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Health Care Reform Commission

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Previous Meetings - Full Report

Summary Report

Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
CDs
09-1,2,3
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Convene

a. Review and approve 12/02/08 meeting minutes
b. Welcome new member(s)

1:05 PM

Federal Health Reform Update

a. Approach to monitoribng and advocating: Washington DC visit
b. Health IT:
i. Federal stimulus funds (HITECH) update
ii. Vermont health IT fund revenues and projections
c. Progress on Medicare participation

  • Susan Besio, Director, Office of Vermont Health Access and Health Care Reform
  • Hunt Blair, Assistant Director of Health Care Reform, Office of Vermont Health Access
1:45 PM

Health Care Reform Implementation Overview

a. Green Mountain Care update: enrollment and utilization trends
b. Federal waivers, match to 300% FPL, and depreciation issue
c. Impact of 2010 budget
d. Overview of key provisions from H.444, S.129
e. Update on prescription counter-detailing funds

  • Susan Besio, Director, Office of Vermont Health Access and Health Care Reform
  • Jennifer Carbee, Legislative Counsel
  • Robin Lunge, Legislative Council
2:45 PM

VITL Update

a. CEO Search
b. Summary of 2009 projects
c. State health IT plan update and transition to new process

  • Don George, Chair, Vermont Information Technology Leaders (VITL)
  • Joshua Slen, Interim Director, Vermont Information Technology Leaders (VITL)
3:15 PM

Commission Work Plan

a. Commission budget/trends
b. Overview of Commission responsibilities from 2009 session
c. Catamount ASO and ESI study: timing, consultant, S.129 admin cost study
d. ACO pilot
e. Next Commission meeting: July 7, 2009

  • Jim Hester, Director, Health Care Reform Commission
  • Robin Lunge, Legislative Council

Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
CDs
09-4,5,6
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Convene

Review and approve Minutes of 5/26/09; welcome new member

1:05 PM

Federal Health Reform Update

a. Update on national health reform
b. Update on coordination of ARRA Health AT funds
c. Backup options on Medicare participation
d. Joint issues paper

  • Hunt Blair, Assistant Director of Health Care Reform, Office of Vermont Health Access
  • Nolan Langweil, Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
1:45 PM

Health Care Reform Implementation Overview

a. Federal waivers extension letter, process for legislative approval
b. update on Catamount rate filings
c. BISHCA health insurance survey
(a) 2008 survey: who are the uninsured?
(b) Issues for 2009 survey

  • Hunt Blair, Assistant Director of Health Care Reform, Office of Vermont Health Access
  • Dian Kahn, Director, Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration
2:30 PM

Fletcher Allen Prism Electronic Medical Record

  • Chuck Podesta, Senior Vice President and CIO, Fletcher Allen Health Care
3:15 PM

VITL Update

a. Vermont e Prescribing initiative and Surescripts award
b. Introduction to new CEO

  • David Cochran MD, President and CEO, Vermont Information Technology Leaders (VITL)
  • Steve LaRose, Vice President of External Affairs, Vermont Information Technology Leaders (VITL)
3:40 PM

Commission Work Plan

a. Catamount Options study: focus, timing, consultant
b. ACO pilot update: payers' meetings, grant request, financial model
c. Next Commission meeting: September 8, 1:00-4:00 PM, Burlington?

  • Jim Hester, Director, Commission on Health Care Reform

Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Comments
OVHA Williston
CDs
09-7,8,9
Meeting Record
1:30 PM

Convene

Review and approve 7/7/09 Minutes
Location: Not Room 10! Meeting is at the Office of Vermont Health Access, 312 Hurricane Lane, Williston: Just off Exit 12 of I-89. Please note new start time: 1:30 PM.

1:35 PM

Federal Health Reform Update

a. Update on opportunities for VT in national health reform--Hunt Blair
b. Update on coordination of ARRA Health IT funds--Hunt Blair
c. Coordination with other states and Congress re concerns--Jennifer Carbee

  • Hunt Blair, Assistant Director of Health Care Reform, Office of Vermont Health Access
  • Jennifer Carbee, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Council
2:00 PM

Health Care Reform Implementation Overview

a) Catamount claims review and premium increase (10 min) --Christine Oliver
b) Blueprint and OVHA CCI evaluation (30 min)-- Craig Jones
c) Impact of budget rescissions on Blueprint (15 min)--Craig Jones, Nolan Langweil
d) Waiver requests update (5 min)--Jane Kitchel

  • Craig Jones, Director, Blueprint for Health
  • Sen. Jane Kitchel
  • Nolan Langweil, Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
  • Christine Oliver, Deputy Commissioner, Health Care Administration, BISHCA
3:00 PM

Primary Care Access in Vermont: Current Status and implication for health reform

a) Current status and trends* (15 min)--Dennis Barton
b) Primary care workforce education programs (15 min)--Liz Cote
c) Practice conditions and potential strategies (15 min)--Paul Harrington

  • Denis Barton, Director of Public Policy, Bi-State Primary Care Association
  • Elizabeth Cote, Director, Vermont AHEC Network, UVM (Office of Primary Care)
  • Paul Harrington, Executive Vice-President, Vermont Medical Society
3:45 PM

Commission Studies and Work Plan

a) Catamount Options study*: RFQ issued for consultant
b) ACO pilot update: national collaborative, financial model
c) Future commission meetings: 10/6, 11/10,12/15 1-4 pm, Montpelier

  • Jim Hester, Director, Commission on Health Care Reform

Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
CDs
09-10,11,12
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Convene, review and approve minutes

1:05 PM

Federal Health Reform Update

a. Update on National health reform --Hunt Blair
b. Medicare multi-payer medical home demonstration --Craig Jones
i. Overview of new federal initiative
ii. Impact on Vermont
iii. Process from here

  • Hunt Blair, Assistant Director of Health Care Reform, Office of Vermont Health Access
  • Craig Jones, Director, Blueprint for Health
1:45 PM

Health Care Reform Implementation Overview

a. Catamount rate increases --Christine Oliver
b. Implementation update -- Hunt Blair

  • Hunt Blair, Assistant Director of Health Care Reform, Office of Vermont Health Access
  • Christine Oliver, Deputy Commissioner, Health Care Administration, BISHCA
2:00 PM

Health Resource Allocation Plan recommendations

  • Rebecca Heinz, Assistant General Counsel, Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration
2:45 PM

VPQHC Quality Improvement Collaborative

a. Background and data overview -- Helen Riehle and Cy Jordan
b. MD Family Associates Medicine, Springfield -- Yolanda Lawrence
c. Cold Hollow Family Medicine, Enosburg Falls -- Candace Collins

  • Candace Collins, Cold Hollow Family Medicine, Enosburg Falls
  • Cy Jordan, Medical Director, Vermont Program for Quality in Health Care (VPQHC)
  • Yolanda Lawrence, MD Family Associates Medicine, Springfield
  • Helen Riehle, Executive Director, Vermont Program for Quality in Health Care (VPQHC)
3:45 PM

Commission Studies and Work Plan

a. Catamount Options study: recommended vendor
b. ACO Pilot Update
c. Next Commission meeting: November 10, 1:00-4:00 PM, Burlington?

  • Jim Hester, Director, Commission on Health Care Reform

Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Comments
109 State Street
CDs
09-1
Meeting Record
9:30 AM

Public Hearing on Disclosures of Free Samples Given to Health Care Providers

Joint with the Vermont Attorney General's Office. Those wishing to testify must send an e-mail to: prescribedproducts@atg.state.vt.us by 10/23. See also announcement posted at http://www.leg.state.vt.us/CommissiononHealthCareReform


Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
CDs
09-1
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Convene, review and approve minutes

1:05 PM

Prevention and Wellness

  • Wendy Davis, Commissioner, Department of Health
  • Chris Finley, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Health
2:00 PM

Federal Health Reform Update

a. Update on national health reform --Heidi Tringe and Jennifer Carbee
b. Update on coordination of ARRA Health IT Funds --Hunt Blair
i. Regional HIT extension center
ii. State HIT grant

  • Hunt Blair, Assistant Director of Health Care Reform, Office of Vermont Health Access
  • Jennifer Carbee, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Council
  • Heidi Tringe, Secretary of Civil and Military Affairs, State of Vermont
2:30 PM

Green Mountain Care, enrollment trends

a. Overview of enrollment trends --Betsy Forrest
b. Enrollment concerns --Peter Sterling
c. Dynamics of enrollment --Steve Kappel
d. Potential fiscal implications --Nolan Langweil

  • Betsy Forrest, Health Care Affordability Project Director, Office of Vermont Health Access
  • Steve Kappel, Consultant, Health Care Reform Commission
  • Nolan Langweil, Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
  • Peter Sterling, Executive Director, Vermont Campaign for Health Care Security
3:30 PM

Commission studies

a. AG study on disclosure of free samples: dely to 1/15/10 --Jennifer Carbee
b. Catamount Options study: UNE Phase 1 work plan --Ron Deprez
c. ACO Workgroup: 11/5/meeting --Jim Hester
d. Hearings on health reform: December 15
e. Next Commission meeting: December 16 at 1:00-4:00 PM, Montpelier (State House, Room 11)

  • Jennifer Carbee, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Council
  • Ron Deprez, Executive Director, University of New England's Center for Health Policy, Planning and Research
  • Jim Hester, Director, Commission on Health Care Reform

Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Comments
Room 11
CDs
09-1
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

DRAFT AGENDA Convene, review and approve minutes

1:05 PM

Federal Health Reform Update

a. Key issues and proposed fixes --Robin Lunge
b. Impact of national bill on Vermont --Jim Hester

  • Jim Hester, Director, Commission on Health Care Reform
  • Robin Lunge, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Council
1:35 PM

Blueprint for Health

a. Medicare demonstration and evaluation
b. Expansion of enhanced pilots
c. Blueprint evaluation

  • Craig Jones, Director, Blueprint for Health
2:20 PM

VITL Update

a. VITL mission and vision
b. VITL funding overview: ARRA and HIT Fund
c. Repurposing of Vermont HIT Fund

  • Hunt Blair, Assistant Director of Health Care Reform, Office of Vermont Health Access
  • David Cochran MD, President and CEO, Vermont Information Technology Leaders (VITL)
3:20 PM

HIT Fund

a. Transition from DII to OVHA
b. Results from first year: projected vs. actual
c. Independent evaluation

  • Hunt Blair, Assistant Director of Health Care Reform, Office of Vermont Health Access
3:50 PM

Commission Update

Transition to legislative session

  • Jim Hester, Director, Commission on Health Care Reform

Monday, June 28, 2010
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
CDs
10-01, 02
Meeting Record
9:30 AM

Convene, Approve Minutes of 12/15/09 Meeting

and introduction of new members

9:40 AM

Public Comments (2 minutes each)

10:10 AM

Executive Session for staff briefing, interviews with vendors and lunch

Iin Room 10

1:00 PM

Selection of Act 128 design vendor

In Room 11

2:00 PM

Update on health reform

Health insurance reforms

  • Christine Oliver, Deputy Commissioner, Health Care Administration, BISHCA
2:15 PM

Update on health reform

Health information technology

  • Hunt Blair, Assistant Director of Health Care Reform, Office of Vermont Health Access
2:30 PM

Future meetings of commission

Aug. 5; Sept. 14, Oct. 12, Nov. 16, and Dec. 14


Thursday, August 5, 2010
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
CDs
10-03, 04, 05
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Convene, review and approve minutes

Welcome new member Sen. Virginia Lyons

1:10 PM

Update on VPQHC and 2010 Quality Report

Update on the Vermont Program for Quality in Health Care

  • Harry Chen, Interim Director, Vermont Program for Quality in Health Care (VPQHC)
1:30 PM

Update on health reform

  • Hunt Blair, Director, Division of Health Care Reform, Office of Vermont Health Access
2:00 PM

Act 128 Health System Design Startup

  • William Hsiao, K.T. Li Professor of Economics, Depts. of Health Policy & Management; Global Health & Population, Harvard School of Public Health
3:00 PM

Public Comments

3:15 PM

Future meetings of commission

Sept. 15, Oct. 12, Nov. 16, and Dec. 14


Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
CDs
10-06, 07, 08
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Convene, review and approve minutes

1:10 PM

Act 128: Update on Health System Design and Macro-economic Model

  • Jim Hester, Director, Commission on Health Care Reform
  • Steve Kappel, Consultant
1:30 PM

Update on Federal and State Health Care Reform

  • Susan Besio, Director, Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA)
2:10 PM

Health Information Technology

a) Coordination of Federal funded initiatives and broader state HIT efforts (20 min)
--Hunt Blair
b) VITL implementation of Health Information Exchange and EMR’s
--Dave Cochran (30 min)
c) Overview of major hospital HIT initiatives e.g. Fletcher Allen, Rutland, Northwestern and Porter (20 min)
--Bea Grause VAHHS

  • Hunt Blair, Director, Division of Health Care Reform, Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA)
  • David Cochran MD, President and CEO, Vermont Information Technology Leaders (VITL)
  • Bea Grause, President, Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems
3:20 PM

All-payer claims data base (VHCURES): status and use

  • Dian Kahn, Director, Analysis and Data Management, Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration
  • Christine Oliver, Deputy Commissioner, Health Care Administration, BISHCA
3:40 PM

Public Comment

3:50 PM

Future meetings of commission and draft work plan

October 12, November 16, December 14


Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
CDs
10-09, 10, 11
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Convene

Agenda updated as of 10/8/10
a) Review and approve Minutes from Sept. 15
b) Introduction of Sharon Williams, Executive Director, VPQHC

1:15 PM

Act 128: Update on Health System Design and Macro-economic Model

(Hsiao by phone)

  • Jim Hester, Director, Commission on Health Care Reform
  • William Hsiao, K.T. Li Professor of Economics, Depts. of Health Policy & Management; Global Health & Population, Harvard School of Public Health
  • Steve Kappel, Consultant
1:45 PM

Update on Federal and State Health Care Reform

  • Susan Besio, Director, Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA)
  • Jim Hester, Director, Commission on Health Care Reform
  • Robin Lunge, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Council
2:15 PM

Hospital Budget Process and Results FY 2011

a) Overview of budget guidelines, process and outcomes (25 Minutes)
Christine Oliver and Mike Davis
b) Hospital comments and feedback (20 Minutes)
Bea Grause

  • Michael Davis, Director of Cost Containment, Banking, Insurance, Securities & Health Care Administration
  • Bea Grause, President, Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems
  • Christine Oliver, Deputy Commissioner, Health Care Administration, BISHCA
3:00 PM

Hospital Capital Budget Review and CONs

  • Rebecca Heintz, Assistant General Counsel, Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration (BISHCA)
  • Gregory Peters, Chair, Public Oversight Commission
3:45 PM

Public Comment

3:55 PM

Future meetings of commission

Nov. 16 and Dec. 14


Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
CDs
10-12, 13, 14
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Convene

a) Appointment of Rep. Mark Larson as Co-Chair
b) Review and approve minutes of Oct. 12, 2010

1:05 PM

Act 128: Update on Health System Design and Macro-economic Model

  • Steve Kappel, Consultant
1:15 PM

Update on Federal and State Health Care Reform

  • Hunt Blair, Assistant Director of Health Care Reform, Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA)
  • Robin Lunge, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Council
1:30 PM

Blueprint Expansion and Evaluation

  • Lisa Dulsky Watkins, Public Health Physician and Assistant Dir. of VT Blueprint, Vermont Blueprint for Health
2:15 PM

Prevention and Wellness

  • Wendy Davis, Commissioner, Department of Health
3:15 PM

Act 49 Utilization Variation Analysis and Follow-up

  • Christine Oliver, Deputy Commissioner, Health Care Administration, BISHCA
3:55 PM

Public Comment

4:00 PM

Future meetings of commission

Dec. 14, 2010


Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
CDs
10-15,16,17
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Convene, review and approve minutes

This is a draft agenda; items may change.

1:10 PM

Update on Federal and State Health Care Reform

  • Susan Besio, Commissioner, Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA)
  • Robin Lunge, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Council
1:30 PM

Health Insurance Exchange Issues

  • Jennifer Carbee, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Council
  • Betsy Forrest, Health Care Affordability Project Director, Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA)
  • Rebecca Heinz, Assistant General Counsel, Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration
2:00 PM

Act 128: Update on Health System Design and Macro-economic Model

  • William Hsiao, K.T. Li Professor of Economics, Depts. of Health Policy & Management; Global Health & Population, Harvard School of Public Health
  • Steve Kappel, Consultant
3:00 PM

Primary Care Workforce Study

Link to the Report on the web:
http://dvha.vermont.gov/budget-legislative/primary-care-workforce-report-5year-plan-11-15-2010.pdf

  • Susan Besio, Commissioner, Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA)
  • William Clark, Director of Provider and Member Services, Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA)
  • Elizabeth Cote, Director, Vermont AHEC Network, UVM (Office of Primary Care)
  • Wendy Davis, Commissioner, Department of Health
  • Tracy Dolan, Public Health Planning and Performance Improvement, Vermont Department of Health
  • Bea Grause, President, Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems
  • Paul Harrington, Executive Vice-President, Vermont Medical Society
3:50 PM

Public Comment