[{"_1":2,"_105":-5,"_106":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6223472,"mediaKeyId","3575276-73244053adb7fac4751ce60963edc2d4","parentId",3575276,"title","Committee asks DFR to examine insurer sustainability and regional options including reinsurance","audioSeconds",75,"startMs",2042000,"endMs",2117000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3575276-73244053adb7fac4751ce60963edc2d4&start=2042&end=2117","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3575276-73244053adb7fac4751ce60963edc2d4/thumbnail_2042000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6223472/Vermont/Committee-asks-DFR-to-examine-insurer-sustainability-and-regional-options-including-reinsurance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6223472-4aa8f05ba47a1d740c979d642bae180f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775409031&Signature=RRbbUgvx66vGvuk8GtWc7K5qKvo4fHwP3esoVSdbw5qalhMERGjqv08doVajmDtnocXKEzxRWPDcIotQkSckYdd3DiqKq0YZijNSOd8ZjE7LrrNRdAq5PEjoTwRdRXkXDT2Pdo83KdQmLbUnSb73~kYp3YzIWirEGvK0tHYKk5QN45dTDuWOa6ZtoJx0tJQwF6SxXayp~zq-osbAhBrNMCP87rkMqiO0bRVeLx0awI~GgZwSj5sSPBiZ2h0ub0hUA6kQgZ4LaoTYF6ZRIVA8u40R9mGCqi~TQ~0JxW8l4clfcKFE2EiKUIHcZxbh3i3eqwwOYV8tN0-Ims1dkZz5mg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-28T12:06:30Z","article","During the Jan. 26 conference committee meeting, members directed attention to section 11d, which asks for a report from the Department of Financial Regulation on preserving the sustainability of domestic health insurers in Vermont and the potential use of reinsurance.

A committee member framed the focus narrowly: \"This is focused right now, at least on Blue Cross Blue Shield. It's really that is the domestic health insurer and how do we preserve their sustainability.\" Another member asked whether the DFR should also look at \"other, perhaps, regional options,\" such as cross-state arrangements, to bolster insurer viability.

Members acknowledged the subject is complex and distinct from other sections and asked the DFR to consider whether regional solutions or other mechanisms could support a small domestic insurer. The transcript records that the matter will be revisited and that the committee intended to return the following morning to continue the discussion.

The transcript does not include DFR testimony or a formal set of recommendations; the committee asked staff to follow up and to schedule additional time for the DFR discussion in a subsequent meeting.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","S.126 Committee of Conference - 2025-05-27 - 1:25 PM","oneSentenceSummary","The committee asked the Department of Financial Regulation to report on preserving domestic insurer sustainability — particularly Blue Cross Blue Shield — and to consider reinsurance and possibly regional options; members said more discussion is needed.","taxTitle","Health & Welfare, SENATE, Committees, Legislative , Vermont","taxId",38585,"location","Vermont","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6223476,"Conference committee confronts future use of global hospital budgets and reference-based pricing timeline",0,856000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3575276-73244053adb7fac4751ce60963edc2d4&start=856&end=856","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3575276-73244053adb7fac4751ce60963edc2d4/thumbnail_856000.jpg","/articles/6223476/Vermont/Conference-committee-confronts-future-use-of-global-hospital-budgets-and-reference-based-pricing-timeline","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6223476-bea357b3981b629ced464e275f593889/orig.mp4?Expires=1775409031&Signature=J2cXNcOYW1tAFUV9tqj54eQfpuWQUwMOkRSGJ~meIrcZCuIrvCX2O0nk9X4rW~xTuZZ-NS7OQdCrAokxo1VQtfXS6uzTl2Y3JO5O8U7u9LVcV6B5CojqBNWmRL5kN8fhIkb7S4UhuNWGqQ-yXONqeuu9dOAehRriPnLaEjZLizlup7t7pXzFVNWaBBkSqx9ciiIONTVxwep5UoDqTHkHBmo97L05N92yERSAHDFnIV9ujRJVJjp37P~pOFy0HEPS7TnoMyXz2WJVc6f9T~F-AQOMVUtOBTZ464YavRmnaoXpbe~Duem3QCQrGLoSLQohZsY5pcbBvb8tuqk7yzrEMg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of the health conference committee spent substantial time on language about global hospital budgets and reference-based pricing measures, as well as the timing of when any global budget approach would begin.

Jen Harvey told the panel the bill would add to the Green Mountain Care Board's annual report a required status update on reference-based pricing efforts. \"This is adding to the Green Mountain Care Board existing annual report requirements to require the board to include the status of its efforts on reference based pricing,\" she said, and noted that the Senate version would also alter language on development or future consideration of global hospital budgets.

Committee members discussed competing House and Senate language. Harvey summarized: the Senate language directed an end to development of global hospital budgets, while the House language requires reporting \"and any considerations regarding the future use of global hospital budgets.\" Another committee participant noted the Senate bill did not make global budgeting effective until a hospital fiscal year beginning in 2028.

A participant summarized how the appropriation and staffing pieces tied to reference-based pricing were intended to support future work: \"And the contracts that are here were for reference based pricing so that they could get up to speed on what to do.\" Committee members noted the board had said it \"would need to be positioned every year for a couple of years,\" indicating multi-year staffing needs for implementation.

Harvey flagged effective-date inconsistencies: section 16 (the Green Mountain Care Board report requirement) was noted to take effect on July 1, 2026, while sections 17 and 18 (positions and appropriations) should take effect July 1, 2025 (FY26). The committee agreed to fix the dates in the bill text.

The transcript does not show a final policy choice on whether to adopt global budgets, only that the Senate and House differ and the committee must reconcile language. Committee members identified global budgeting as a \"huge\" outstanding issue and said they would continue discussion in further sessions.

","Committee members debated language on whether the Green Mountain Care Board should report on reference-based pricing and whether the bill should end or consider future use of global hospital budgets; the Senate version delays global budgeting to a hospital fiscal year beginning in 2028 and the committee flagged consistency and timing issues.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6223481,"AHS urges simplifying and aligning reporting requirements in health-care bill to improve accountability",386,682000,1068000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3575276-73244053adb7fac4751ce60963edc2d4&start=682&end=1068","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3575276-73244053adb7fac4751ce60963edc2d4/thumbnail_682000.jpg","/articles/6223481/Vermont/AHS-urges-simplifying-and-aligning-reporting-requirements-in-health-care-bill-to-improve-accountability","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6223481-01a3048f6cfd69b8c47af441d5b73c9a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775409031&Signature=fZWmWYGUdaGYhZj9YNq~55ZLHd9bbBsrLNl5h24vj~PwhzkRjFn2elXN8vZuGop7dVv8FeDfAqomhiht9cJk-0Mkiv8HalI-zSfBoQGr5EnhhjXZ~Xa4doySUjuD7TNyBXNHM6P8k81p-A3TWj7mKErx2yyePg1~uxoOpdjbfWd~PblGOGRdZc3hioQShBc8BQxOViyXZy~CMiISCOGMcwexLOHk1GR6hV3dvlYXHtrQhaXx7A3NBtcjarjq3gnUjQHT-X4PPNKKC31ofOkU7VlSH1h~X1QqbSLBn1EliKVzVjY7hHhrN~YmJ0b8sx00bYNgjXti~KOek5VD8yw58g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Agency of Human Services legislative liaison Eli Halgood told the conference committee that several reporting requirements in the conference-marked bill are duplicative and would benefit from alignment and simplification to make them useful and achievable.

\"Many of the pieces of these sections are a monthly report out,\" Halgood said, noting monthly reporting appears in section 11a and 11b and that some items overlap with other annual reporting in section 8 and 15. He recommended consolidating similar items so the committee receives predictable updates rather than scattered submissions: \"Some of the reporting within section 8 would then therefore be a little bit duplicative because we're coming in to update every year on the plan anyways.\"

Committee members pressed AHS for clarity on what an \"update\" means in practice. A committee member asked whether an update is a PowerPoint, written document or oral briefing; another participant said an update can be flexible. In the transcript, a member summarized an effective, pragmatic format: \"The updates that we have in here, the monthly updates, is the equivalent of a 1 pager of what have you done this month, what are you working on next month, where are you.\" That framing was offered as an accountability tool: to know what work was done, how appropriated funds were spent and how much remains.

Halgood said AHS wants to keep the committee \"updated and being accountable,\" while balancing resource constraints so agency staff can continue implementation work. He asked the committee to accept AHS's recommendations to stagger and consolidate reporting windows — for example, relying on predictable convenings such as December meetings of relevant advisory groups to provide consistent updates as the legislative session begins in January.

Committee members and staff agreed to have AHS submit concrete proposed language and to copy Legislative Council on the recommendations. The transcript shows an understanding that the committee may accept flexible formats (one-pagers, PowerPoint, oral briefings) unless the bill specifically requires written submissions.

The committee did not adopt a final reporting schedule in the provided excerpt; next steps are for AHS to send recommended language to the committee and Legislative Council so the bill's reporting requirements can be reconciled before final action.

","Agency of Human Services staff told the conference committee that many reporting requirements in the bill are duplicative and urged consolidating monthly and annual updates to provide predictable, actionable information — including spending on appropriated funds.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":101,"_53":102,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":103,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":104,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6223486,"Conference committee details new Green Mountain Care Board positions and $2.2 million in appropriations","/articles/6223486/Vermont/Conference-committee-details-new-Green-Mountain-Care-Board-positions-and-22-million-in-appropriations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6223486-d09b1a445fbdfdecbe489adb56f5ee31/orig.mp4?Expires=1775409031&Signature=SGvEJvTbc94b1JSe971wbnG8KkuEX8jQuw~ijCIqVmLV8vAr3kPg3r~ePoj-APf6rSrT-tlzs5DA6eaZwxApjU4wMP6Lf~BDeNTeegz75YS88XhmXKsTxwJp066ZdbT~Sw5H86EVqnhhdNTah53dC6UcIUgv5rKNbD1JmP5-~i8ZxE8YE-TFXrbZQA7sFptcSo38T30w15YQKfD08HzOYDqzWWPeKjto1p88Q1ue82TDyi2rVotFOhg8OK9uU-H5DKFWDT18i0Jeh8qyGs~OfYYcfdH08UuhDMR1n91TWyOtuG72G~peM1T9bHgFc4CDSQHVj~GpLrgJWwxrqjjXhQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Conference committee members on Jan. 26 reviewed language in the health-care bill that would add classified staff at the Green Mountain Care Board and appropriate $2.2 million in fiscal year 2026 to support reference-based pricing, hospital transformation work and other initiatives.

Legislative counsel Jen Harvey, reading from the conference-marked bill, said the House-passed section 17 creates \"3 new permanent classified positions at the board in FY26, a director of reference based pricing, a project manager for reference based pricing, and an operations procurement and contractual oversight manager.\" She noted those three positions are in addition to three already in the governor's recommended budget, producing a total of six new positions in the board staffing plan.

Harvey also outlined section 18's appropriation: \"$2,200,000 from the general fund to the Agency of Human Services in FY26, of which $2,000,000 is for feasibility analysis and transformation plan development with hospitals, designated agencies, primary care organizations, and other community-based providers, $100,000 for development of quality and access measures, targets, and monitoring strategies, and $100,000 to support the development of alternative payment models.\" She added $2,000,000 from the Health Information Technology (HIT) Fund is directed to grants for hospitals to reduce costs and expand access, and $1,062,500 is described as a \"remnant and care award\" for FY26, of which $512,500 is earmarked for the positions in section 17.

Harvey said the FY26 split for the $512,500 is to be done through bill-back: \"40% of $205,000 will be from the general fund and $307,500 from the Green Mountain Care Board regulatory and administrative fund,\" which receives bill-back revenue. She also noted an additional $150,000 to the Green Mountain Care Board in FY26 for standardizing electronic hospital budget data submissions per section 4.

Committee members discussed that Senate appropriations had altered both position counts and how money was included. One participant summarized the history: the Senate Health & Welfare had proposed more positions and some language; Senate Appropriations removed position language but included funding in the budget. Committee staff and members agreed they needed to fix effective-date language (Harvey flagged a date discrepancy between FY references and statutory effective dates).

The committee did not record a formal vote in the transcript excerpt; members agreed to amend the bill text to correct the effect dates so the appropriation and position sections take effect on July 1, 2025, consistent with FY26 timing. The discussion also included clarification that certain position descriptions (procurement, director roles) were not fully specified in the bill text and that the appropriation is intended as a placeholder consistent with the governor's budget and the conference committee trade-offs.

Next steps noted by staff were to reconcile bill language on positions and appropriations and to update the effective dates before final passage.

","The conference committee discussed adding six new Green Mountain Care Board positions and a $2.2 million FY26 appropriation that funds feasibility work, grants, and partial position costs; committee members flagged timing and bill language fixes for effective dates.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee asks DFR to examine insurer sustainability and regional options including reinsurance

Conference committee confronts future use of global hospital budgets and reference-based pricing timeline

AHS urges simplifying and aligning reporting requirements in health-care bill to improve accountability

Conference committee details new Green Mountain Care Board positions and $2.2 million in appropriations