Tuesday, August 4, 2026

The Candidates’ Health Care Platforms

Credit: Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash

The primary election in Vermont is one week away, on Tuesday, August 11, and several first-time candidates have backgrounds in health care, including Elizabeth Hunt, MD, a pediatrician from Charlotte running for state senate and Kelsey Pasteris, RN, a nurse from Hinesburg running for state representative.

Many candidates for statewide office have made health care reform a centerpiece of their platforms, though their proposals vary greatly. Here’s how Gov. Phil Scott has framed his health care agenda and what Democratic candidates for governor and lieutenant governor have said in recent debates:

• 🗣️ Phil Scott: “Unfortunately, for more than three decades, the Legislature pursued healthcare policies, culminating in Act 48 in 2011, which directed the state to design a taxpayer-funded single-payer healthcare system. […] Much of the regulatory framework created during that period remains in place today, despite my repeated requests to bring our healthcare policy back into the mainstream. That's why I've issued an Executive Order directing state agencies to […] expand affordable health insurance choices, reduce costs, and prepare additional reforms for next year's legislative session.”

• 🗣️ Aly Richards: “We don't have enough physicians, skilled nurses, we don't have enough folks in the jobs. […] My plan is to build upon what we have seen work in other parts of the country. […] You do loan forgiveness, you do rural incentive pay, you do worker supportive housing, you build that pipeline, and you have the state step in as your intermediary to handle health insurance, so that primary care don't have to spend any of their time doing that. They can just see patients.

• 🗣️ Amanda Janoo: “I'm really proud from day one to have centered universal primary and preventative healthcare as one of the core aspects of my platform, and I do think it's really important that it's state funded. […] The state can pay primary care providers directly rather than having this go through insurance as a way to ensure that everybody has a primary care provider that is local that knows them and can provide the best holistic and preventative care.”

Janoo supports a tax surcharge on annual incomes over $500,000 to pay for universal primary care, while Richards does not. Both candidates denounce Gov. Scott’s proposal to remove regulations from the health insurance market that would allow Vermont insurers to factor age into the price of health insurance premiums and reauthorize the sale of association health plans.

Last month, candidates for lieutenant governor shared how they would lower health care costs during a debate on Vermont Public:

• 🗣️ Molly Gray: We've seen in Vermont a number of folks receive a Trump tax cut under the One Big Beautiful Bill, and what I would propose is that that money be directly invested as part of a healthcare surcharge into universal primary care.

• 🗣️ Ryan McLaren: I would […] support universal primary care in Vermont. […] We pay for it by bringing down healthcare costs. We have enough money in the system right now. It's about how we organize that money. A ton of the money comes from Medicare. Ton of the money comes from Medicaid. If we just expanded our coverage in Medicaid to 200% of the poverty line, we could add a huge number of senior citizens to what is essentially free primary care, where they're not paying copays and they're not paying premiums.

• 🗣️ Esther Charlestin: What if we invested more in the [People’s Health & Wellness Clinic]? We have a few here in our state, and open it up so that they're open more days. Because right now, that is the safety net that folks – that's where they're going when they don't have health insurance or if they can't afford the copay. […] That money can come from second homes.

👋 You Can Meet the Candidates!

After the primaries, VMS will be hosting regional receptions for local and statewide candidates. The forums will all be held 6 to 8 pm and open to all VMS members. Save the dates:

• Chittenden County – Wednesday, Sept. 9 at Hotel Vermont in Burlington
• Essex/Orleans County – Thursday, Sept. 24 at Eastside Restaurant & Pub in Newport
• Windsor County – Wednesday, Oct. 7 at Thyme in White River Junction
• Washington County – Thursday, Oct. 15 at Barr Hill Distillery in Montpelier
• Windham County – TBD

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

🤔 Has Act 111 Helped Reduce Prior Authorization Burden?

We need your help! A year and a half ago, a law went into effect that was supposed to make prior authorizations less burdensome for clinicians, staff, and patients in Vermont. Now, we’re gathering information to tell lawmakers whether the law is working as intended. If you are a clinician that participates in the prior authorization process, please fill out this survey to share your experience with Act 111 and prior authorization in general by Friday, September 4^th. Thank you for your help!

Fill out the survey here.

✍️ Advocacy on Medicaid Work Requirements

Last week, VMS submitted comments to the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ interim final rule implementing Medicaid work requirements. In the comments, VMS urged CMS to revise the rule and not require beneficiaries to prove functional limitations in order to request a medical exemption. We believe the process will exclude eligible individuals and burden clinicians with administrative paperwork. 

If you’re interested in helping inform educational resources about Medicaid work requirements, medical students at the University of Vermont are asking clinicians to complete a 5 minute survey providing feedback about your awareness of the Medicaid work and community engagement requirements, including the medically frail exemption. Take the survey.

Open for Comment: Vermont Birth Center Licensing Rule

The Vermont Department of Health’s Birth Center Licensing Rule is now open for public comment.  The rule addresses the process for applying for and renewing a birth center license, and the standards for birth center licensure. You can find the draft rule and information on the comment period here.  Share your feedback with Jessa by Friday, September 11^th to help inform VMS public comments.  We’re particularly interested in input regarding:

• Which risk factors or criteria would preclude a patient from receiving services at a birth center
• Whether birth centers must have agreements with emergency medical transport services and hospitals for transfer of patients, or if collaboratively developed plans are sufficient

🚨 Licensing Board Scam Reminder

We have been notified about scam calls to licensees of both the Board of Medical Practice and OPR. The caller ID may look like the number of the Board/OPR and callers may identify themselves as an investigator, DEA agents, or FBI agents.  We are issuing this reminder that the scams are, unfortunately, on-going. Most initial contacts are by telephone. If you receive such a call, the Board of Medical Practice recommends the following:

• Ask the caller to provide you their name and telephone number. Do NOT call back the number that you are given. Independently check the number on a reliable source and initiate a call directly to that agency yourself to verify if they are trying to reach you.
• Do not provide any personal financial or identifying information.
• Report the incident to the local FBI Field Office. Licensees in Vermont should call the FBI Field Office in Albany, NY at (518) 465-7551.   

For more background and guidance see the full Board of Medical Practice notices here.

️🏆 Send Your Nominations for VMS' Leadership Awards

EVENTS

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.

Overdose Awareness Day

Monday, Aug. 31, 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. | Burlington

The First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington will host an evening of remembrance, solidarity, and action for Overdose Awareness. Honor loved ones and patients lost to substance use, hear from speakers with lived experience and community leaders, and recommit to building a healthcare system rooted in compassion instead of stigma.

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.

Clinician Leadership Development Course

Oct. 2026 - Mar. 2027 | Stowe, VT

The Vermont Medical Society is offering a course for clinicians to gain skills in team development, finance, communication, and healthcare systems to drive strategic, high-quality patient care and organizational success. Learn more and apply here.

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.

2026 Collaborative Meeting

Nov. 13 - 14 | Stowe, VT

The 2026 Collaborative Meeting is taking place at Topnotch Resort in Stowe.

More information here.

For more information about offerings from UVM Continuing Medical and Interprofessional Education, visit here.

Vermont Medical Society

PO Box 153

Williamstown, VT 05679

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