July 1, 2025

NEED TO KNOW

Senate Passed Medicaid Cuts — House Vote Next. Keep Texting

The US Senate just passed their version of the bill that is estimated to cause 11.8 million more Americans to become uninsured by 2034. Now it’s headed to the House — and the vote could happen any day.

Thanks to tremendous efforts from clinicians around the country, the Protect our Healthcare Coalition mobilized over 3 million constituents to speak out and contact their US senators asking them to protect Medicaid.

This is our last window to stop it. Millions of Americans — children, seniors, people with disabilities — are at risk of losing care. House lawmakers need to hear from their constituents in key districts before it's too late.

Getting started is easy. Full instructions on how to join the text program as a volunteer can be found at www.protectourhealthcare.org/texting-program. Watch the 90-second welcome video: protectourhealthcare.org/welcome. For more information, you can also contact Jessa Barnard at jbarnard@vtmd.org

Every single message matters. Every text is a call to action, a chance to make Congress listen.

How Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) Changes Impact Vermont

Last week, the federal advisory committee that develops recommendations on the use of vaccines in the U.S. – the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) – made some key votes. While changes were expected, there are currently no major impacts to the Vermont Immunization Program’s ability to distribute vaccines to health care providers.

Here’s what to know about the ACIP meeting outcomes as of July 1, 2025, according to the Vermont Immunization Program:

Clesrovimab, an additional monoclonal antibody to help protect infants against RSV will be available this fall.
Flu shots are still recommended every year for everyone age 6 months and older and will continue to be covered by insurance.
Flu vaccines containing thimerosal, a non-harmful preservative used in multi-dose vaccine vials, are no longer recommended. The impact to Vermont is minimal, since these products have not been available through the Immunization Program in recent years. These products account for about 3% of flu vaccines administered in Vermont.
We are still waiting for COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for the upcoming respiratory virus season. We will share updates as soon as we have more information.

The Immunization Program continues to stand by science and evidence-based interventions to protect public health, while also listening, answering questions and helping people understand the value of vaccines, and more broadly, public health work. We will also continue to connect with state health departments, medical professionals, and other federal and state partners to analyze changes in federal policy and guidance.

As always, we keep the health and well-being of Vermonters center of our mission, and will continue our work to ensure the safety, effectiveness, and accessibility of immunization efforts across the state.

Please join The Immunization Program for our next quarterly call for providers on July 10^th at noon. The topic is ACIP Outcomes & Navigating HHS Changes Together. Click here for the Teams Meeting link to join on the 10^th.

Phone-Free School Policy Signed into Law

Last week, Governor Scott signed H.480, An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to education law. One section of the law, supported by VMS and the American Academy of Pediatrics-Vermont Chapter, requires schools to adopt policies banning cell phones and electronics during school hours. When signing H.480, Governor Scott issued the following statement: “This bill includes many technical changes but also takes a meaningful step forward to develop and implement a “phone-free” policy in schools across Vermont. The things our cell phones can do today are amazing; however, the one area they seem to be very good at, is their ability to distract us from everything. We need kids to be focused on learning, interacting with their peers, teachers, and friends while they’re at school. And it’s clear now that phones can get in the way of important conversations and class discussions and can also be used for harmful interactions, like bullying. Taking a break from our phones is probably a good policy for all of us to follow – and hopefully, find that healthy balance we could all use a little more of.” A separate section of the law also requires that Vermont schools and athletic events will have to have cardiac emergency response plans beginning in the 2026-2027 school year. See VMS’ full end of legislative session summary at: https://vtmd.org/legislative-bulletins

Call for VMS' Leadership Awards

Nominations are now open for VMS’ Leadership Awards! We are asking members to nominate Vermont leaders who have provided outstanding contributions to the medical profession, to health organizations and to the welfare of the public. Please nominate a Vermont leader here. Nominations are open through August 13, 2025.

Awards include:

Distinguished Service Award
Physician of the Year Award
Physician Award for Community Service
Citizen of the Year Award
Founders’ Award

The awards ceremony will be held on the evening of November 7th at the 212th VMS Annual and Collaborative Meeting. Stay up to date on event details here.

Physician Leadership Development Course Applications Deadline Extended to July 11th

The Vermont Medical Society is now partnering with the University of Vermont to offer a 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.

Applications are now due by July 11, 2025!

Applicants submit a brief statement of interest in the course and a CV. Apply here. 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 11, 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.

MISC.

There Will Be No Public Health Call - Thursday, July 3, 2025

As a reminder, we will not hold a public health call on July 3rd due to proximity to the July 4th holiday. Our next update call will be on August 7th. Please stay tuned for more details on the topic.

Join us on August 7th at 12:30pm by clicking here.

Meeting ID: 867 2625 3105 / Password: 540684

One tap mobile - +1 646 876 9923,,86726253105#,,,,0#,,540684#

Dial In - +1 646 876 9923 / Meeting ID: 867 2625 3105 / Password: 540684

New Reason to Use AI Ambient Documentation: Patients Like It

According to coverage by the AMA, University of Iowa Health Care reports lower physician burnout and more patient satisfaction with an AI documentation tool that helps clinicians focus on patient care. The ambient AI-documentation tool was made available to physicians, trainees, dietitians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and social workers. The tool helped reduce burnout in several different ways, according to the system’s internal surveys, but one finding that stood out among the rest is that patients noticed the changes and appreciated the new way visits were conducted. In addition, clinician users report an average of 2.6 hours a week in perceived savings in time spent on after-hours documentation. Read more.

Considering a Run for Office? AMA Campaign School Returns Sept. 11-14 I Registration Now Open

AMPAC (the political action committee of the American Medical Association) is excited to announce that the 2025 Campaign School will be returning September 11-14 at the AMA offices in Washington, DC.

Running an effective campaign can be the difference between winning and losing a race. That’s why the Campaign School is designed to give candidates the skills and strategic approach you will need on the campaign trail. Our team of political experts will teach you everything you need to know to run a successful campaign. Under the direction of our lead trainers, participants will be broken into campaign staff teams to run a simulated congressional campaign using what they’ve learned during group sessions on strategy, vote targeting, social media, advertising and more.

Attendees may include physicians, spouses of physicians, residents and medical students and state medical society staff interested in becoming more involved in politics. Participants range from those attracted to grassroots efforts to those considering becoming a candidate for public office. No matter where you are in the process, you will develop a new understanding of how campaigns are run. As a graduate of the AMPAC program, candidates will rely on you to give them advice on strategy, message, and campaign plans.

Registration for the 2025 Campaign School is now OPEN. Space is limited and the deadline to register is August 8 (or sooner if maximum capacity is reached).

CMS Alert Highlights Medicare Fraud Scheme Involving Phishing Fax Requests

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published an alert on fraud schemes that are increasingly targeting Medicare providers that involve bad actors impersonating CMS and sending phishing fax requests for medical records and documentation, falsely claiming to be part of a Medicare audit.

Phishing is an example of social engineering that attempts to trick you or someone else in your workplace into giving out sensitive information. Email phishing attacks are still a common occurrence, but we are hearing about more fraudulent fax requests being sent out to medical practices by bad actors.

CMS emphasized that it does not initiate audits by requesting medical records via fax. We urge physicians and practices to take steps to protect their data. If physicians receive a suspicious request, do not respond. CMS encourages you to work with your Medical Review Contractor if you receive a questionable or suspected fraudulent request to confirm if it is real.

Back for 2025, Quarterly Financial Webinars Hosted by Pinnacle Wealth (FKA Pastore Financial Group).

Pinnacle Wealth has been a supporter of VMS for decades. Our independent, fiduciary advisors will share insights to help you on your financial journey. Can’t make the webinar but have questions? Please email info@pinnaclevt.com for an individual meeting.

Early Career: Questioning your student loan strategy? Do you have the right amount of life and disability insurance? Are you maximizing opportunities to accumulate wealth and minimize taxes? Join us for an exclusive seminar for VMS members. We will discuss updates to SAVE and PSLF, important insurance concepts, and strategies to maximize accumulation during your early years as a physician.

Approaching Retirement: Are you confident in your retirement plan? Concerned about market volatility? Do you have a strategy to protect your investments while maximizing returns? Join us for an exclusive retirement planning seminar for VMS members. We will discuss key strategies to secure your financial future and enhance your investment growth in today’s unpredictable market.

EVENTS

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