VMS Legislative Bulletin

February 11, 2015

In This Issue

Montpelier Minute

VMS Testimony Continues on Medicaid Fee Schedule

Progress Made on VBMP Investigation Practices; VMS Members to Have Opportunity to Provide Input

Mental Health: Two Issues for VMS Council

Governor's Budget Proposes Elimination of State Funding for Educational Loan Repayment

Legislation Aims to Strengthen Vermont's Immunization Laws

Firearm Safety Legislation Introduced

February 11, 2015

VMS Testimony Continues on Medicaid Fee Schedule

Last week the House Ways and Means Committee continued its review of the Administration’s proposal to increase Medicaid reimbursement to Medicare levels in order to address the cost-shift to private insurance premiums. VMS provided its second day of testimony in support of the reimbursement increase and it made the point that low Medicaid reimbursement also has a significant adverse impact on Medicaid patients’ access to health care services.

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Progress Made on VBMP Investigation Practices; VMS Members to Have Opportunity to Provide Input

Last year, in response to concerns raised by licensees about the process used by the Vermont Board of Medical Practice in investigations, a bill was introduced that called for several improvements.

H. 350 required the Board of Medical Practice to remove information about charges and investigations from the VBMS website and from the public registry when cases were dismissed by the Board or by the court. This was an issue raised by licensees whose cases were dismissed, but found that information about the dismissed charges was still available through internet searches on the VBMP’s website.

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Mental Health: Two Issues for the VMS Council

In mid-December, VMS met with the Commissioner of Mental Health to discuss the patients waiting in Emergency Departments for Level 1 Involuntary Psychiatric Placements. Although the Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital opened July 1, 2014, this continues to be a problem, with some patients waiting several weeks for admission.

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Governor's Budget Proposes Elimination of State Funding for Educational Loan Program

The Governor’s budget has proposed eliminating state funding for the Educational Loan Repayment (ELR) program, one of the most important recruiting tools and workforce incentives to encourage physicians to practice in Vermont.

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Legislation Aims to Strengthen Vermont's Immunization Laws

Last week VMS, American Academy of Pediatrics Vermont Chapter, University of Vermont Medical Center, Vermont Association of Hospital and Health Systems and the March of Dimes participated in a press conference announcing new legislation that protects Vermont’s children by strengthening immunization laws by removing the philosophical exemption to required immunizations for school entry.

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Firearm Safety Legislation Introduced

Senators John Campbell, Philip Baruth and Claire Ayer have proposed legislation that would require background checks for certain kids of transactions, among other restrictions.

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