Insurers, health-care advocate debate limits on rate-review questions in Vermont

Summary

Representatives of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont and MVP Health Care told a committee they will answer questions from the Office of the Health Care Advocate but urged limits on scope, number and timing; the advocate and board staff defended the need to probe non‑actuarial factors such as affordability, access and quality.

Representatives of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont and MVP Health Care told a committee that they do not oppose the Office of the Health Care Advocate asking questions directly of insurers, but they urged guardrails — including limiting questions to those relevant to the rate filing and to the review criteria and constraining timelines or counts.

Sarah Teachout, representative of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont, said the company is willing to answer questions but wants them limited to matters "directly related to the file" and described the current process as "administratively expensive and burdensome." Teachout noted insurers, the Green Mountain Care Board and the advocate all build the costs of review into premiums and urged the panel to avoid "really unreasonable and excessive" demands that would add legal and actuarial expense.

Jordan Estee, representing MVP Health Care, said the rate-review process already requires large cross‑functional…

Insurers, health-care advocate debate limits on rate-review questions in Vermont

Summary

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