Committee hears bill to let Green Mountain Care Board appoint independent hospital monitor

A legislative committee heard draft language Feb. 28 to authorize the Green Mountain Care Board to appoint an independent monitor to oversee hospitals’ compliance with the board’s budget review and enforcement authority, Office of Legislative Council staff said.

The proposal would amend 18 V.S.A. § 9456, part of the Green Mountain Care Board’s hospital budget review statute, to add a new subdivision allowing the board, at its discretion, to appoint an independent monitor when the board believes doing so is in the public interest. The monitor could oversee operations, obtain information from the hospital — including records about the hospital’s participation in a hospital network — and report findings and recommendations to the board.

"This is a challenging time, especially when…