Friday, July 21, 2017
The Charlotte-based Youth Catalytics has provided training and research to youth services organizations around the country for 35 years. During Barack Obama’s presidency, the group won a five-year federal grant for pregnancy prevention work that began in 2016 with $564,000 in funding. Earlier this month, the Office of Adolescent Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services informed the organization that it had terminated the remaining four years of the grant — a loss of about $2.25 million.
“Due to changes in program priorities, it has been determined that it is in the best interest of the federal government to no longer continue funding for the Providing Capacity Building Assistance to OAH Teen Pregnancy Prevention Grantees program,” the July 5 letter read.
Tags: Donald Trump , Youth Catalytics , teen pregnancy , Meagan Downey , Image , Web Only
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Chen is a former state representative, state health commissioner, and acting human services secretary who left state government in March; Lezak is a consultant in nonprofit management and grant writing who most recently worked at Mercy Connections, a Burlington nonprofit.
"This is a transition point for me," Chen explains. "It was a time to take stock and decide what you want your next adventure to be. Anne and I have always talked about spending time overseas. It's a perfect time to do it."
Tags: Harry Chen , Anne Lezak , Patrick Leahy , Uganda , state health commissioner , Image , Web Only
Monday, July 10, 2017
The decision comes two years after a group of doctors first sought permission from the Green Mountain Care Board to build an independent outpatient facility.
Amy Cooper, a member of that group and executive director of the independent doctors’ association HealthFirst, pitched the center as a lower-cost alternative to the care provided in hospitals.
The Green Mountain Surgery Center will perform colonoscopies, epidural injections, orthopedic surgeries, hernia repair and other procedures that aren’t emergencies and don’t require overnight stays. Cooper has said — and the decision stipulates — that the center will accept patients regardless of the insurance they have. The Office of the Health Care Advocate, a consumer watchdog housed within Vermont Legal Aid, ultimately backed the project.
Tags: Green Mountain Care Board , Green Mountain Surgery Center , Amy Cooper , HealthFirst , Image , Web Only
The new owners of the former Burlington Labs announced the rebranding at a press conference Monday outside company headquarters on Main Street in Burlington.
Gov. Phil Scott and Mayor Miro Weinberger were on hand to offer their support, saying the reorganized company plays a vital role in opioid addiction treatment.
The Aspen symbolizes clarity of purpose and the "ti" in the new name is a reference to harmony and the seventh note on the musical scale, said Chris Powell, CEO of the reconstituted company.
Tags: Burlington Labs , Aspenti Health , Miro Weinberger , Gov Phil Scott , Chris Powell , Image , Web Only
Monday, June 5, 2017
Five hospitals in Vermont and northern New York have joined UVM Medical Center under the UVM Health Network umbrella in recent years, but the VNA would be the first home health agency to do so. The 111-year-old organization announced Monday that its board signed a nonbinding letter of intent to “explore a formal affiliation” with the network during the next few months.
The VNA had more than 600 staff members last year and served more than 5,400 people.
VNA president and CEO Judy Peterson said talks began 18 months ago, prompted by a conversation she had with John Brumsted, the CEO of the UVM Medical Center, and the president and CEO of the UVM Health Network.
“John said, ‘We should really sit down and think about a more formal relationship,’” Peterson recalled.
A year and a half later, Peterson has concluded that an affiliation “will certainly improve health care delivery.” She offered several examples: By sharing the same medical records system, providers could exchange patient information in real time, and they could better coordinate care for patients who use both hospital care and home care.
“Having teams of hospital people and home health people working together will only improve those transitions,” Peterson said.
Tags: John Brumsted , Judy Peterson , University of Vermont Medical Center , UVM Medical Center , Visiting Nurse Association of Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties , VNA , Image , Web Only
Wednesday, May 24, 2017
The GMCB had been struggling since early January to conduct its business with only three of five seats filled. The board could only hold meetings if all three were in attendance, and a unanimous vote was required to approve most items. Last week, the board put off action on a proposed surgical center in Colchester because it could not attain unanimity.
Scott noted during a Montpelier press conference Wednesday that he had heard “the cries for help from the board last week” and made his selections as quickly as possible.
Tags: Phil Scott , Kevin Mullin , Maureen Usifer , Al Gobeille , Betty Rambur , Jim McNeil , Dave Soucy , Image , Web Only
Thursday, May 4, 2017
House Speaker Mitzi Johnson (D-South Hero) had to cast a rare vote to counter a 74-73 tally that was favoring the Republican position. By forcing a 74-74 tie, Johnson defeated a GOP amendment that would shift teacher health care negotiations from the local to the state level.
The dramatic vote came at 10:30 p.m. after a long day of backroom negotiations followed by floor debate. Republicans would have won if two of their supporters — Reps. Marcia Martel (R-Waterford) and Jim Condon (D-Colchester) — were present.
“In nine years, I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Rep. Adam Greshin (I-Warren), who joined Republicans on the issue.
“It’s the closest I’ve ever come to winning,” said House Minority Leader Don Turner (R-Milton). “Unbelievable.”
Democrats prevailed in a subsequent vote to leave health care negotiations at the local level. Under that plan, any savings generated would be used to lower property taxes. That amendment passed by an 81-56 vote at 11:10 p.m.
Tags: Affordable Care Act , Vermont-NEA , Mitzi Johnson , Adam Greshin , Don Turner , Phil Scott , Jeff Fannon , Image , Web Only
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
The bill is not expected to pass the full legislature before lawmakers adjourn for the year, likely later this week. House Democrats nonetheless chose to tackle the issue as part of a packed agenda Tuesday so that the bill will be ready for possible Senate action when legislators return next January.
Supporters touted paid family leave as good for both the economy and workers' well-being.
Tags: paid family leave , Tom Stevens , George Till , Vermont House , Image , Web Only
Thursday, April 27, 2017
"This is a good coming together of the majority and minority of the Senate," said Senate President Pro Tempore Tim Ashe (D/P-Chittenden).
Lunge was appointed to a six-year term on the board that regulates health care in Vermont in November by then-governor Peter Shumlin. She had served since 2011 as his health care reform director.
But Shumlin's staff apparently never sent the appointment paperwork to the Senate, which by law is charged with confirming the nomination.
Tags: Robin Lunge , Green Mountain Care Board , Image , Web Only
Monday, April 24, 2017
Senators are working on a consensus resolution that would acknowledge that former governor Peter Shumlin’s administration made mistakes in the appointment process, but that there was no question he intended to appoint Lunge, according to Sen. Peg Flory (R-Rutland).
“It seemed like the wisest option,” said Flory — meaning Senate Republicans decided against contesting the appointment.
The Senate is likely to vote on Lunge’s confirmation Tuesday or Wednesday.
Tags: Robin Lunge , Peter Shumlin , Phil Scott , Green Mountain Care Board , Vermont Senate , Image , Web Only