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Posted 2 days ago

Vermont Medical Society requesting communication with Vermont Representatives concerning upcoming legislation affecting practice in Vermont.

Please Take Action: FY27 Budget Includes Cuts to Primary Care Payments & Workforce

This week, the House Health Care Committee is preparing their budget policy recommendations on the FY27 Governor’s Recommended Budget which includes proposed funding cuts to AHEC pipeline programming and loan repayment, along with proposed cuts to primary care payments from Medicaid tied to the ending of OneCare Vermont. 

Please email the House Health Care Committee and ask them to recommend restoring the funding for both the cuts to the primary care workforce pipeline and proposed cuts to primary care payments as well as these FY27 Budget Asks - Click here for more information:

  • Restore $1.27 m GF for AHEC programming, loan repayment and MD placement;
  • Restore $2.01 m GF for DVHA $4.75 pmpm alternative payment to primary care;
  • Include $3.31m gross for inflationary adjustment to primary care fee schedule;
  • Backfill $7.7 m gross gap for Population Health and CPR payments (Jan.-June '27)
  • Remove sunset on the Medical Student Scholarship Program; 
  • Fund DULCE program at $1 million GF.

Email addresses: ablack@leg.state.vt.us; fmcfaun@leg.state.vt.us; dberbeco@leg.state.vt.us; 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; valorie.taylor@vtleg.gov; tasha.kleppner@vtleg.gov; testimony@vtleg.gov

More Actions to Take this Week on Cannabis Bill, Immunization Bill and Scope Bills

This Wednesday, the Senate Economic Development Committee and the House Government Operations Committee will be taking up S.278, an omnibus cannabis bill looking to expand geographic density of retail shops, remove advertising restrictions, reduce excise taxes and provide more access to cannabis. At last week's hearing, the Chair of the Cannabis Control Board said that he believes that the best thing Vermont can do for public health is to remove the THC potency caps on cannabis concentrates. Do you have information on the actual impact of use of high potency concentrates and cannabis use disorder, accidental ingestion, and cannabis hyperemesis syndrome?  

Please reach out to the Committee regarding the public health impact of reducing regulation of cannabis sales on our communities: aclarkson@leg.state.vt.us; kramhinsdale@leg.state.vt.us; tchiitenden@leg.state.vt.us; rbrock@leg.state.vt.us; dweeks@leg.state.vt.us; cmead@leg.state.vt.us; 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; rhooper@leg.state.vt.us; mmorgan@leg.state.vt.us; knugent@leg.state.vt.us; spinsonault@leg.state.vt.us; mstone@leg.state.vt.us

Please Ask Your Senator to Support the Immunization Bill
H.545, the bill regarding Vermont adopting its own immunization recommendations, will go to the Senate floor this Wednesday and Thursday after passing the Senate Health and Welfare Committee by a vote of 5-0. Please email your Senator to support this bill. Click here to find your Senator. 

Weigh in on Optometrists Performing Eye Surgery

Tomorrow, the Senate Health and Welfare Committee will be taking up S.64 for another hearing - they need to hear from you on the patient safety risks for Vermonters of expanding optometry scope of practice. Two weeks ago, they heard from physicians regarding concerns with authorizing optometrists to perform “minor” surgical procedures. Witnesses included Jessica McNally, MD, President of Vermont Ophthalmological Society; Matthew Greenberg, MD, Chair of the Vermont Board of Medical Practice; Jeff Young, MD, comprehensive ophthalmologist; and Divy Mehra, DO, an ophthalmology resident. For more information, see: https://safevisionvt.org/ 

Please continue to reach out to Senate Health & Welfare Committee members share information about why optometric scope expansion risks patient safety and does not address patient access to care. Email the committee at: 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