December 9, 2025

NEED TO KNOW

VMS advocacy team, Jessa Barnard, Stephanie Winters and Jill Sudhoff Guerin, attending legislative briefings at the statehouse last week.  

Legislative Preview Provides Sobering Outlook with a Focus on Health Care in 2026

Last week, the Legislature held their annual Legislative Briefing at the Statehouse for lawmakers and advocates alike to get a preview of the State’s economic forecast and issues that will be of top concern in the next legislative session. Overall, impacts from the Trump Administration’s trade policies and rising health care and property tax costs are contributing to decreasing revenues and affordability issues. The top issues cited for 2026 are health care, housing and education. That afternoon, Jessa Barnard, Executive Director of the Vermont Medical Society took part in a discussion with other leaders in health care in Vermont called the “State of Health Care in Vermont.”  The next day, the Health Reform Oversight Committee (HROC) met in the Statehouse and received updates mostly from the Scott Administration and the Agency of Human Services on specific health reform initiatives, specifically the Rural Health Transformation Application,  Health Care Transformation process, and the Vermont Health Connect Open Enrollment. Legislators received these reports with skepticism and concerns about solvency, affordability, and whether they are moving fast enough to adequately improve Vermont’s health care system. For all of the HROC reports click here. 

Reminder: VDH Continues Recommending Universal Birth Dose of Hep B Vaccine

Last Monday, prior to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) vote to change Hepatitis B vaccine recommendation, Vermont Department of Health released recommendations maintaining the universal birth dose of Hepatitis B vaccine and stating that all infants should receive a dose of hepatitis B vaccine at birth regardless of the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection status of the birth parent. See the full guidance for detailed Hepatitis B vaccine recommendations for infants.

GMCB Holds First Hearing on Hospital Service Reduction

On Friday, December 5^th, the Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB) held its first hearing on hospital service line reductions since the Vermont Legislature passed Act 68 (S.126) earlier this year. Under this law, any Vermont hospital that plans to reduce or eliminate a service in order to comply with a Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB) budget order must give at least 45 days’ written notice and follow the procedures outlined in the Board’s Interim Notice of Service Reduction Policy.

Rutland Regional Medical Center (RRMC), led by CEO Judy Fox, presented the hospital’s plan to transition their inpatient pediatric care.  Members of the RRMC team cited several factors that went into the decision, including:

• Declining birth rates and aging population
• Low pediatric inpatient volume and low acuity
• Reliance on contract labor for specialized staff
• Continued financial pressures
• Alignment with regionalization and care transformation objectives

The plan includes discontinuing RRMC’s dedicated inpatient pediatric unit and instead readmitting neonates to labor & delivery; continuing inpatient care for certain adolescent patients on alternative inpatient units; providing care in the emergency department when expected length of stay is less than a day; and transferring patients to alternative tertiary care centers who do not meet the criteria.  They are currently working to enhance transfer protocols and partnership with tertiary academic centers.

Following the presentation, Board members spent a great deal of time asking in depth questions.  Public comment followed the Board questions and included physicians, nurses, parents and families who expressed concern over the closure of the inpatient unit. Prior to this meeting, a number of written public comments were submitted.  The entirety of the meeting can be viewed here and here.  The Board will meet again on Wednesday, December 10^th starting at 1:00 p.m. to deliberate and possibly vote on the RRMC service reduction.  See agenda for information on how to join this meeting.

MISC.

Not Just Vermont – Nationwide, Insurance Premiums Driven by Hospital Costs Outpace Workers’ Earnings

As summarized by the AMA Morning Rounds, Medical Economics (12/8, Littrell) reports, “Insurance premiums for employer-sponsored family coverage have climbed at roughly three times the pace of workers’ earnings over the past 25 years, according to research.” Investigators found “that hospital prices have risen faster than other major components of medical spending and remain a central force behind long-term cost growth.” From 1999 to “2024, average worker contributions toward family premiums increased 308%, while total family premiums rose 342%.” During “the same period, average worker earnings increased 119% and overall inflation rose 64%.” The findings were published in JAMA Network Open.

Vermont Medicaid Telehealth Place of Service FAQ

For information regarding the billing and reimbursement of Telehealth services with Vermont Medicaid, and to further clarify the definitions of Place of Service (POS) 02 and 10, providers are encouraged to review a new Telehealth Billing – Place of Service (POS) 02 and 10 Frequently Asked Questions document.  Also, as a reminder, federal changes in Medicare telehealth coverage do not impact Medicaid. Vermont Medicaid coverage of telehealth services is not changing.

Registration Open: 2026 Legislative Breakfasts

Please join us in 2026 to meet your lawmakers and to advocate for health care policies over coffee and a light breakfast.  These breakfasts, which will all be held in the cafeteria from 8-9am at the Vermont Statehouse in Montpelier, are an informal opportunity to educate lawmakers on ways to improve Vermont's practice environment.

The Vermont Medical Society (VMS) will be trading off hosting the breakfasts with the Vermont Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics Vermont Chapter, the Vermont Ophthalmological Society.

Registration is now available! Register here. 

Vermont Medical Society - All MD, DO, PA and Medical Students Encouraged to Join

Vermont Ophthalmological Society

Vermont Academy of Family Physicians

American Academy of Pediatrics Vermont Chapter

Learn more and RSVP for any of the dates here. Please reach out to Jill Sudhoff-Guerin at jsudhoffguerin@vtmd.org if you have any questions.

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.

EVENTS

2026 Hospital Medicine Conference

February 4-6, 2026

Topnotch Resort, Stowe, VT

This conference will focus on key clinical advancements and guidelines to ensure optimal patient care. The target audience is comprised of physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, pharmacists and nurses practicing in hospital medicine. We also encourage hospital medicine program administrators, resident physicians, and medical students with an interest in careers in hospital medicine.

Please visit the conference website the agenda and registration link here.

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

PO Box 153

Williamstown, VT 05679

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