Tuesday, August 18, 2026

Meet the Candidates Running for Office

The Vermont Medical Society is hosting regional receptions for local and statewide candidates, including those closely involved in shaping health care policy. These events are only open to VMS members and their guests. Receptions will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and will include appetizers and a cash bar. RSVP here for the following dates: 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

💵 Brattleboro Memorial Hospital Shares Recovery Plan: The Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB) wrapped up hospital budget hearings last week, with presentations from Brattleboro Memorial Hospital and Grace Cottage Hospital Friday. Slides from the presentations are available here and recordings are available here.

  • Brattleboro Memorial is projecting a deficit of just over $7 million for FY2027.  They said nearly $5 million of that can be attributed to losses for birthing services. When asked by GMCB members if increasing commercial rates could help the department break even, interim CFO David Sanville stated that they would need to increase their revenue by approximately $20,000 per birth to cover the costs, or nearly double their numbers of deliveries, neither of which is realistic. Staffing is also a challenging for the unit, which has faced challenges with obtaining 24/7 pediatric and OB coverage. "The discussion became no hospital, or hospital without birthing," Sanville said.
    • The hospital has applied for an RHTP grant for over $9 million to study how the southeast region of Vermont can best preserve access to newborn and delivery services. Co-CEO Dr. Tony Blofson stated that if the hospital is able to receive at least $3.8 million the goal is to keep the service open for FY27 while the legislature and regulators consider longer term changes to reimbursement rates.

🧑‍💻 Dartmouth Health Will End ED and ICU Telehealth Support for Smaller Hospitals: The health network told several Vermont hospitals Friday it plans to end its Tele-ICU and Tele-ED services, according to reporting from VtDigger. This would impact Brattleboro Memorial, Grace Cottage, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, Mt. Ascutney Hospital, and several more hospitals in New Hampshire. 

‍ 🧑‍🎓 Scholarship Open to Larner Medical Students: Are you a medical student dreaming of living in Vermont?

  • The Vermont Medical Society’s Education and Research Foundation (VMSERF) is now accepting applications for the Mildred Reardon scholarship, which awards $10,000 to a University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine student. 
  • The scholarship is open to students in the Class of 2028 committed to practicing medicine in the state, with a preference for students interested in specialties in high need in Vermont. 
  • Applications are due September 21, 2026. Click here for more information and details to apply.

‍⚖️ Attorney Office Hours for Clinicians: The legal consultants at Resolve are offering free, live sessions for physicians and other healthcare professionals to ask questions about employment contracts, compensation, negotiations, and other career-related topics, held every other Wednesday through the end of 2026. View upcoming dates and register here.

 🍎 Deadline Approaching: Apply for the Clinician Leadership Development Course: 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. The in-person course will run in Stowe on select dates from October 2026 through March 2027.Learn more and apply by Friday, August 28.

🩼 A Preview of Medical Frailty Exemptions: The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” requires states to implement mandatory work requirements for Medicaid expansion adults, effective January 1, 2027. The statute exempts “medically frail” individuals who are blind or disabled; have a physical, intellectual, or developmental disability that limits their ability to perform activities of daily living; have a substance use disorder; have a “disabling” mental disorder; or have a “serious or complex” medical condition. (See the AMA’s one-page guide for patients.)

However, the interim final rule published in June adds new criteria to medical frailty exemptions, requiring that an individual’s condition “significantly impairs” their ability to comply with work requirements. This rule has not been finalized (VMS submitted comments urging a revision) and is being challenged in court by 25 states – a judge recently scheduled the first hearing for late October.

If CMS adopts the narrower criteria, patients will be required to reverify their exemptions every 12 months, likely through a three-tiered review process:

  1. They have a serious diagnosis that’s included in a list of conditions exempted by the state (this list has not yet been created for Vermont)
  2. They have a serious diagnosis, in combination with certain health care utilization data that makes them exempt (also yet to be defined)
  3. Further documentation is needed: For the first year, patients are allowed to declare themselves too sick to work through a self-attestation process. Starting in 2028, this won’t be allowed (and some states have already eliminated the one-year grace period), and it's unclear what paperwork will be required.

🏥 Jump in ER Visits from Marijuana Use in Young Adults: A new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that hospital emergency room diagnoses of recurring nausea and uncontrollable vomiting linked to frequent marijuana use (cannabis hyperemesis syndrome) have leapt up 16% from October 2025 to May of this year, after the disease received its own diagnostic code. The uptick in disease is thought to be linked to higher potency cannabis and increased use and the largest increases were seen among teenage girls and young women.

‍⚖️ Job Opening: Green Mountain Care Board Chair: The state posted an opening for the full-time six-year position after Owen Foster announced he would be stepping down as chair later this year. Applications are due Thursday, Sept. 10. See the full job description and information about how to apply.

EVENTS

Overdose Awareness Day

Monday, Aug. 31, 5 - 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.

Women's Health and Cancer Conference

Friday, Sept. 18, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. | Burlington

This conference is free and open to patients, healthcare providers, caregivers, and anyone looking to expand their knowledge of all aspects of the burden of cancer. Register 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. 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. Contact Colleen  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.

VTMD.ORG

Vermont Medical Society

PO Box 153

Williamstown, VT 05679

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