Albans dialysis clinic is up in the air.
Due to budget cuts, University of Vermont Medical Center is looking to off-load its dialysis clinics in St. Albans, Rutland and Newport to alternative providers.
The health network will continue to operate the sites until if, or when, it finds new management for the life-saving services. The change will impact approximately 115 patients statewide, including 40 in the St. Albans area.
“We will do everything we can to support our patients and our employees affected by these difficult decisions,” Dr. Stephen Leffler, president and COO of University of Vermont Medical Center, said in a statement. “These actions are in direct conflict with our nonprofit mission to be here for the patients who need us, and we are very sorry for the negative impact this will have on Vermonters.”
Health network leaders are blaming the reductions on state regulatory measures undertaken by the Green Mountain Care Board, the state’s five-person group focused on cutting systemwide healthcare costs. The board limits how much state hospitals can charge commercial insurance in order to regulate increases to patients, which has impacted medical services offered by each hospital.