House proposes amendments to Green Mountain Care Board duties, certification and fees for ACOs

The Vermont House on Tuesday voted to propose to the Senate amendments to S.63 that would modify regulatory duties of the Green Mountain Care Board and change how accountable care organizations (ACOs) are certified and feeed.

Representative Critchlow (member from Colchester), reporting for the House Health Care Committee, described the measure as largely housekeeping: removing some board duties such as approving the statewide health information technology plan and VITAL’s budget, adding the board to the health information exchange steering committee, and updating hospital and ACO allocation formulas. The bill would expand the scope of ACOs that must be certified to operate in Vermont and set certification and budget-review fees ($10,000 initial certification, $2,000 annual renewal, $125,000 for a budget review) while delaying some effective dates to give the Green Mountain Care Board time to adopt rules.

Committee amendments clarify that hospital budget proceedings are not contested cases under the Vermont Administrative Procedures Act and that final actions under the hospital budget statute would be appealable to the Vermont Supreme Court. Representative Brannigan (member from Georgia) spoke for Ways and Means, noting the fee amounts mirror existing bill-back flows and the committee approved the measure on fiscal review.

The House adopted the Health Care Committee’s proposed amendment by voice vote and then ordered the bill read a third time. The Health Care Committee recorded an 8–3 vote in favor of its amendment and the Ways and Means Committee reported fiscal review support.