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A heads up, the Rounds will be taking a short break next week. We'll see you in mid-July! |
NEED TO KNOW
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Where the Gubernatorial Candidates Stand on Health Care
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Democratic candidates Aly Richards and Amanda Janoo speaking at the Montpelier Performing Arts Hub last week. Credit: Jill Sudhoff-Guerin.
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The Vermont primary is on Tuesday, August 11, when voters will decide which candidates will compete in the governor's race this fall. Republican Phil Scott is running unopposed for his sixth term. This year, he’s pushed to deregulate Vermont's health insurance market in an effort to expand lower-cost coverage options. His administration proposed legislation that would have allowed insurance companies to charge older enrollees higher premiums and reauthorized the sale of association health plans. The bill died in committee, but Scott has pledged to push forward parts of his plan through executive action.
On the Democratic ticket, both candidates have framed health care as central to affordability issues in the state and support universal primary care. They have each put forward different visions for how to get there:
At a candidate forum last month, Aly Richards said she would “fight for every federal dollar on healthcare that we are owed,” including ensuring eligible Vermonters remain enrolled in Medicaid and that the state fully uses the $195 million available through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program.
Richards also stressed her commitment to keep rural hospitals open and said she would take a more active role in efforts to regionalize specialty care across Vermont's hospitals than the current administration, including determining “who's doing hips and who's doing knees,” she said.
Amanda Janoo has proposed a wealth tax on the state's top 1% of earners to fund what she calls the first state-funded universal primary preventative health care system. “I think that this is something we can do immediately,” she said. She pointed to community nurses in rural communities like Tunbridge as an example of local initiatives already using public funding to expand access to free health care.
If you want to hear from the candidates directly, click here to view past debates or check out upcoming forums:
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💸 A Temporary Boost to Medicaid Primary Care Rates
Vermont Medicaid is proposing a temporary rate increase for primary care services to implement the $3.7 million budget increase to primary care advocated for by VMS and appropriated by the Vermont Legislature. The temporary rate increase applies to Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Centers (FQHC/RHC) and Resource-Based Relative Value Scale (RBRVS) Primary Care Reimbursement rates. - Alternative Payment Methodology (APM) encounter rates for FQHC & RHC providers will increase between roughly $5 to $9, with an average increase of about $7.50.
- The RBRVS primary care conversion factor will increase from $36.81 to $40.83, changing reimbursement from 110% to 122.2% of the applicable Medicare conversion factor.
The temporary rate increases will apply to claims between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2027, contingent on appropriated funding. DVHA will monitor utilization and expenditures to assess the fiscal impact and ensure spending remains within available funding. For more information, see the rate proposal here or contact jbarnard@vtmd.org. |
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💊 Vermont Medicaid Will No Longer Require Copays for HIV Drugs In another policy announced today, Vermont Medicaid proposed removing member copayments for all covered outpatient prescription drugs used in the treatment and prevention of HIV, including PEP, PrEP, and combination and single-agent antiretroviral therapy (ART), effective July 1. This will have a budget impact of approximately $700. View the full proposal here. AHS will take public comments through July 30th at AHS.MedicaidPolicy@vermont.gov. |
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🦼 New Federal Accessibility Equipment Requirements in Offices New federal standards for accessible medical diagnostic equipment, including exam tables, exam chairs, weight scales, and X-ray machines, go into effect July 8, 2026, for practices and Aug. 9, 2026, for government entities. Under the new rules, 10% of exam tables and weight scales must accommodate wheelchairs. Read more here or reach out to Jessa at JBarnard@vtmd.org.
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🩺 Updates from Blueprint for Health
VMS has heard from several practices concerned about funding for the Blueprint Mental Health Initiative through the Rural Health Transformation grant, including practices that might have to pay for the program upfront, without confirmed grant funding. The Agency of Human Services has assured VMS that the Blueprint is actively working to secure approval retroactive to July 1. In the meantime, practices are strongly encouraged to connect directly with their Blueprint Program Manager to discuss any specific questions or concerns.
At the same time, the Blueprint for Health is undergoing reforms to simplify and align programs, reduce administrative complexity, streamline payments, and allow practitioners to focus more on patient care. Primary care clinicians have been part of workgroups to inform these efforts, including providing feedback on standards and quality metrics for pediatrics and adult care, implementation of tiered funding models, and integration with community health teams. If you want to include your feedback, reach out to Stephanie Winters at SWinters@VTMD.org. |
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
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⚕️Behind the Scenes at the AMA |
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A watercolor sketch by Simi Ravven, MD, who served as the alternative delegate for Vermont at the AMA Annual Meeting in Chicago earlier this month. |
Every year, hundreds of physicians and medical students from around the country gather to participate in the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates, a democratic system where representatives debate and vote on policy statements on health care issues on behalf of more than 320,000 physician members across the country. As a small state, Vermont sends one delegate and an alternative delegate to the meeting. They often work with other representatives from New England to testify and vote together as a group.
These policy statements have made real impact, like the position against smoking in airplanes that led to legislation banning the practice. “It’s worth the effort,” says Naiim Ali, M.D., the VMS president who has been attending AMA meetings for the past 16 years.
This year, many of the discussions at the meeting centered around the use of AI in health care, coverage for GLP-1 medications, Medicaid, and access to healthy foods. The House of Delegates also called for AMA leadership to be more vocal about ensuring that public health guidelines from the federal government are “science-based and not quackery,” says Cathy Schneider, M.D., Vermont’s AMA delegate. |
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📜 Every VMS Resolution Dating Back 60 Years Just like the AMA, the Vermont Medical Society has its own resolutions that guide our advocacy and public policy efforts. You can search an online catalog of those resolutions, from a recent call to support expanded obesity treatment coverage, to policy priorities dating back to 1965. Any VMS member can propose resolution ideas. Before you do, remember to check that a resolution doesn't already exist. |
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️🗣️ Have GMCB Decisions Impacted Your Work?
In the past few weeks, UVM Health announced layoffs on top of new benchmarks to increase clinician productivity in response to budget orders from the Green Mountain Care Board. In recent news stories, health care workers have shared concerns about what the changes will mean for workload and patient care.
If you work for a hospital and have experienced changes in your practice due to budgetary pressures, we want to hear from you. Your input will help inform the VMS Board’s next steps to represent the physician and PA voice. Reply to this email or send a message to Lexi at LKrupp@vtmd.org. |
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️🏆 Send Your Nominations for VMS' Leadership Awards Nominations are now open for the VMS' Leadership Awards. We invite members to recognize Vermont leaders who have made outstanding contributions to the medical profession, health organizations, and the welfare of the public. Submit your nominations here by August 14. The awards will be presented on the evening of November 13, 2026 during the 2026 Collaborative Meeting. Registration is coming soon. |
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EVENTS
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VMS Public Health Updates with Dr. Rick Hildebrant Thursday, July 2, 12:30 - 1 p.m. | Remote
These calls with the Vermont Commissioner of Health are designed to cover public health related issues with time for Q&A. If you have a question you would like to submit ahead of time for the Commissioner, reply to this email.
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Vermont Extreme Weather People's Hearing
Wednesday, July 8, 6 - 8 p.m. | Barre, VT
The Climate Action Campaign is organizing an event for Vermonters to share their experiences with extreme weather from flooding to heat, wildfire smoke, tick-borne illness and more. A VMS member is slated to speak about skin infections among patients following exposure to floodwaters. If you're interested in speaking, you can fill out this form or contact Aaron Petykowski. |
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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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AMA Independent Practice Accelerator
Workshop Sept. 11–12 | Chicago, IL Thinking about starting or growing an independent practice? Get
the essential knowledge, practical skills and confidence you need to
launch a new practice or strengthen the one you already have! The AMA
Independent Practice Accelerator Workshop is a two-day, in-person event
designed exclusively for physicians. Register today. |
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AMPAC Campaign School Sept. 10–13 | Washington, DC
If you're interested in becoming more involved in politics – whether you're attracted to grassroots efforts or considering becoming a candidate for public office – you can join this training on how to run an effective campaign. The deadline to register is Aug. 10. |
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When Physicians Become Patients: Providing Care for General Medical, Mental Health, and Substance Use Disorders
Wednesday, Sept. 23, 1 - 3pm ET | Remote
It happens more often than you think — a colleague, a fellow resident, or attending walks into your exam room as a patient. The clinical knowledge gap disappears, but everything else gets complicated fast. Power dynamics shift. Trust becomes fragile. Boundaries blur. And most physicians say they weren't prepared for any of it. The webinar is eligible for 2 hours of CME credit |
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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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