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NEED TO KNOW
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AHS Releases Grant Opportunity for Healthcare Providers to Purchase AI Transcription/Scribe Technology – Due June 5
Vermont’s Agency of Human Services today released a grant opportunity funded by the Rural Health Transformation Program to provide funds to providers to purchase or lease Artificial Intelligence (AI) transcription/scribe technology both for those healthcare organizations that do not have it and for those that wish to expand the use of or upgrade existing AI transcription/scribe technology to support rural communities. The grant is open to rural providers physically located in Vermont, and nonprofit provider consortiums servicing providers that are offering shared AI transcription/scribe purchasing, leasing, and/or service opportunities for rural healthcare providers physically located in Vermont. Proposals may also include technical assistance and training related to:
- Technology selection and implementation
- Workflow integration
- Cybersecurity and risk management
- Privacy, security, and regulatory compliance
See the full bid description here. The application includes submitting a Microsoft Form - Rural Health Transformation Grant to Healthcare Providers to Purchase Artificial Technology (AI) Transcription/Scribe Technology Online Application – and emailing an Excel budget workbook.
Questions are due by May 20, 2026 and applications are due by June 5, 2026. The contact for questions is: Matthew Rockwell, ahs.contracts@vermont.gov. |
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Priority Bills Remain in Play as Legislature Approaches the End of the Session
The target date for adjournment is May 22nd, which gives the legislature very little time to complete working on bills. Last week, the Senate Health and Welfare completed their work as a committee and advanced several bills including H.583, the private equity in healthcare bill, that now pushes back a date when health care entities must report if they receive support from private equity from July 1, 2026 to March 1, 2027. They also approved the House draft of S.142, a bill that provides a pathway to licensure for internationally trained physicians and medical graduates. The Senate concurred with the House, and this bill heads to the Governor's desk. House Health Care also voted out S.190, a bill that addresses reference-based pricing for hospitals, which will now result in $54.6 million going from hospitals’ net patient revenue to the individual and small group market and teacher's health insurance rates. The House took a preliminary vote this week on S.189, a bill which proposes modifying the process before hospitals reduce services, eliminating the current binding decision process by the Green Mountain Care Board and rather requiring a confidential process with the Agency of Human Services and a hospital-led public engagement process before certain enumerated services are eliminated.
The House Health Care Committee voted 10-1-0 to approve 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. The House Government Operations Committee continues to take testimony on this bill. Email House Government Operations Committee members here to urge them to oppose S. 64: mbirong@leg.state.vt.us; LHango@leg.state.vt.us; cevans@leg.state.vt.us; lboyden@leg.state.vt.us; vlcoffin@leg.state.vt.us; JHooper@leg.state.vt.us; mmorgan@leg.state.vt.us; mmorgan@leg.state.vt.us; knugent@leg.state.vt.us; spinsonault@leg.state.vt.us; Kevin.Scully@vtleg.gov; mstone@leg.state.vt.us
The VMS continues to push for the passage of S.197, the primary care payment reform bill, in House Health Care. Committee members have indicated a clear interest in wanting to include a study on universal primary care. Please reach out to House Health Care Committee members this week to urge them that in addition to any examination of universal primary care, the bill should retain the sections of the bill that can immediately strengthen primary care payments based on Vermont’s existing Blueprint for Health payments. Please Contact members of House Health Care 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 See VMS’ summary and full testimony in support of S. 197 here.
The VMS and other health care organizations continue to work with the House Commerce Committee to improve S.71, the data privacy bill, to ensure that it includes a HIPPA entity level exemption. The Committee will continue working through the data privacy bill this week.
Remaining active bills VMS is tracking:
- S.193, a bill that would create a forensic facility in order to provide competency restoration services for people found incompetent to stand trial and who have been charged with an offense punishable by a life sentence or those if released would create a substantial risk of bodily injury to another person, continues to be debated in several House Committees and is scheduled for a vote in House Judiciary.
- S.198, a tobacco retail licensing bill, was voted out of House Human Services unanimously this week and is scheduled for a vote out of House Ways and Means this week.
- S.230, which includes a provision that prohibits non-compete clauses for health care providers, is scheduled for a vote in the Sen. Economic Development Committee.
- S.278, the cannabis regulation bill that includes a provision allowing for direct delivery sales is scheduled for a vote tomorrow in the House Government Operations Committee.
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VDH Health Advisory: Contaminated IV Sets from ICU Medical
The Maine and Pennsylvania Departments of Health are investigating reports of contaminated IV tubing sets from a single manufacturer with national distribution. The contamination is reported as small black dots embedded on the internal walls of the drip chambers or in the lumen or chamber of the tubing. It is reported across numerous lots across several product types from ICU Medical distributed by Medline.
The following products have been implicated to date:
- Primary PLUM set Clave Port, CLAVE Y-Site Secure Lock 103 inch
- Primary Set Piggyback with Backcheck Valve, 2 CLAVE Y-Sites, Secure Lock, 100 inch
- Secondary Set Secure Lock, 34 inch with IV Set Hanger
It is unknown whether the particulates contain biologic material. To date, no adverse events have been reported linked to the contaminated products.
Requested Actions
- Inspect all ICU Medical IV infusion sets for any visual contamination.
- If any visible contamination is identified:
See more details in full alert here. |
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AHS Posts Hospital Transformation Plans
All of Vermont's 14 hospitals have developed transformation plans to support care transformation goals of reducing inefficiencies, lowering costs, improving health outcomes, reducing health inequities and increasing access to essential services. Hospitals are required to submit monthly updates to Vermont’s Agency of Human Services, which will include developing and monitoring outcome metrics to track progress.
Two important documents have been released by AHS to provide more detail on hospital transformation plans:
Minutes from the March Blueprint for Health Executive Committee also feature discussions with the CEOs of Grace Cottage, Rutland Regional Medical Center, Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital, University of Vermont Medical Center, and Gifford Medical Center describing their transition plans. |
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CDC Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory: 2026 Multi-country Hantavirus Cluster Linked to Cruise Ship
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to inform clinicians and health departments about a new cluster of hantavirus disease cases caused by infection with Andes virus. Hantavirus disease can cause severe illness and can be fatal. Clinicians should be aware of the potential for imported cases, although the risk of broad spread to the United States is considered extremely unlikely at this time. As a precaution, this Health Advisory summarizes CDC’s recommendations for U.S. public health departments, clinical laboratories, and healthcare workers about hantavirus disease case identification, testing, and biosafety considerations in clinical laboratories. Read the full HAN here. |
MISC.
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Vermont Overdose Deaths
Decline for Third Consecutive Year
The Vermont Department of Health announced last week that
deaths from drug overdose continue to decline in Vermont, according to new data
from the Department of Health. The newly released 2025 Fatal Overdose Report shows that
170 Vermonters died from a drug overdose in 2025 which is a 37% decrease in
overdose deaths following a historic peak in 2022 with 269 deaths.
Opioid-involved
overdoses continue to account for a significant share of drug-related
fatalities, with 121 deaths recorded in 2025 compared to 183 in 2024. Fentanyl
and cocaine remain the number one and number two substances involved in
overdose deaths, often in combination.
Public health
initiatives, including community-based public health prevention programs,
first-responder awareness and intervention capacity and expanded access to
substance use treatment and recovery, all play a role in the decrease in
drug-related fatalities.
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Vermont Vaccine Brief May 2026
The Immunization Program at the Vermont Department of Health has released its May 2026 Vermont Vaccine Brief covering topics including their new Immunization Education Portal; measles readiness and vaccine confidence. Editions of this update occur every month. Please visit the VDH webpage for all recent communications and subscribe to receive messages directly.
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EVENTS
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Expanding Addiction Treatment Systems
June 2, 2026
In-Person - Killington, VT
The annual Blueprint for Heath & Vermont Department of Health in person conference for Substance Use Disorder care teams will be at the Killington Grand Resort Hotel on June 2nd this year.
This conference is freely available to people working in Vermont on care related to mental health and substance use disorders.
At the conclusion of the set of conference learning sessions, participants will be able to:
- outline one integrated Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) care model that identifies community needs, improves treatment engagement and retention, and includes co-treatment strategies for commonly co-occurring conditions such as Alcohol Use Disorder, HIV, and/or HCV.
- appraise the status of the Vermont Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment system regarding trends in population outcomes and availability of levels of care.
- identify two principles of provider self-care regarding mitigation of moral injury and leveraging of team-based care systems.
Learn more about the event here and register here. |
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AMA Independent Practice Accelerator
Workshop
Sep. 11–12 | Chicago, IL
Thinking about starting or growing an independent practice? Get
the essential knowledge, practical skills and confidence you need to
launch a new practice or strengthen the one you already have! The AMA
Independent Practice Accelerator Workshop is a two-day, in-person event
designed exclusively for physicians. Register today to get on the fast track
to independent practice success.
International Conference on Physician
Health™ (ICPH) 2026
Sponsored by the American Medical Association, British Medical
Association, and Canadian Medical Association, ICPH 2026 offers
meaningful conversations, practical takeaways, and connections that last well
beyond the event. Both virtual and in-person attendance
options available! Register today. |
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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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