27-03-2025
UVM Health proposal to Green Mountain Care Board now open for public comment
The University of Vermont Health Network is taking action to address it's financial missteps.
For the past two years, the health network has gone far beyond it's revenue cap – a number set by the care board with the purpose of reducing the amount of money a hospital can make from caring for its patients.
The total overage for fiscal year 2023 was $80 million, in 2024 it was $53 million.
For the past three months, health network officials have been working alongside members of the care board to create a proposal they claim will address affordability, access, and reaffirm their commitment to the communities they serve.
That proposal was reviewed on Wednesday.
'Members of our community, members of this board have lost trust in our decisions. When that trust is compromised, we have an obligation to make it right,' says Dr. Sunny Eappen, Chief Executive Officer of the health network.
Some of the initiatives listed in the proposal include $11 million in investments in community based primary care, sending $12 million to Blue Cross Blue Shield Vermont to resolve overpayment allegations from fiscal year 2022 and 2023, and setting aside up to $15 million to hire a liaison that would work with both the health network and care board.
'That would really be a 'how do we work towards ensuring appropriate Medicare cost coverage, appropriate growth, operations – all those things as best we can for the state,' explains deputy director Matthew Sutter.
Some members of the community, however, voiced their concern.
'I am just beyond frusturated,' exclaims Alex LeClaire or Essex Physical Therapy.
'Can someone help me understand why we Vermonters, we rate payers, are paying up to $15 million for UVM health network to get their house in order,' questions Julie Wasserman.
The proposal has yet to be approved by the care board or the health network.
It has now entered a period of public comment, which will last for a week.
Chair Owen Foster says they hope to vote on it after that period.
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