Legislative Update
Devon Green, VP of Government Relations
Although it was only the third week of the session, last week was a whirlwind. Let’s jump right in!
Health Care Reform: VAHHS testified in Senate Health and Welfare on S.211, the health care reform omnibus bill. VAHHS discussed the current health care landscape, including the fact that emergency departments are overwhelmed because 142 individuals statewide are in hospital beds because they have not place else to go. VAHHS advocated for greater clarity, predictability, and greater availability of technical stakeholder input. VAHHS also discussed the need for clarifying regulatory versus policy roles as Vermont moves forward with the AHEAD model and global budgets. Multiple witnesses testified for the need to ensure clarity around policy versus regulation, but struggled with how to define policy.
Prior Authorization: House Health Care heard from providers on the negative impacts of prior authorizations to both providers and patients as they examined proposals in H.766 that would:
Reduce the timeframe in which health plans must respond to prior authorizations from 48 hours to 24 hours
Limit prior authorizations for previously approved treatments
Mental Health: The Department of Mental Health updated the House Health Care Committee on its latest initiatives. The Department noted that the VPCH has capacity staffing for 21 beds and only 9 beds occupied and River Valley Therapeutic Residence is staffed for 16 beds with 9 beds occupied. The Department of Mental Health also presented on their statewide mobile crisis program, the 988 suicide prevention program, and other efforts. VAHHS presented an update on mental health data, including the fact that ED waiting is down to an average of 15-20 people as opposed to 30 people last year at this time.
EMS Testimony: The House Health Care and Government Operations committees heard testimony on the 2024 Vermont Regional Emergency Medical Services Coordination Study. Many acknowledged that Vermont’s EMS system is struggling, and the report does not go far enough with its recommendations. The committees will likely take up H.622 which recommends expanding reimbursement for services provided in the home, funds for training, and formation of a task force to oversee development of a statewide emergency medical services system.
Medicaid expansion: VAHHS testified in the House Health Care Committee in support of Section 9 of H.721 expanding eligibility for Vermont’s Medicare Shared Savings Program, which subsidizes Medicare premiums and out of pocket costs. VAHHS noted that Vermont’s over-65 population is the fastest growing portion of our population and anyone who can’t afford Medicare falls within hospital financial assistance policies with hospitals absorbing the costs. Removing barriers to Medicare coverage benefits both patients and providers.