VMSERF Online Silent Auction
Do you have an item, skill, or activity you’d be willing to donate to the Vermont Medical Society Education and Research Foundation (VMSERF) silent online auction? Help VMS President Cathy Schneider, M.D., and President-elect Simha Ravven, M.D., support fellow members during this challenging year through a silent auction. Your creative and generous donations will be directed to VMSERF, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit sponsored by the Vermont Medical Society, and organized to support charitable, educational and scientific activities in the field of health. If you would like to donate, please complete this form by September 14th. The auction will take place online on 32Auctions between October 28th and November 4th. PIease contact Elizabeth Alessi with questions at ealessi@vtmd.org.
_______________________________________________________________________
Vermont Department of Health Releases COVID 19 Testing Plan
The Vermont Department of Health has released an updated state COVID 19 Testing Plan. The plan outlines current priority groups for testing, which include:
- Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19
- People in quarantine due to exposure or travel
- People working in health care or congregate care settings
- Patients scheduled for a procedure or surgery involving airway management
- Patients being referred to congregate psychiatric settings
Patients who do not fit in the above categories and for whom the provider does not see a clinical, health, or exposure related reason to test are the lowest priority for testing and should only be tested when and if there is capacity to complete that testing. The document also outlines who should collect the sample in which situations and who pays for testing.
______________________________________________________________
Applications for Provider Stabilization Grant Program Due August 15
As of Thursday, July 23rd, 219 applications had been submitted or were in progress for the Health Care Provider Stabilization Grant Program. This Program been made available to the State of Vermont through the Federal Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) and is administered by the Agency of Human Services (AHS).
The application period will be open for eligible applicants from July 17, 2020 through August 15, 2020. Health care and human service providers may use the application to seek grant funding for both COVID-19-related lost revenue and COVID-19-specific incurred expenses. For more information please review the guidance documents available on the Department of Vermont Health Access website, including FAQs and links to informational webinars.
______________________________________________________________
AAP Vermont Chapter
Calls on Schools To Prioritize In Person Attendance for Certain Students
This week, the American
Academy of Pediatrics Vermont Chapter issued a press release stating that schools in
Vermont support the academic, social and developmental needs of children, help
address food insecurity, and provide mental health services. Weighing the
health risks of reopening schools in fall 2020 against the educational and
developmental risks of limiting in-person instruction, school districts should prioritize full-time, in person attendance for all students preschool
through grade 5 and students of all ages with special needs.
_____________________________________________________________
Audits to Resume August 3, 2020
The Vermont Department of Financial Regulation (DFR) last week issued Insurance Bulletin 215, authorizing the resumption of routine audits by private insurance companies as of August 3, 2020. Audits were temporarily put on hold due to the COVID 19 pandemic. DFR has asked payers to be flexible with practices regarding the time to provide records when requested in an audit and practices having concerns about audits should reach out to jbarnard@vtmd.org, so that VMS can request assistance in resolving problems from DFR.
_______________________________________________________________________
President Trump Issues Four Drug Pricing Executive Orders
President Trump signed four executive orders (EO) aimed at controlling drug prices last Friday, July 24th. The AMA reported the Trump Administration released the first three EOs but said the fourth EO would only go into effect August 24th, if drug manufacturers can not come to agreement on lowering costs.
.png)
