|
|
|
|
NEED TO KNOW
|
Primary Care Policy Continues to Advance in the House; Data Privacy and Health Care Budget Still Up in the Air
With approximately one month left in the 2026 Legislative session, tensions are high as Committees are grappling with having very little money and very little time to complete key priorities that remain conceptual like data privacy and education reform. The VMS continues to advocate for primary care payment reform and for primary care funding in the FY27 budget. Please see the specific action alerts below.
Tell Lawmakers How Primary Care Payment Bill Supports Practices
Please reach out this week to the House Health Care Committee, who has continued to take testimony on S. 197, the primary care reform bill, and heard from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont, Cigna and the Blueprint for Health last week. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont testified in support of S. 197 creating “an opportunity to move from a strong foundation to a modern, sustainable, and accountable model” while Cinga expressed concerned about self-funded employer plans being required to participate in the Blueprint for Health. It is important for the House Health Care Committee to hear from practices regarding how the bill takes steps to help stabilize primary care financing and access.
The bill would:
- Require the Agency of Human Services to establish a target for the amount of per-person per-month spending by each payer that should be invested to cover primary care services for Vermont residents, develop a transitional schedule that increases that target over time, and direct the additional investment to Blueprint practice payments
- Build on Vermont’s Blueprint for Health program and expand by having Blueprint practice payments funded equally by all health insurers, adequately support primary care practices, and study evolving the practice payment to replace routine primary care services with a monthly payment to practices
- Continue Vermont’s primary care medical student scholarship
Contact House Health Care Committee members here: ablack@leg.state.vt.us; dberbeco@leg.state.vt.us; valorie.taylor@vtleg.gov; bcina@leg.state.vt.us; wcritchlow@leg.state.vt.us; ademar@leg.state.vt.us; lgoldman@leg.state.vt.us; LHoughton@leg.state.vt.us; Karen.Lueders@vtleg.gov; dpowers@leg.state.vt.us; dsoucy@vtleg.gov
Please Urge House Health Care Committees to Oppose S.64 – Expansion of Optometry Scope of Practice
The House Health Care Committee will take testimony tomorrow on S.64, a bill that 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. Contact House Health Care Committee members here to urge them to oppose S. 64: ablack@leg.state.vt.us; dberbeco@leg.state.vt.us; valorie.taylor@vtleg.gov; bcina@leg.state.vt.us; wcritchlow@leg.state.vt.us; ademar@leg.state.vt.us; lgoldman@leg.state.vt.us; LHoughton@leg.state.vt.us; Karen.Lueders@vtleg.gov; dpowers@leg.state.vt.us; dsoucy@vtleg.gov
Please Ask the Senate Health and Welfare and Appropriations Committees to Support Primary Care
The Senate Health and Welfare and Senate Appropriations Committees continue to work on refining their health care funding priorities for the FY27 Budget. Please urge these Committees to include these primary care priorities in their recommendations:
- the restoration of $2.01 million in Medicaid alternative payments to primary care practices
- the full restoration of a $1.27 million cut to the AHEC programming and loan repayment that includes:
- $667k Primary Care Practitioner Loan Repayment
- $500k Early Pipeline Health Care Careers Programming
- $50k Physician Placement Services
Please email: vlyons@leg.state.vt.us; mgulick@leg.state.vt.us; acummings@leg.state.vt.us; John.Morley@vtleg.gov; john.benson@vtleg.gov; Calysta.Koppenhaver@vtleg.gov; aperchlik@leg.state.vt.us; rawestman@gmail.com; vlyons@leg.state.vt.us; pbrennan@leg.state.vt.us; pbaruth@leg.state.vt.us; awatson@leg.state.vt.us; rnorris@leg.state.vt.us; Elle.Oille-Stanforth@vtleg.gov
|
|
|
Sign on Letter for Vermont Medical Practices – Vermont Data Privacy Law should Harmonize with HIPAA
The Vermont Medical Society is alerting medical practices to harmful markups to S.71 - the "Vermont Data Privacy Act" - being proposed by the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee within the remaining weeks of the legislative session. Practices are encouraged to sign on to a letter being led by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce regarding the House Amendments. See the letter here and the form here, which authorizes the Vermont Chamber of Commerce to add your business name and town to a sign‑on letter to Vermont legislators.
Why this matters for Vermont health care practices
- Would set new rules around how Vermont consumer data is collected, used, and protected
- Would apply the requirements of the bill to additional entities including health care institutions, which already have strict federal HIPAA requirements in place for patient data privacy
- Would add to compliance costs and legal exposure
In contrast, the Senate-passed version of S.71 (passed unanimously in 2025) would exempt HIPAA-covered entities and align Vermont with regional standards in New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, offering clear consumer protections while limiting compliance costs and litigation risk.
Please consider adding your practice to the sign on letter with the form here. |
|
|
One Remaining 2026 VMS Legislative Breakfast – April 29th
It’s
not too late to join for the Vermont Medical Society’s one remaining breakfast
for the 2026 legislative session! All
VMS members and medical students are encouraged to join us for the last
opportunity of this legislative session to meet your lawmakers and
advocate for health care policies over coffee and a light breakfast. The
breakfast is being held on Wednesday, April 29th from 8-9 am at the Vermont
Statehouse in Montpelier. This is an informal opportunity to educate lawmakers
on ways to improve Vermont's practice environment and no prior legislative
experience is needed.
Please
register here.
Reach out to Jill Sudhoff-Guerin at jsudhoffguerin@vtmd.org if you
have any questions |
|
|
VMS Board Openings - At Large Board Member Seats
Due to turnover in VMS Board membership, the VMS Board currently has two openings for at large representatives. The VMS Board meets six times per year to discuss the policy, governance, operations, and finances of the organization. Board membership includes VMS officers, geographic, specialty society and at-large representatives. To learn more about the VMS Board including current membership and meeting schedule, please visit our governance page located here or contact Jessa Barnard at jbarnard@vtmd.org. We welcome new interest and involvement! |
|
|
MultiPlan Litigation Update April 2026
The Vermont Medical Society is a plaintiff in the In re MultiPlan Health Insurance Provider Litigation, a federal antitrust case alleging that MultiPlan and major health insurers colluded to suppress out-of-network reimbursement rates paid to physicians and other providers.
The case is now in active discovery. At the February 27th case management conference, the Court cleared the way for depositions of MultiPlan representatives and required the company to produce key internal records. The next status conference is April 9, 2026, after which we will share a further update.
On a related note, co-lead counsel Matt Lavin has joined Gilbert LLC and will continue leading the case in his new role. This change does not affect the case, our organization's participation in any way, or your case if you have joined the litigation.
Members who believe they've been impacted by MultiPlan's practices are encouraged to reach out to an attorney. |
MISC.
|
Kick Off Meetings: Blueprint for Health Modernization Proposal
The Blueprint for Health staff are excited to invite Vermont primary care practices, clinicians and other interested parties to a kickoff meeting to introduce a modernized program proposal for an Advanced Primary Care Program in Vermont under the Blueprint for Health. This initiative builds on Vermont’s strong foundation of patient-centered care and aims to enhance access, care coordination, quality outcomes, and health equity across our communities while strengthening and leveraging investment in primary care to ensure practices have the resources and support needed to deliver high-value care. Please feel free to forward this invitation to your colleagues and leadership. The same content will be offered at each of the three meetings - 4/27 at 4 pm, 4/29 at noon, and 5/1 at 8 am. Questions asked by attendees will be documented and answered by the Blueprint team then posted in the 1-2 weeks following for everyone’s review. The meetings will not be recorded, AI transcription will not be allowed, and slides presented will be posted on the Blueprint website no later than close of business on 5/1.
April 27th, 4-5pm
Join Microsoft Teams Meeting: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/210502118643517?p=G8F6A8c6ZVKCp7w0te
Meeting ID: 210 502 118 643 517
Passcode: CY2kf9vc
Dial in by phone: +1 802-828-7667,,92047878#
April 29th, 12-1pm
Join Microsoft Teams meeting: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/21961545455906?p=EZ1vcx29awPe2PuPXQ
Meeting ID: 219 615 454 559 06
Passcode: Aj7vn6VA
Dial in by phone: +1 802-828-7667,,538318711#
May 1, 8-9am
Join Microsoft Teams meeting: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/21234171022160?p=84lzR6QuqmEQGPRFqD
Meeting ID: 212 341 710 221 60
Passcode: KY649Gk2
Dial in by phone: +1 802-828-7667,,787759904# |
|
|
Medicaid Telehealth Claims Reminder
Reminder, Telehealth Services are reimbursed by Vermont Medicaid according to the fee schedule based on place of service (POS), and the appropriate telehealth modifier. Practitioners are required to append the appropriate telehealth modifier to indicate if services were delivered via audio only (93) or audio-video (95). Claims submitted without the appropriate telehealth modifier may be subject to recoupment. Practitioners are required to bill Vermont Medicaid correctly, which includes reporting the telehealth modifier along with the POS 02 or 10. See Telehealth Billing - Place of Service (POS) 02 and 10 Frequently Asked Questions for more information. |
|
|
|
|
EVENTS
|
|
|
The Greatest Contribution: A History of the National Library of Medicine with Stephen Greenberg
April 21, 2026 at 7pm
Zoom
Starting as a single shelf of books in the Army Surgeon-General’s small office, the National Library of Medicine has grown to be the world’s largest medical library. This presentation will examine the history of the NLM, and considers what its future might hold in the rapidly changing world of information technology.
Dr. Greenberg holds degrees both in history and library science and spent 29 years working at the National Library of Medicine where he served as Section Head for Rare Books and Early Manuscripts in NLM’s History of Medicine Division. Register here. |
|
|
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. |
|
|
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. |
|
|
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. |
|
|
For more information about offerings from UVM
CMIE, visit here. |
|
|
|
|
Vermont Medical Society PO Box 153 Williamstown, VT 05679 -- Unsubscribe -- |
|
|
|
