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NEED TO KNOW
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Efforts to Support Local Maternity Care
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VMS and half a dozen other clinician-led organizations sent a letter to Gov. Phil Scott this week, calling on the administration to increase funding for obstetric care. |
Leaders at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital have said the hospital needs to close the birthing center in the next six to nine months, absent a financial lifeline. And they’re not the only hospital in Vermont struggling to pay for maternity care. That’s why VMS is advocating for the state to more sustainably fund labor and delivery services by increasing Medicaid rates to align with Vermont Medicaid’s existing enhanced primary care fee schedule. This week, we sent a letter to the Scott administration calling for these reforms. Already, several lawmakers and state officials have discussed our proposal, and this will continue to be a top priority as we head into the next legislative session. See our press release and reach out if you have more thoughts on how we can support maternity care.
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👷 Updates to Workers' Comp Payment Rates For First Time in 20 Years For the first time since 2006, the Vermont Department of Labor has released an updated workers’ compensation medical fee schedule. The proposed rule has been filed with the Secretary of State and is open for public comment through August 14. VMS is overall supportive of the rule, which includes the following changes: Adds several more services to the codes recognized in the fee schedule. This would reduce services that are paid at 83% of the charge because there is no corresponding code for them. Increases reimbursement rates to health care professionals by 3.1%, on average. The overall system costs will decrease by approximately 11% due to reduced procedures with no corresponding fee schedule code, which are billed at a comparatively high rate. Specifies automatic updates to the fee schedule every year. (We really like this part of the rule.) The professional conversion factors would be updated by a percentage equal to the Medicare Economic Index (MEI) factor for the year the rates become effective, not to exceed 3% in any year. VMS advocated strongly to include these automatic adjustments in the fee schedule.
Read the proposal and rate table at the Department of Labor website. Contact Jessa Barnard at VMS at jbarnard@vtmd.org with any questions or comments.
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
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🚨 Scam Alert – Unsolicited Checks A member recently contacted VMS to alert us of a company contacting independent practices in Vermont, offering for practices to join a third-party contracting network. The offer was accompanied by a check that might resemble a Medicare payment or an advanced payment for joining the network. The FTC and FDIC both have guidance regarding fake check scams. Scams can be reported to the FTC and the Vermont Attorney General’s Office. |
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💲 Proposed Medicare Pay Rule Would Drop Doctor Pay The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released the proposed rule for the 2027 Medicare physician fee schedule last week, which would lower the conversion factor used to calculate payment rates. It also adds incentives for clinicians to participate in accountable care organizations and overhauls quality reporting. A number of medical associations have criticized the proposal, saying the payment cut would destabilize physician practices and limit investment in primary care. In Congress, lawmakers have introduced a proposal called the Patients First Act to reform the Medicare physician payment system. |
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🗓️ Deadline Extension for RHTP Grants The Agency of Human Services has extended deadlines for two of the federal RHTP grants. Deadlines for projects to upgrade rural facilities or "support the operational, staffing, and service delivery changes” to shift care outside of hospitals have been extended to August 17. For more information, click here. |
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🦠 No Cyclosporiasis Cases in Vermont The Vermont Department of Health says they’re monitoring multistate outbreaks of domestically acquired cyclosporiasis. As of this week, no cases have been reported in Vermont residents. Some Vermont hospitals have PCR panels that test for Cyclospora. Commercial laboratories also offer testing but might be backlogged due to the increased demand. Read the CDC Health Advisory for more information. |
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️🏆 Send Your Nominations for VMS' Leadership Awards
Nominations are open for the VMS' Leadership Awards. Recognize Vermont leaders who have made outstanding contributions to the medical profession, health organizations, and the welfare of the public. Submit your nominations by August 14. |
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EVENTS
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Webinar: Medicaid Timely Filing Overview
Thursday, July 30, 10 - 11 a.m.
Gainwell Technologies will be hosting a webinar to review the updated submission process for both Timely Filing Reconsideration requests and Reconsideration requests for Vermont Medicaid. They will review the reconsideration processes, and explain submission requirements and common errors. Register here. |
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Maternal Health Innovation Summit
Monday, Aug. 10, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. | Montpelier
The Maternal Health Innovation Team at the Vermont Department of Health is excited to bring together clinical, community, and public health practitioners, and other maternal health champions for the second annual MHI Summit.
It will be an in-person event at the the Capital Plaza Hotel (100 State St., Montpelier) to advance strategic priorities for improving maternal health across Vermont. Click here for the registration link. |
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UVM Menopause Conference
Friday, Sept. 11, 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. | South Burlington
Join the Menopause Clinical Update, a comprehensive, evidence-based educational program designed for clinicians seeking to enhance their expertise in menopause care. This full-day session will explore the critical role of estrogen across the lifespan, with practical guidance on managing perimenopause, optimizing menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) prescribing, and addressing key long-term health considerations. See the full agenda here. |
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Clinician Leadership Development Course
Oct. 2026 - Mar. 2027 | Stowe, VT Offered with the Larner College of Medicine and Vermont Medical Society, this course empowers clinicians to become effective leaders. Through in-person learning, you’ll gain skills in team development, finance, communication, and healthcare systems to drive strategic, high-quality patient care and organizational success. Apply here. |
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American College of Physicians Vermont Chapter Annual Scientific Meeting
Friday, Oct. 9 | Stowe, VT The Vermont ACP Chapter's Annual Scientific Meeting is scheduled for Friday, October 9, 2026. We will again host a poster competition for resident and student members. Please visit the Meeting Hub for registration and agenda. Please contact Colleen Magne at cmagne@vtmd.org or call at 802-793-0493 with any questions. |
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2026 Collaborative Meeting
Nov. 13 - 14 | Stowe, VT
The 2026 Collaborative Meeting is taking place at Topnotch Resort in Stowe.
More information here. |
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For more information about offerings from UVM
Continuing Medical and Interprofessional Education, visit here. |
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Vermont Medical Society PO Box 153 Williamstown, VT 05679 -- Unsubscribe -- |
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