Senate Committee on Health and Welfare (Room 17)

The Senate Committee on Health and Welfare has jurisdiction over matters relating to the preservation of health, old age assistance, and social and economic security.

Print

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Wednesday, January 8, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

10:00 PM

Senate Floor

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Thursday, January 9, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

10:00 PM

Joint Assembly

Report from Canvassing Committee

2:00 AM

Joint Assembly

Governor's Inaugural Address

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Friday, January 10, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:30 AM

Committee Discussion

Introductions

• Nolan Langweil, Principal Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
  

11:30 AM

Senate Floor

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Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:30 AM

Senate Floor

10:00 AM

Sexual Harassment Prevention Training

11:00 AM

Security Briefing

This meeting will not be live streamed due to the sensitive nature.

• Agatha Kessler, Sergeant-At-Arms, Vermont State House
  
• Sara Macera, Sergeant, Capitol Police Department
  
• John Poleway, Chief, Capitol Police Department
  
• Joe Tremblay, Officer, Capitol Police Department
  

12:00 PM

Adjourn

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Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

Legislative Counsel Introduction

• Jennifer Carbee, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  
• Katie McLinn, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

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Joint Fiscal Office Introduction

• Nolan Langweil, Principal Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
  

9:15 AM

Health Care Systems 101

• Jennifer Carbee, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  
• Nolan Langweil, Principal Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
  
• Sara Teachout, Director, Government, Public and Media Relations, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont
  

10:30 AM

Break

10:40 AM

Health Care Systems 101

Continued

• Nolan Langweil, Principal Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
  

11:00 AM

Adjourn

1:00 PM

Senate Floor

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Thursday, January 16, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

Medicaid 101

• Ashley Berliner, Director of Medicaid Policy, Agency of Human Services
  
• Nolan Langweil, Principal Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
  

10:00 AM

Break

10:15 AM

Office of the Health Care Advocate

Introduction

• Mike Fisher, Chief Health Care Advocate, Vermont Legal Aid
  
• Emma Zavez, Consumer Research and Health Policy Analyst, Office of the Health Care Advocate, Vermont Legal Aid
  

10:30 AM

Agency of Human Services

Introduction and overview

• Kristin McClure, Deputy Secretary, Agency of Human Services
  
• Monica Ogelby, Vermont Medicaid Director, Agency of Human Services
  
• Jenney Samuelson, Secretary, Agency of Human Services
  

11:35 AM

Adjourn

1:00 PM

Senate Floor

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Friday, January 17, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

Committee Discussion

Reports Update

• Jennifer Carbee, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  
• Katie McLinn, Team Lead Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

10:15 AM

Bi-State Primary Care Association

Introduction

• Mary Kate Mohlman, Director, Vermont Public Policy, Bi-State Primary Care Association
  

10:30 AM

Vermont Medical Society

Introduction

• Jessa Barnard, Executive Director, Vermont Medical Society
  

10:45 AM

Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems

Introduction

• Devon Green, Vice President of Government Relations, Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems
  

11:00 AM

Vermont Care Partners (VCP)

Introduction

• Amy Johnson, Government Affairs & Communications Director, Vermont Care Partners
  

11:15 AM

VT Developmental Disabilities Council

Introduction

• Kirsten Murphy, Executive Director, Vermont Developmental Disabilities Council, Health Equity Advisory Commission
  

11:30 AM

Senate Floor

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Tuesday, January 21, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:30 AM

Senate Floor

Followed by Discrimination Prevention Training

11:00 AM

Health Insurance 101

• Mike Fisher, Chief Health Care Advocate, Vermont Legal Aid
  
• Nolan Langweil, Principal Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
  

11:45 AM

VNAs of Vermont

Introduction

• Jill Mazza Olson, Executive Director, VNAs of Vermont
  

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Vermont Health Care Association

Introduction

• Melissa Appleton, Coordinator of Post Permanency Services, Lund Center
  
• Paul Gibeault, Clinical Director, Easterseals Vermont
  
• Helen Labun, Executive Director, Vermont Health Care Association
  

12:00 PM

Adjourn

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Wednesday, January 22, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

Green Mountain Care Board

Introduction and overview

• Owen Foster, Chair, Green Mountain Care Board
  
• Jessica Holmes, Board Member, Green Mountain Care Board
  

10:45 AM

EMS

Introduction and update

• Drew Hazelton, Chair, Vermont EMS Advisory Committee
  

11:15 AM

Blueprint for Health

Introduction

• Addie Armstrong, Health Services Researcher, Blueprint for Health, Agency of Human Services
  
• John Saroyan, Executive Director, Blueprint for Health, Department of Vermont Health Access
  

11:45 AM

HealthFirst

Introduction

• Susan Ridzon, Executive Director, Healthfirst, Inc.
  

12:00 PM

Adjourn

1:00 PM

Senate Floor

3:45 PM

Legislative Briefing

House Chamber

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Thursday, January 23, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

Committee Discussion

Electronic medical records

• Beth Anderson, President and CEO, Vermont Information Technology Leaders (VITL)
  
• Steven Andrews, Director of Health Systems Data and Analytics, Green Mountain Care Board
  
• William Dempsey, Director of Data Analytics, Agency of Human Services
  

10:30 AM

Department for Children and Families

Introduction and overview

• Chris Winters, Commissioner, Department for Children and Families
  

11:00 AM

Department of Mental Health

Introduction and overview

• Laurel Olmland, Director,Child,Adolescent, and Family Unit, Department of Mental Health
  
• Samantha Sweet, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Mental Health
  

11:40 AM

Department of Vermont Health Access

Introduction and overview

• DaShawn Groves, Commissioner, Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA)
  
• Alex McCracken, Director of Communications and Legislative Affairs, Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA)
  

12:00 PM

Adjourn

1:00 PM

Senate Floor

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Friday, January 24, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:25 AM

BlueCross BlueShield of Vermont

Introduction

• Sara Teachout, Director, Government, Public and Media Relations, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont
  

10:00 AM

Break

10:30 AM

Introductions

• Daniel Barlow, Executive Director, People's Health & Wellness Clinic
  
• Olivia Sharrow, Executive Director, Vermont's Free and Referral Clinics (VFRC)
  

11:00 AM

Vermont State Colleges System

Health care workforce programs update

• Elizabeth Mauch, Chancellor, Vermont State Colleges System
  
• Sharron Scott, Chief Financial and Operating Officer, Vermont State Colleges System
  
• Caitlin Stover, Dean of Nursing, Vermont State Colleges System
  

11:30 AM

Senate Floor

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Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:30 AM

Senate Floor

10:00 AM

Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living

Introduction and overview

• Jill Bowen, Commissioner, Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living
  
• Jennifer Garabedian, Director, Developmental Disabilities Services Division, Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living
  
• Fred Jones, Director, Division of theBlind and Visually Impaired, Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living
  
• Joe Nusbaum, Director, Licensing and Protection, Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living
  
• James Smith, Budget and Policy Manager, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living
  
• Angela Smith-Dieng, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living
  

11:00 AM

Adjourn

1:00 PM

Governor's 2026 Budget Address

Joint assembly to receive budget address

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Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

General Assistance and Emergency Housing

FY25 Budget Language

• Katie McLinn, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

10:00 AM

General Assistance and Emergency Housing

Update on cold weather guidance

• Miranda Gray, Deputy Commissioner, Economic Services Division, Department for Children and Families
  

10:30 AM

Break

11:00 AM

S.10 - An act relating to modifying requirements for obtaining a certificate of need

Introduction

• Sen. Virginia "Ginny" Lyons, Sponsor, Chair
  

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S.20 - An act relating to increasing the monetary thresholds for certificates of need

Introduction

• Jennifer Carbee, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  
• Sen. Martine Larocque Gulick, Sponsor
  

11:15 AM

S.10 - An act relating to modifying requirements for obtaining a certificate of need

Walk-through

• Jennifer Carbee, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

12:00 PM

Adjourn

1:00 PM

Senate Floor

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Thursday, January 30, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

General Assistance and Emergency Housing

Report of Task Force
Joint hearing with House Human Services hosted in room 267 in the Pavilion and livestreamed on the House Human Services YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-9RE-K5ZL_Egtle9AdAI-g/featured

• Rep. Jubilee McGill, Co-sponsor, General Assistance Emergency Housing Task Force
  
• Katie McLinn, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

10:30 AM

Break

11:00 AM

General Assistance and Emergency Housing

Joint hearing continued

• Miranda Gray, Deputy Commissioner, Economic Services Division, Department for Children and Families
  
• Chris Winters, Commissioner, Department for Children and Families
  

12:00 PM

Adjourn

1:00 PM

Senate Floor

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Friday, January 31, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

S.1 - An act relating to providing Medicaid-equivalent coverage to all Vermonters

Introduction

• Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky, Sponsor
  

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S.14 - An act relating to expanding Dr. Dynasaur income eligibility for pregnant individuals and exploring eligibility expansions for other populations

Introduction

• Jennifer Carbee, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  
• Jennifer Carbee, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  
• Sen. Martine Larocque Gulick, Sponsor
  
• Sen. Ruth Hardy, Sponsor
  

9:30 AM

S.18 - An act relating to licensure of freestanding birth centers

Walk-through

• Jennifer Carbee, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

9:50 AM

Break

10:15 AM

Break

10:20 AM

Committee Discussion

Session priorities

10:30 AM

Adjourn

11:30 AM

Senate Floor

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Tuesday, February 4, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:30 AM

Senate Floor

10:00 AM

Act 167 of 2022

Overview

• Jennifer Carbee, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  
• Jessica Holmes, Board Member, Green Mountain Care Board
  
• Brendan Krause, Director of Health Care Reform, Agency of Human Services
  
• Sarah Rosenblum, Deputy Director for the Health Care Reform, Agency of Human Services
  
• Hilary Watson, Senior Health Policy Analyst, Green Mountain Care Board
  

12:00 PM

Adjourn

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Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

Health Care Reform

This is a joint hearing with House Health Care. It will be hosted in Room 11 and live streamed to the Senate Health and Welfare Youtube Channel.

• Elliott Fisher, Professor of Medicine and Health Policy, The Dartmouth Institute
  
• Christopher Koller, President, Milbank Memorial Fund
  

10:50 AM

Break

11:10 AM

Health Care Reform

Continuation of joint hearing with House Health Care

• Elliott Fisher, Professor of Medicine and Health Policy, The Dartmouth Institute
  
• Owen Foster, Chair, Green Mountain Care Board
  
• Christopher Koller, President, Milbank Memorial Fund
  
• Brendan Krause, Director of Health Care Reform, Agency of Human Services
  
• David Murman, Board Member, Green Mountain Care Board
  

11:55 PM

Adjourn

1:00 PM

Senate Floor

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Thursday, February 6, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

S.36 - An act relating to Medicaid coverage of long-term residential treatment for co-occurring substance use disorder and mental health condition

Introduction

• Sen. Virginia "Ginny" Lyons, Sponsor
  

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S.36 - An act relating to Medicaid coverage of long-term residential treatment for co-occurring substance use disorder and mental health condition

Walk-through

• Katie McLinn, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

9:35 AM

Break

10:15 AM

Committee Discussion

11:00 AM

University of Vermont Health Network

Overview

• Sunny Eappen, CEO, University of Vermont Health Network
  
• Jessica Moschella, Senior Vice President, High Value Care, University of Vermont Health Network
  

11:45 AM

3SquaresVT Awareness Day

• Ivy Enoch, SNAP Policy and Training Lead, Hunger Free Vermont
  
• Jerome Hazlewood, Community Member, Barre
  

12:00 PM

Adjourn

1:00 PM

Senate Floor

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Friday, February 7, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

S.28 - An act relating to access to certain legally protected health care services

Introduction

• Sen. Ruth Hardy, Sponsor
  

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S.28 - An act relating to access to certain legally protected health care services

Walk-through

• Jennifer Carbee, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

10:00 AM

Break

11:00 AM

American Heart Association

Cardiac arrest survivor story

• Dominic Barcomb, Student, Milton High School
  

11:15 AM

Vermont Pharmacists' Association - Prescribing Authority

Introduction

• Lauren Bode, Executive Director, Vermont Pharmacists Association (VPA)
  

11:30 AM

Senate Floor

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