VAHHS Update
Legislative Update
On Friday evening, the Senate Appropriations Committee wrapped up their work on the FY 24 budget, and passed it out of their committee unanimously.
Senate panel advances $8.5 billion state budget that would end pandemic-era motel program
Senate budget writers have advanced their draft of Vermont’s $8.5 billion budget, which would inject tens of millions of new money into child care, health care and the human services
Vermont legislators hastily amend bills to protect abortion pill access
As a federal legal battle threatens to revoke the decades-old approval of a widely used abortion medication, Vermont lawmakers are making last-minute amendments to this year’s major abortion legislation to protect access to the pill within the state.
With ticks on the rise, health officials advise using tick prevention products for your pets
Spring is in full swing in our region, and you might be excited to get outside with your four-legged friend, but warm weather also brings out ticks.
Forensic facility may share building with psychiatric hospital
A proposal to transform part of the Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital into an adult forensic facility was approved by the Senate last month and is now being discussed in the House.
Legislative Update
Last week provided a moment of reprieve as the fire alarm went off during the morning and we were all forced outside to enjoy the sun.
As Brattleboro shelter regroups after a killing, other agencies to care for clients
Groundworks Collaborative, a local agency for people who are hungry or without housing, is set to receive help from other providers this month as it regroups after last week’s killing of a shelter coordinator.
A smart move on tax day: Sign up for health insurance using your state's tax forms
Many of her clients don't believe it when Maryland-based tax preparer Diana Avellaneda tells them they might qualify for low-cost health coverage.
Here and across Vermont, violence against healthcare workers a pressing concern
For the past three months, signs greeting visitors to Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington have made plain that verbal and physical abuse of healthcare workers will not be tolerated.
Bennington hospital considers building new inpatient psych unit for kids
As demand for inpatient mental health treatment for kids skyrockets, a Bennington hospital is exploring whether it has the means to open a new psychiatric care unit.
Legislative Update
Going into this week, the big thing on my mind is the House Judiciary Committee’s discussion on the violence against health care workers bill, S.36.
Hospital grapples with security and recruitment
Rutland Regional Medical Center is working to hire more staff and keep them safer once they’re on the job, hospital leadership said this week.
Several Vermont hospitals loosen masking restrictions for patients and staff
Patients and employees at University of Vermont Health Network’s three Vermont hospitals will no longer be required to wear masks in public spaces beginning April 12, the organization announced Thursday.
UVM study finds declining breast cancer screening rates for at-risk women
Back in 2009, a panel of independent health care experts changed its guidelines on breast cancer screenings to recommend that women begin getting routine mammograms at age 50, instead of 40.
Record staffing shortage leads Howard Center to reduce ‘crisis beds’
A record staffing shortage has led the Howard Center to reduce the number of “crisis beds” in Burlington and combine programs in a move some say will leave vulnerable people seeking support for substance use disorder and mental health issues in the lurch.
Auditor finds state falls short on long-term care oversight
Vermont state regulators have been treating rule-breaking at residential care homes and assisted living residences with less urgency than is required for skilled nursing homes, according to a report released Wednesday by the Office of the State Auditor.
What's next for telehealth as patients return in person and emergency status ends
Telehealth appointments took over during the pandemic, but now in-office is the norm again.
Higher costs led to big hospital system losses in Vermont in 2022
As predicted, 2022 was a challenging fiscal year for Vermont’s 14 community hospitals, which as a group registered almost $62 million operating loss. Hospitals have said that those losses, already creating instability, will only deepen unless regulators change their oversight methods.
Legislative Update
Regulatory Flexibilities: The governor signed the COVID regulatory flexibilities bill, H.411, into law last week just shy of the March 31st deadline. VAHHS appreciates the quick work on this bill from the legislature and the governor’s office.
Vt. regulators give UVM Health Network ‘flexibility’ on $18M mental health spending plan
Vermont’s mental health care system was under the microscope again Wednesday as state regulators unanimously voted to give the UVM Health Network greater flexibility on how it spends funds originally earmarked for adult inpatient psychiatric care.