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NEED TO KNOW
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AHEC Loan Repayment Funded in FY27 Budget and Primary Care Bill Advances
After two weeks of focused Committee work in order for priority bills and the FY27 Budget to meet "crossover" deadlines, lawmakers will spend significant time this week in their respective chambers for full debate on the legislative proposals that have advanced. Thank you to all of the VMS members who reached out to lawmakers and provided feedback and advocacy during this time! The House Appropriations Committee voted out their FY27 budget recommendation, which includes funding for apartial restoration of cuts to AHEC programming. They have included $551,000 for primary care loan repayment and $50,000 for physician placement services. When this advances to the Senate, VMS will ask for full restoration of $1.2 million for AHEC and for the restoration of $2.01 million in Medicaid alternative payments to primary care.
The Senate has given preliminary approval to S.197, the primary care payment reform bill, with presumed passage tomorrow before it advances to the House. Other bills up for a vote in the Senate this week include S.64, the optometry scope of practice bill, S.278, the cannabis retail expansion bill, S.198, the tobacco retail licensing bill and S.190, the reference-based pricing bill. Thanks to your advocacy, the cannabis bill has retained most of the public health protections that were going to be stripped out by this bill including maintaining potency caps, advertising regulations, 5mg single serving limits, a 14% excise tax and opt-in municipal authority.
This week, the Senate Health and Welfare Committee will hold a hearing on S.84 the bill to allow the recording of telehealth appointments, with patient consent. In the House Health Care Committee they will have discussion on S.197, and other primary care bills along with conversations on the Maple Mountain Rural Residency program. |
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Final Opportunity to Contact Senators on S.64 – Expansion of Optometry Scope of Practice
S.64, would authorize optometrists to perform surgical procedures on the eye — including laser surgeries, needle injections, and scalpel surgeries — without requiring the surgical residency training that makes these procedures safe.
The bill will be on the Senate floor for debate and vote Wednesday and Thursday of this week.
Please reach out to your own Senators to urge them to oppose the bill on the Senate floor. Find your Senators’ contact information here. |
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Hospitals Update Blueprint Executive Committee on Transformation Efforts
Last week, the Blueprint for Health Executive Committee heard from a panel of Vermont hospital CEOs regarding steps they are taking to advance hospital transformation efforts across the state. As a part of the Agency of Human Services’ work to support hospital transformation, Blueprint staff have been convening regional hospital meetings, and all hospitals have now submitted transformation plans. The goal is that final transformation plans will feature feasible, well-defined goals ready for implementation and monitoring. Some of the projects outlined by hospital leadership include:
- Gifford: encouraging tertiary hospitals to transfer in-patient care back to Gifford when appropriate, exploring right-sizing/sharing specialty physician care;
- Grace Cottage: expanding transportation options between care sites so patients can access care at the most appropriate location;
- NVRH: Continuing to build shared services with North Country, partnering with regional social services agencies to better meet patient SDOH needs;
- Rutland Regional Medical Center: receiving more patients in their ICU, improving use of home health and hospice, including exploring creating a regional hospice facility;
- UVM Medical Center: supporting specialty physician services around the state by sharing/splitting staff positions, expanding telehealth and e-consult services; improving transfer and transport services in conjunction with EMS.
Full minutes from the Blueprint Executive Committee meeting will be available here and ongoing updates on hospital transformation efforts led by AHS are available here. |
MISC.
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Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Vermont AHEC Network
It is National AHEC week and to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Vermont AHEC Network, partners at Southern Vermont AHEC posted a new podcast episode highlighting the past and future of the organization. The episode features Dr. Mimi Reardon and Dr. Anne Morris and provides a wonderful view of the mission and vision of the organization in Vermont. Listen to the episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5SLxIni4BQ |
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Registration Open for Remaining 2026 Legislative Breakfasts
Meet your lawmakers and advocate for health care policies over coffee and a light breakfast at our 2026 Legislative Breakfasts! 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 remaining breakfasts with the Vermont Academy of Family Physicians and the American Academy of Pediatrics Vermont Chapter.
Registration is now available! Register here.
Vermont Medical Society - All MD, DO, PA and Medical Students Encouraged to Join
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. |
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Clinician Recruitment: University of Vermont Perinatal Substance Use Care Research Study
Vermont clinicians are invited to participate in an IRB-approved research study to better understand current care practices, challenges, and workflows for perinatal patients with substance use disorder. Insights from participating providers will be analyzed alongside a de-identified chart review (2021-2023) to identify trends in MAT discontinuation and gaps in care. Providers involved in the care of perinatal patients with substance use disorder in the specialties of OBGYN, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Addiction Medicine, and Psychiatry are invited to participate.
Choose the option most convenient for you:
- One-on-one interview (Zoom or Teams) (30 – 60 Minutes)
- Virtual focus group (Zoom or Teams) (30-60 Minutes)
- Anonymous REDCap Survey (no scheduling needed)
Use the link below to sign up: https://calendly.com/bazinetphillipsj If you would like more information before signing up or prefer to participate via an anonymous REDCap survey, please feel free to contact us by email at Jasmine.Bazinet-Phillips@med.uvm.edu or phone at (802)-847-7986. See more information on the survey flyer and information sheet. |
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EVENTS
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Leveraging AI Technologies for Financial Sustainability in Rural Health
March 30th, Zoom
Join the NERHA for an upcoming webinar exploring how artificial intelligence can support long-term financial sustainability for rural healthcare organizations.
Rural healthcare organizations face growing pressure from workforce shortages, administrative burden, and limited financial resources. In this session, participants will explore how AI-driven tools and agents can help organizations strengthen operational efficiency and support sustainable transformation efforts; particularly those aligned with Rural Hospital Transformation Program (RHT) initiatives.
In this webinar, you will learn how AI can:
- Expand workforce and practice capacity without adding headcount
- Improve revenue cycle performance and capture missed revenue
- Reduce operational costs while maintaining quality care
- Support sustainable rural health transformation through technology
Register here.
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Center on Rural Addiction: Development of a Toolkit for Implementing Evidence-Based Assessment and Treatment Practices for Co-Occurring PTSD and OUD in Rural Healthcare Settings
April 1st from 12pm to 1pm EST, Virtual
Please join UVM CORA for their Community Rounds Workshop Series panel session, “Development of a Toolkit for Implementing Evidence-Based Assessment and Treatment Practices for Co-Occurring PTSD and OUD in Rural Healthcare Settings.” The speakers are Kelly Peck, PhD, Associate Professor with joint appointments in the Departments of Psychiatry and Psychological Science at UVM and the Director of Clinical Operations for the UVM Center on Rural Addiction and Mary Lindsey Smith, PhD, MSW, Director of Substance Use Research & Evaluation at the University of Southern Maine’s Catherine Cutler Institute. This presentation will discuss evidence-based guidelines for the assessment of treatment of PTSD in individuals with co-occurring SUDs as well as barriers and facilitators to implementation in rural MOUD treatment settings. It will also introduce the newly developed UVM CORA Co-occurring PTSD and OUD Toolkit. Register here.
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2026 Vascular and Cardiac Forum
April 7, 2026
DoubleTree by Hilton, South Burlington, VT
The Vascular and Cardiac Forum this year will provide
primary care, internal medicine, urgent care, and physical therapy providers
with education about a variety of vascular and cardiac conditions. The
objectives are to improve accuracy and timeliness of the diagnosis and
treatment of these conditions and efficiently use expert consultation in a
value-based environment. Please visit the conference website and registration
link here. |
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AI in Medicine Conference
April 10, 2026
Delta Hotel by Marriott, South Burlington, VT
Join the University of Vermont for this inaugural conference exploring the applications of AI in medicine. This event is appropriate for physicians, physician assistants, nursing, advanced practitioners, researchers, and other interested professionals.
Please visit the conference website and registration link here. |
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AI and Violence: Exploring the Legal, Clinical, and Ethical Frontiers
April 10, 2026 10am to 4:30pm
Zoom
Join the Yale School of Medicine for this inaugural conference exploring the following topics: -
The Dangerous Intersection of Al, Mental Illness, and Violence
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"There are No Limits!": Al Undressing Apps and the Normalization of Nonconsensual Intimate Deepfakes -
Generative AI-Chatbots, Legal Accountability, and Violence -
Artificial Empathy: Navigating the Moral Hazards of Al Mental Health Care
View the full conference agenda here and register here. |
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Medication for Opioid Use Disorder ECHO April 30 - September 17th, 12pm to 1pm
Zoom
Join subject matter experts from around the region during biweekly virtual sessions on Zoom from Thursdays, 12-1 PM. Open to all health professionals who are looking to gain knowledge and confidence in the foundational skills related to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD). Priority is given to Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. No cost to join. Interdisciplinary teams are encouraged to apply.
Learn more here. |
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AlpTerra Wilderness Medicine Course
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. |
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2026 Collaborative Meeting November 13 - 14, 2026 Stowe, VT
The 2026 Collaborative Meeting is taking place November 13th and 14th at Topnotch Resort in Stowe, Vermont. Please save the date and join us this Fall! Stay up to date on additional details by visiting here. |
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For more information about offerings from UVM
CMIE, visit here. |
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Vermont Medical Society PO Box 153 Williamstown, VT 05679 -- Unsubscribe -- |
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