House Health Care reviews $10.8 million proposal to bridge Medicare payments for Blueprint programs

House Health Care members on Feb. 25 heard from Blueprint and Agency of Human Services officials about a governor’s budget proposal that would provide $10.8 million in interim funding to replace Medicare payments to three programs tied to the Blueprint for Health model while Vermont transitions between all‑payer arrangements.

Blueprint health services researcher Abby Armstrong told the committee that Medicare currently makes per‑member‑per‑month payments to patient‑centered medical homes (PCMHs), core community health teams (CHTs) and to Support and Services at Home (SASH). Armstrong said the federal agreement that allows Medicare to make those non‑standard payments “is coming to an end this year,” meaning the Medicare payments will stop unless a new agreement begins.

The administration’s $10.8 million proposal covers three Medicare contributions: about $2.6 million for the PCMH monthly payments; roughly $3.1 million for the core CHTs; and approximately $5.1 million that Medicare currently pays to SASH, which Armstrong noted is administered by Cathedral Square. Armstrong told the committee the $10.8 million is split roughly between state general…