May 20, 2025

NEED TO KNOW

VMS Joins Suit to Stop Federal Government’s Deletion of Vital Medical Data and Resources

Today, the Vermont Medical Society (VMS) joined a group of nine medical organizations and public health nonprofits to sue the federal government to stop the deletion of vital public health and science data. Since January, the federal executive branch has deleted numerous websites that medical providers, scientists and public health professionals rely upon, on issues ranging from pregnancy risks to opioid-use disorder to the AIDS epidemic.

The lawsuit, filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, would enforce federal law and require the administration to restore deleted websites and stop any further removal of public health data. The suit highlights the administration’s “arbitrary, capricious and unreasoned” decisions to delete these critical resources, which federal law requires be made available to the American people.

“The members of the Vermont Medical Society are proud to join this extremely important case.  We have heard from our members that the loss of federal data and disclaimers added to certain websites have already led to more families delaying or declining vaccines, patients opting out of demographic questions, and barriers to providing appropriate patient care and information,” according to Katie Marvin, MD, President of the Vermont Medical Society. “Vermont clinicians are dedicated to providing honest, accurate, science-based information to help patients and communities make informed decisions about their health, and joining this litigation to restore federal sources of information is one critical step in that direction.” See the full press release here.

Health Reform Bill Makes it Through Preliminary Hurdle on House Floor; Budget Advances

Rep. Alyssa Black, the Chair of House Health Care Committee, explained to the House of Representatives this week the need for S.126, the bill calling for health system “transformation,” including reference-based pricing for hospital services and creating a new health care system delivery plan. Calling out Vermont's high cost of commercial rates, soaring hospital budgets and how high-quality, low-cost care is being driven out of business by our existing system, Chair Black made the case for the bill. There was a very long floor fight over an amendment,offered by Rep. Anne Donahue, that would have required any healthcare facility not subject to budget reporting to give the State notice if any changes in services offered or terminated were to take place. The amendment failed by a vote of 115-18 and the bill received preliminary approval on the House floor today. This bill needs to go back to the full House for final approval, after which it is likely to go to a Conference Committee with the Senate. 

The FY26 Budget has now passed both the House and Senate and advances to the Governor's desk. The Governor's office has indicated he will sign this bill, despite the fact that he vetoed the FY25 Budget Adjustment (BAA) twice and that the Legislature incorporated must-pass components of the BAA into the final FY26 Budget package, including $10 m to the Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA) for Provider Stabilization Grants and $11 m for an alternative payment model reconciliation payment to Brattleboro Retreat. The final budget package includes: 

• One-time dollars to support the 2026 primary care funding gap:
• $4,448,520 GF and $6,351,480 federal funds for the Blueprint for Health and SASH program;
• $835,420 GF for the OneCare Comprehensive Payment Reform Program;
• $3,119,310 for the OneCare primary care Population Health Management (PHM) Program;
• (No funding was included for the Blueprint for Health mental health and substance use integration Pilot Program;
• $514,875 GF and $735,125 FF for the first year of the Maple Mountain Family Medicine Residency Program if CMS approves the Agency of Human Service's request for federal matching funds;
• $250,000 GF for a grant to the Vermont Parent Child Center Network for smoking cessation initiatives;
• $5.4 million to support the implementation of S.126, including:
• $500,000 GF for grants to skilled nursing facilities to increase the pipeline of employed licensed nursing assistants.

This afternoon the House Healthcare Committee is taking up S.266 and will take testimony regarding Blue Cross Blue Shield's proposal to cap reimbursement to hospitals for outpatient administered drugs. 

VMS Board Seeking Resolution Feedback by Today - May 20th

The VMS Board is seeking member feedback on a policy resolution related to:

• Clinical Input Into Health Reform

The full text of the Resolution is available here.

All members received a survey link specific to you. If you did not receive your survey link or have any questions or concerns with completing the survey, please contact bpauley@vtmd.org.

The survey will be open for member comment until today, May 20, 2025 The resolutions will be discussed together with the feedback received from members by the VMS Board.

VMS Launches New Physician Leadership Development Course - Apply Today!

The Vermont Medical Society is pleased to announce that we are now partnering with the University of Vermont Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) unit to offer a new statewide physician leadership development course beginning in September 2025 and running until March 2026.   The course is designed to empower physician leaders across Vermont with the skills, knowledge, practical experience, and networking opportunities needed to foster effective team success. 

See the course information and FAQs here.

VMS is now accepting interested applicants!

Applicants submit a brief statement of interest in the course and a CV. Apply here. Applications are due July 1, 2025. If there are more interested candidates than seats, VMS will select participants with the goal of wide representation from practice types, specialties and locations.  (Please note, UVM Health Network physicians should apply separately  - learn more here.)

Key dates:

• Applications due July 1, 2025
• Selected candidates informed by July 18, 2025
• Registration and $3400 in tuition due by August 22, 2025
• Course begins September 12, 2025, in-person at Topnotch, Stowe

Contact Stephanie Winters at swinters@vtmd.org with questions. 

Vermont Board of Medical Practice Call Scam Alert

The Vermont Board of Medical Practice has heard from Vermont medical professionals who have been targeted, as recently as last week, by scammers who have posed as law enforcement or medical board investigators or staff. Please read on to learn more about how to avoid being a victim and read the full bulletin here.

Frequently the scammers claim to be medical board investigators, DEA agents, FBI agents, and in this case, staff. In several reported cases, the scammers claimed that the professionals' medical licenses or prescribing permits had been compromised and were being used by criminals in drug trafficking schemes. Thieves are able to make it appear that a call is coming from the Vermont Board of Medical Practice office telephone number.

No legitimate regulator or law enforcement agent will force you to respond immediately and without opportunity to confirm their identity.

Most initial contacts are by telephone. If you receive such a call, the Board recommends the following:

• Ask the caller to provide you his or her name and the telephone number of the Board office (or other agency) so that you can call back. Do not call back the number that you are given. Independently check the number on a reliable source. When someone contacts you and claims they are a Board of Medical Practice employee, you may call the Board office to verify Board staff is trying to reach you. The office is open from 7:45AM - 4:30PM eastern time, Monday - Friday: (802) 657-4220 or you may email: AHS.VDHMedicalBoard@vermont.gov and Board staff will assist you in determining if the call is legitimate.
• Do not provide any personal financial or identifying information.
• Report the incident to the local FBI Field Office. Licensees in Vermont should call the FBI Field Office in Albany, NY at (518) 465-7551. For other states check online at: https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices

Vermont Practitioner Health Program Updates

Nels Kloster, MD, Medical Director of the Vermont Practitioner Health Program (VPHP) (pictured above) attended the Federation of State Practitioner Health Program 2025 Conference & Annual Membership Meeting in Seattle from April 23–26th. The conference provides VPHP staff the opportunity to learn from and network with other PHPs around the country.  VPHP is a program of the Vermont Medical Society created for the benefit of Vermont's health professionals to identify, evaluate and ensure effective treatment for clinicians whose ability to practice medicine is impaired, or is at the risk of becoming impaired.   VPHP is partially funded though a contract with the Vermont Department of Health and last week submitted a bid to continue to operate the program.  Any concerned individual, including colleagues, supervisors, family members and self-referrals may contact VPHP’s confidential phone number at 802-223-0400 for resources or more information. 

MISC.

Reminder: Health Care Providers for Blue Plan Patients Eligible for Share of $2.8 Billion Settlement – File Claims by July 29^th

As shared in the Rounds this winter, a landmark $2.8 billion settlement was reached in late 2024 with the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and participating Individual Blue Plans, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont. The settlement resolves claims brought by healthcare providers alleging anti-competitive practices, including agreements to divide geographic service areas and price-fixing for healthcare services.

Who Is Included in the Settlement Class?

The Settlement Class includes healthcare providers across the United States who, between July 24, 2008, and October 4, 2024, provided services, equipment, or supplies to patients insured by, or beneficiaries of, any plan administered by a settling Blue Plan.

Settlement Highlights

• $2.8 Billion Settlement Fund: Providers and Facilities must submit a claim form online or by mail no later than July 29, 2025.
• Business Practice Reforms: The settlement includes commitments to changes that will:
• Increase competition in the healthcare marketplace.
• Transform the BlueCard program.
• Improve provider interactions with Settling Individual Blue Plans.

Where to Get More Information

For further details about the Settlement, deadlines, and eligibility, visit the settlement website: www.BCBSprovidersettlement.com and law firm updates at https://whatleykallas.com/bcbs-settlement/

Physician & Provider Executive Leadership Institute Advanced Course Now Open for Enrollment

The Hanley Center for Health Leadership is now enrolling for their Physician & Provider Executive Leadership Institute (PELI) Advanced Course.  The course develops physician and senior level advanced practice provider leaders through intensive, national-caliber professional development coursework. This residential course meets six times from September 2025 through June 2026 at the beautiful Harraseeket Inn in Freeport, Maine.  The course is aimed at clinicians who have already completed the Hanley PELI course or another introductory leadership program or who already have experience in leadership roles.  Learn more here.

PlanWell - Planning for Retirement Webinar

Join PlanWell for a Planning for Retirement webinar on Tuesday, May 20th at 5pm. 

Retirement is often the first thing we think about when we talk about our overall

financial well-being. In this workshop, you will learn the basics of retirement planning

and what strategies you can use to secure your plan. We’ll cover how to envision your retirement, how to build your retirement strategy, different sources of retirement

income, and key risks to consider.

View the flyer for the event here and register here. 

EVENTS

Lake Morey Resort
82 Clubhouse Road
Fairlee, VT

Register Here

Save the Date Spring 2025 Palliative Care Series

May 22, 2025 from 12pm - 1:15pm

The Rocky Road of Goals of Care Conversations: Not "One and Done"

Topics to be covered in upcoming sessions:

• Transitions of Care
• Symptom Management & the use of Opioids
• Choosing to Stop Eating and Drinking
• Medical Aid in Dying

Measles 2025: The State of the Outbreak

May 27, 2025 from 4pm - 5:30pm

The U.S. is experiencing its highest rate of measles infections in decades. As of May 12, over 1,000 cases have been reported across 31 states, and three people have died as a result of complications from the virus. Amid this widespread and dangerous outbreak, health care providers, public health practitioners, and members of the public need to know how to protect their patients, communities and loved ones.

This free public webinar will cover:

• How measles spreads and how it can be contained
• Symptoms of measles and how it is diagnosed and treated
• How to share accurate information about the virus
• The challenge of vaccine hesitancy and declining immunization rates

Register here.

CARE Conference 2025

Learning Objective:

At the conclusion of the set of conference learning sessions, participants will be able to:

1. Describe recent large-scale changes to federal systems related to SUD and mental health treatment, including how State of Vermont policy and regulatory objectives coincide with these federal changes.
2. Evaluate how pre-clinic treatment engagement or the implementation of a novel clinical strategy may impact care for patients with Opioid Use Disorder.
3. Identify at least one care management or delivery strategy for engaging patients with SUD who also experience justice involvement, trauma, or family-related factors affecting treatment outcomes.

Register here.

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

Vermont Medical Society

134 Main Street

Montpelier, VT 05602

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