October 28, 2025

NEED TO KNOW

Update on the Status of Gender Affirming Care in Vermont

We are reaching out today to the medical community to update you on the status of gender affirming care in Vermont.

Access to care for youth is changing in the state with new and evolving federal funding restrictions placed on our Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs).  In addition, as of January 1, 2026, Dartmouth Health will no longer be able to provide gender affirming medical interventions to youth because of two NH state laws that were passed earlier this year.  These laws prohibit health care practitioners from administering puberty blockers or hormone treatments to people younger than 18 when the treatment is part of a gender transition. The second law prohibits gender-affirming chest surgeries for minors.

The Vermont Medical Society, American Academy of Pediatrics Vermont Chapter, American Academy of Family Physicians, Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems, and Vermont Department of Health are working together and with other partners to ensure that patient-centered, evidence-based care continues to be provided in Vermont and that patients have equitable access to that care. Please reach out to Stephanie Winters with any questions about where care is being provided or issues you are seeing in your community – 802-249-7487 or swinters@vtmd.org.

Sincerely,

Katie Marvin, MD, President
Vermont Medical Society

Breena Holmes, MD, President
American Academy of Pediatrics Vermont Chapter

Michelle Dorwart, MD, President
Vermont Academy of Family Physicians

Trey Dobson, MD, Chair
Chief Medical Officer Group, Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems

Rick Hildebrant, M.D., Commissioner
Vermont Department of Health

The issue of youth access to gender affirming care  was also covered in the media last week, with articles in VTDigger here and here. 

Registration Closes Tomorrow, October 29th for the 2025 Collaborative Meeting 

Registration for the 2025 Collaborative Meeting, hosted by the Vermont Medical Society, American Academy of Pediatrics Vermont Chapter, Vermont Academy of Family Physicians, and the Vermont Psychiatric Association, will close tomorrow, October 29th at midnight!

Join us in-person at Topnotch Resort in Stowe, VT on November 7–8 for two days of education, collaboration, and connection. (Please note: There is no virtual option for the educational sessions this year. The only virtual component offered will be the Awards Banquet on Friday, November 7th.)

Topics include:

Register here for the 2025 Collaborative Meeting by October 29th!

Legislature, Governor Scott, Seek to Address Pending Loss of Food and Heating Benefits

Last week, leaders in the Vermont House of Representatives announced plans to fully fund SNAP (3SquaresVT) and LIHEAP benefits in Vermont to stem the impact of the federal government shutdown impacting Vermonters. Without state action, over 65,000 Vermonters would lose access to these critical programs, which provide essential support for food security and heating fuel assistance to working families, low-income households, and older Vermonters.  The Legislature working with Governor Scott and his Administration have scheduled an Emergency Board meeting for tomorrow at 12pm to address maintaining access to SNAP and LIHEAP.  Yesterday, the Governor also directed his administration to work with Attorney General Clark to support a multi-state lawsuit seeking to require the federal government to release contingency funding it has available to fund the SNAP program. 

CCB Asks Cannabis Licensees for 2026 Policy Suggestions

Last Wednesday the Cannabis Control Board (CCB), the regulating entity for Vermont’s recreational cannabis industry, invited the retail cannabis licensees to a peer networking event for the stated goal of learning what licensees “hope to accomplish in the coming legislative session, to find areas of consensus, and to identify challenges early so that ideas can be as well developed as possible if suggested for legislative attention.”  Gabe Gilman, the CCB’s legal counsel, ran the call in a “round robin-style” allowing all call attendees to provide the policy priorities they think will optimize the cannabis market in Vermont. Topics of consistent interest that licensees advocated for include: 

1. Special event permits and direct sales models;
2. Public consumption sites;
3. Retail license moratorium – licensees are split with some wanting to continue it and some wanting to end it. The CCB has paused retail licenses in order to prevent density problems in Vermont’s bigger cities with multiple retail operations;
4. Opt-out system for municipalities, rather than an opt-in system and other site permitting issues;
5. Advertising review requirements to be eliminated all together;
6. Cannabis potency caps to be removed, along with the ability to sell 10 mg edibles and to increase the amount of cannabis flower that can be sold per day per person from 1 oz. to 4 oz.; and
7. Hemp regulation consistency so that CCB licensees are not disadvantaged in comparison with non-cannabis retailers that sell Delta-8 Hemp products.

One of the medical cannabis licensees also wants to see the requirement to provide customers with the state mandated Point of Sale flyer for every sale to be eliminated. This POS flyers contain relevant health warnings regarding cannabis use. The CCB said they will continue to work on trying to find consensus on policy issues to bring to the Vermont Legislature in 2026. It is unclear at this time if the CCB will have a meeting for public health stakeholders to comment on these policy issues before they are taken to the Legislature. 

The VMS has been participating in the CCB’s Market Density workgroup, which is looking at whether density of retail establishments pose a public health risks, how many cannabis shops are needed and whether or not the opt-in process should be brought back to the Legislature.

Comments Sought – Medicaid Reinstating Prior Auth for DME, Prosthetics, Orthotics

The Vermont Medicaid program is proposing to reinstate, effective 12/1/25,  prior authorization requirements for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) that exceed limits. Prior authorization will be required for any items of DMEPOS in excess of quantity limits listed on the Vermont Medicaid Durable Medicaid Equipment (DME) Limitation List. This change reinstates the prior authorization requirements for DMEPOS that were removed January 1, 2023 (GCR 22-101) pursuant to Act 140 of 2020, charging Medicaid with reviewing and reporting on its prior authorization process.  Please contact Jessa Barnard by November 14^th at jbarnard@vtmd.org to share feedback on this proposal. 

MISC.

VMS has kicked off its joint University of Vermont, Larner College of Medicine and Vermont Medical Society physician leadership course! Twenty-four participants from around the state have already attended two in-person sessions, including meeting last Thursday and Friday to delve into emotional intelligence. Learn more about the program here.

Join VMS on November 6th as We Welcome Commissioner of Health, Dr. Rick Hildebrant

Join the VMS on November 6th from 12:30-1pm via Zoom to welcome the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Rick Hildebrant to his 1st public health call with us. 

Join us on November 6th at 12:30pm by clicking here.

Meeting ID: 867 2625 3105 / Password: 540684

One tap mobile - +1 646 876 9923,,86726253105#,,,,0#,,540684#

Dial In - +1 646 876 9923 / Meeting ID: 867 2625 3105 / Password: 540684

Information for Patients: Changes to Medicare Coverage for 2026

With most Medicare Advantage plans leaving Vermont in 2026, many patients have questions.  The Vermont Health Care Advocate has information for patients available on their website at:  2026 Medicare Advantage Plan Changes.  The flyer linked here can also be used in medical practices or distributed to patients. 

Mildred Reardon Medical Student Scholarship Open for Applications for Class of 2027

Do you dream of becoming a Vermont doctor? 

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 committed to practicing medicine in Vermont.

The scholarship will be made to a Class of 2027 student interested in any specialty, with a preference for specialties in high need in Vermont.  The scholarship is tuition-linked and is paid directly to the College of Medicine towards tuition. Applications are due December 12, 2025.  Click here for more information and details on applying for the scholarship.

Red Wheelbarrow Deadline Extended to October 31st

UVM Larner College of Medicine’s literary and visual arts magazine, The Red Wheelbarrow, is extending its search for submissions in the literary, visual, and now performing arts! We particularly welcome work in the medical humanities, an interdisciplinary field that aims to make sense of medical practice, education, and human health and disease; non-medical work is also welcomed. The literary arts include prose, poetry, reporting, and personal essays. The visual arts include photography, painting, graphic design, drawing, and 3-D art (e.g., sculpture, ceramics, fiber). For 3-D submissions, please provide a picture of your work. For performing arts (music, dance, acting, etc.), you can send an audio or video file to showcase your work. Submissions can be submitted to the following link:  https://tinyurl.com/3pmd3y29 . The deadline for submissions is October 31st, 2025 at 11:59 PM. Please reach out to redwheelbarrowuvm@gmail.com if you have any questions!

EVENTS

2025 Obesity Medicine & Weight Management Conference

November 14, 2025

Delta Hotel, South Burlington, VT

This conference is designed to improve the skills of primary care healthcare teams as they navigate new treatments in obesity medicine and weight management. The target audience includes primary care physicians, nurses, physical therapists, and other health professionals who pertain to primary care.

Learn more and register here.

New England History of Medicine Society: Noah Webster: Proto Epidemiologist with Richard Kahn, MD

November 18, 2025

Virtual

Noah Webster (1758-1843), best known for the dictionary that bears his name (1828), was also an educator, newspaper editor, lawyer, and politician, and he advocated for universal education, social welfare, and public health. Less well known are his efforts to understand the causes and prevention of diseases such as yellow fever that plagued the young nation, Though not a physician, between 1796 and 1800 Webster published two books and many articles on disease, public health, yellow fever, and quarantine, and this work catalyzed the creation of the first U.S. medical journal, The Medical Repository (1797-1824).

Richard Kahn's research explores Webster’s medical writings, their publication challenges, and contemporary responses.

Learn more and register here.

Dartmouth Health: 2025 NNEPQIN Fall Conference

November 19 - 21, 2025

Omni Mount Washington Resort, Bretton Woods, NH

Registration is open for the NNEPQIN Fall 2025 Conference! The conference will be taking place November 19-21, 2025, at the Omni Mt. Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, NH. A pre-conference opportunity is available on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, with either the obstetric track or neonatal track options. The pre-conference is available for actively practicing inpatient providers (MD, DO, CNM, and RN). Registrants can attend just the pre-conference if desired, or join for the main conference as well!

We have presentations related to TeleOB, neonatal cooling, inclusive care for LGBTQIA+ patients, breastfeeding support, SUD and cannabis use in pregnancy, adoption and legal considerations, shared decision-making and its impact on moral injury, postpartum mental health, NICU transitions, and more. We have topics to inspire every member of your care team—covering prenatal, delivery, postpartum, and neonatal follow-up. We hope your interprofessional team will participate!

Learn more and register here.

Save the Dates - 2026 VMS Advocacy Breakfast Series

Please join us in the Vermont Statehouse cafeteria for informal conversation with legislators over coffee on specific Wednesday mornings from 8-9am throughout the legislative session. Starting this January, lawmakers will be tackling tricky policy issues like Medicaid coverage, health care workforce initiatives and next steps in both State and federal health care reform. Your expertise is incredibly valuable in educating them on the practice of medicine in Vermont and what you think can improve our current system. These advocacy breakfasts are hosted by the Vermont Medical Society, the Vermont Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics Vermont Chapter, the Vermont Ophthalmologic Society, and the Vermont Psychiatric Association. Each date will be hosted by your specific specialty society with everyone being welcome on the Vermont Medical Society dates. Look for the dates to be posted to our website shortly - but look below for a preview of the Wednesdays we will be hosting Legislative Coffee Hours in 2026:

• Jan. 21- Vermont Medical Society/Vermont Psychiatric Association
• Feb. 3 – UVM OB/GYN Residents
• Feb. 4 - Vermont Ophthalmologic Society
• Feb. 18 - Vermont Academy of Family Physicians
• Mar. 18 - American Academy of Pediatrics Vermont Chapter
• Apr. 1 - Vermont Academy of Family Physicians
• Apr. 15 - American Academy of Pediatrics Vermont Chapter
• Apr. 29 - Vermont Medical Society

AlpTerra Wilderness Medicine Course

March 5–9, March 12–16, October 1–5, October 8–12, 2026

Franconia, New Hampshire

Join Alpterra for an immersive, hands-on wilderness medicine course designed to prepare you for real-life scenarios in the outdoors. Treat mock injuries, problem-solve in the elements, and walk away with practical skills that stick.

• Max 4:1 participant-to-instructor ratio for highly personalized, discussion-driven learning.
• Accredited for up to 16 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ — an excellent use of your CME allowance.
• Stay on-site in a luxury home-style setting. Enjoy locally sourced, family-style meals tailored to dietary needs.
• Add-on trips let you ski, climb, or explore the White Mountains with expert guides before or after your course.

Learn more about the agenda and registration here.

For more information about offerings from UVM CMIE, visit here.

Vermont Medical Society

134 Main Street

Montpelier, VT 05602

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