Dear Editor,
We commend the Green Mountain Care Board for augmenting its efforts in tackling the crippling health care costs in Vermont, most specifically in relation to the recent FY2025 Hospital Budget Decision And Order, as well as stimulating serious discussions through the presentation of the Oliver Wyman consultant report.
The order demonstrates GMCB’s assessment that hospital administrative costs and outsized prices, particularly at the state’s largest hospital, are major drivers of regional expense — ones that Vermonters can no longer afford, and that are severely out-of-step when compared to metrics from peer organizations in other states. Impressive analysis and thought appear to have gone into the GMCB orders.
The Oliver Wyman report that grew out of 2022’s Act 167 further informs and raises many specific opportunities for change — aimed at righting the course of care affordability. The calls to support lower cost options for care, to move outpatient procedures out of hospitals and to reduce administrative costs are spot-on. We acknowledge major problems with primary care access, and with much consultant specialist access, as well. These issues need to be addressed through changing an unsupportive, burdensome and dispiriting delivery system that causes inefficiencies, provider “burn-out,” poor productivity and the inability to compete with other states to attract and retain high-quality practitioners.
Historically, Vermont has one of the healthiest populations in the U.S. and maintains very low Medicare patient costs, and yet it incurs some of the highest per-capita health care costs in the country. Vermont’s school budgets, workforce recruitment and ability to retain robust thriving businesses are stifled by health care reform failures.
Collectively, we have many decades of experience as Vermonters, as patients of Vermont’s hospitals and providers, and as physicians delivering medical and surgical care to Vermonters. We are writing for three reasons:
- To thank the GMCB for its efforts to respond to Act 167’s mandate and get the conversation moving forward anew, and
- To encourage those who would criticize the GMCB’s efforts to instead propose alternative meaningful solutions to Vermont’s inoperative health care model, even by giving up some power, control and/or profit for the wellbeing of our neighbors and our communities.
- To implore legislators, regulators and gubernatorial administration officials to support the GMCB in its efforts to improve Vermont’s health care delivery. There will remain massive pressures to resist, to promote further delay and to abandon what needs to be done. Political courage is needed now more than ever. We ask that everyone work together towards meaningful reform, despite major changes that may be necessary for individual organizations or communities.
We appreciate the enormity of the work that the GMCB has been charged with, and we especially thank them for their proactive efforts and dedication. After more than a decade of largely ineffective health care reform, their bold action is crucial. We look forward to working with the GMCB, and trust that other health care providers will join in collaborative efforts towards a common goal for Vermont.
Sincerely,
Katherine Areson, MD
Maitri Health Care For Women
Chittenden County
N Anton Borja, DO
Integrative Osteopathic Family Medicine
Chittenden County
Melissa Brandes, MD
Green Mountain Internal Medicine
Chittenden County
Jennifer Brown, MD
Northeastern Reproductive Medicine
Chittenden County
Kimberly Bruno, MD
Tamarack Family Medicine
Lamoille County
Esther Caballero-Manrique, MD
Anesthesia Associates of Vermont
Chittenden County
Peter Casson, MD
Northeastern Reproductive Medicine
Chittenden County
Armando Ciampa, MD
Vermont Surgpath
Lamoille County
Melissa Gibson, MD
Chittenden County
Alex Graham, MD
Chittenden County
Andrew Haig, MD
Haig Physical Medicine
Addison County
Cory Halliburton, MD
Vermont Gastroenterology
Chittenden County
Christopher J. Hebert, MD
Green Mountain Internal Medicine
Chittenden County
Alex John, MD
Vermont Gastroenterology
Chittenden County
Philip Kiely, MD
Tamarack Family Medicine
Lamoille County
Alan Landau, MD
Vermont Gastroenterology
Chittenden County
Kate Lane, MD
Ophthalmic Consultants of Vermont
Chittenden County
Jane Lowell, MD
Maitri Health Care For Women
Chittenden County
Susan MacLennan, MD
Mountain Lake Plastic Surgery
Chittenden County
Gregory McCormick, MD
Ophthalmic Consultants of Vermont
Chittenden County
Scott McQuilkin, DO
Anesthesia Associates of Vermont
Chittenden County
Vincent Miller, MD
Anesthesia Associates of Vermont
Chittenden County
Christine Murray, MD
Northeastern Reproductive Medicine
Chittenden County
Joseph Nasca, MD
Georgia Pediatrics
Franklin County
Paul Parker, MD
Richmond Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine
Chittenden County
Paul Reiss, MD
Chittenden County
Dennis Sanders, MD
Champlain Valley Hematology Oncology
Chittenden County
David Schwartz, MD
Vermont Gastroenterology
Chittenden County
Jessica Sisto, MD
Chittenden County
Lindsay Smith, MD
Maitri Health Care For Women
Chittenden County
Peter Spitellie, MD
Anesthesia Associates of Vermont
Chittenden County
Mary Stanley, MD
Mountain View Breast Care
Chittenden County
Amy Thibault, MD
Maitri Health Care For Women
Chittenden County
Julie Thompson, DO
Chittenden County
Adriane Trout, MD
Thomas Chittenden Health Center
Chittenden County
Michael Visker, MD
Georgia Pediatrics
Franklin County
David Weissgold, MD
Retina Center of Vermont
Chittenden County
Peter Wilhelm MD
Middlebury Family Health
Addison County
John Wright MD
Wright Medicine
Chittenden County
Michelle Young, MD
Retina Center of Vermont
Chittenden County
Read the story on VTDigger here: Vermont physicians: We need to support the Green Mountain Care Board in its efforts to improve Vermont’s health care delivery.