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It's Tuesday, August 25. Read on for:
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- Medicaid will no longer cover youth gender-affirming care
- Vermont clinician workforce report
- Modest insurance rate increases next year
But first,
Register for the 2026 Annual Meeting |
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The 2026 VMS and Specialty Society Collaborative Meeting will be held Friday, Nov. 13 and Saturday, Nov. 14 at Topnotch Resort in Stowe.
Agenda planning is well underway – meet your colleagues and hear timely updates on topics including:
- Hospital and insurance company leaders, public health officials, and state regulators sharing health care affordability efforts
- Immigration enforcement in health care
- Social media engagement for clinicians
- Abstract presentations from medical students and residents
We will also be presenting awards to clinicians for outstanding contributions to the medical profession, quality of care, and community service. Submit your nominations by Friday, Sept. 4 (extended deadline!) and register here.
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
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🧑🎓 Time Sensitive: Apply for the Clinician Leadership Development Course: VMS 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 program will run in Stowe on select dates from October 2026 through March 2027. Learn more and apply by Friday, August 28.
️🗣️ Meet the Candidates! VMS is hosting regional receptions for local and statewide candidates, including those closely involved in shaping health care policy. These events are open to any physicians and PAs who live in the area 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:
- Chittenden County – Wednesday, Sept. 9 at Hotel Vermont in Burlington
- Windham County – Thursday, Sept. 10 at Bella Notte in Brattleboro
- 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
💲 Green Mountain Care Board Finalizes 2027 Insurance Rates:
- For BlueCross Blue Shield of Vermont, the Board approved a 2.2% rate increase for the individual market and 1.2% for the small group.
- For MVP Healthcare, the Board approved a 3.9% for the individual market and 6.2% for the small group.
Although these rate increases are significantly below national trends, Vermont still has some of the highest premiums in the country. In a press release, the GMCB attributed a portion of the savings to a reduction in commercial rates Vermont hospitals can receive in 2027.
The decisions also direct insurers to prepare for reference-based pricing and address high prices paid to out-of-state hospitals. Chair Owen Foster issued a partial dissent to the MVP orders, saying that MVP has allowed large rate increases for out-of-state hospitals while decreasing rates to Vermont hospitals, and only offering a slight increase on rates to other Vermont providers.
⚕️ State Releases Latest Census of Clinician Workforce in Vermont: The Department of Health has been collecting information on how many clinicians are practicing in the state, and where they’re based, for over 30 years. In their latest reports, released this month, they found the number of primary care physicians and physician assistants continues to fall, while the number of specialists has grown.
- In the past decade, primary care FTEs declined by about 15%, while specialist FTEs have increased by about 23%. Over the same time, the number of physician assistants in specialty care has doubled, while the number of PAs in primary care has remained relatively flat.
- These trends were not as dramatic in recent years: between 2022 and 2024, primary care physician FTEs remained nearly identical, while specialty care physician FTEs increased by 5%.
- Over a third of physicians in the state attended UVM Larner as medical students or completed a residency of fellowship there.
- Over three-quarters of primary care physicians say they’re accepting new patients, and several counties have had small increases in primary care FTEs, including Addison, Chittenden, and Grand Isle.
💉 Pushback Against Trump’s Childhood Vaccine Order: The American Academy of Pediatrics, along with hundreds of other medical groups and dozens of lawmakers, including U.S. Senator Peter Welch, have condemned a recent executive order from President Trump that advises, without evidence, to reduce and space out recommended childhood vaccines. The order recommends vaccinating children against 11 diseases rather than the currently recommended 17 and calls for splitting the MMR vaccine into three shots, which experts say would require a vaccine manufacture overall and lacks a scientific basis. 🏳️⚧️New Regulation Prohibits Medicaid from Covering Gender-Affirming Care for Young People: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a much-anticipated final rule this month prohibiting federal Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funds from covering certain gender-affirming care services for young people, as reported by KFF. Specifically, the rule prohibits federal Medicaid dollars from covering puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgery for enrollees starting in mid October. The rule is not a blanket ban on gender-affirming care and expressly permits states to use state-only funds to cover these services. The rule is likely to be challenged in court, according to statements by the ACLU and attorney generals in New York and California, and organizations in Vermont are calling to keep services available to youth. |
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EVENTS
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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. |
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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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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. |
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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. |
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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. Contact Colleen 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 and registration here. |
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For more information about offerings from UVM Continuing Medical and Interprofessional Education, visit this link.
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Vermont Medical Society PO Box 153 Williamstown, VT 05679 -- Unsubscribe -- |
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