Blueprint for Health officials tell House Appropriations committee program linked to fewer ER visits, Medicaid remains largest funder

BURLINGTON — Officials from the Blueprint for Health briefed the Vermont House Appropriations Committee on Feb. 28, 2025, saying the statewide, multi‑payer program that funds patient‑centered medical homes and community health teams is associated with fewer emergency department (ED) visits and is funded primarily by Medicaid, with Medicare and commercial insurers also contributing.

The briefing explained how the Blueprint’s core elements — patient‑centered medical homes, multidisciplinary community health teams and specialty initiatives such as the hub‑and‑spoke model for opioid use disorder and the pregnancy‑intention initiative — operate across Vermont practices. John Saroyan, executive director of the Blueprint for Health, told the committee the program is “a multi payer model” and that payments support both practice transformation and locally chosen community health team staff.

The committee heard funding and operational details. Saroyan said most Blueprint dollars come from Medicaid, with Medicare and commercial insurers (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont, Cigna…