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Searching 2023-2024 Session

The Vermont Statutes Online

The Vermont Statutes Online have been updated to include the actions of the 2023 session of the General Assembly.

NOTE: The Vermont Statutes Online is an unofficial copy of the Vermont Statutes Annotated that is provided as a convenience.

Title 18 : Health

Chapter 013 : Chronic Care Infrastructure and Prevention Measures

Subchapter 001 : Blueprint for Health

(Cite as: 18 V.S.A. § 703)
  • § 703. Health prevention; chronic care management

    (a) The Director shall develop a model for integrating a system of health care for patients, improving the health of the overall population, and improving control over health care costs by promoting health maintenance, prevention, and care coordination and management through an integrated system, including a patient-centered medical home and a community health team, and uniform payment for health services by health insurers, Medicaid, Medicare if available, and other entities that encourage the use of the medical home and the community health teams.

    (b) When appropriate, the model may include the integration of social services provided by the Agency of Human Services or may include coordination with a team at the Agency of Human Services to ensure the individual’s comprehensive care plan is consistent with the Agency’s case management plan for that individual or family.

    (c) In order to maximize the participation of federal health care programs and to maximize federal funds available, the model for care coordination and management may meet the criteria for medical home, community health team, or other related demonstration projects established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the criteria of any other federal program providing funds for establishing medical homes, community health teams, or associated payment reform.

    (d) The model for care coordination and management shall include the following components:

    (1) A process for identifying individuals with or at risk for chronic disease and to assist in the determination of the risk for or severity of a chronic disease, as well as the appropriate type and level of care management services needed to manage those chronic conditions.

    (2) Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines, which shall be aligned with the clinical quality and performance measures provided for in section 702 of this title.

    (3) Models for the collaboration of health care professionals in providing care, including through a community health team.

    (4) Education for patients on how to manage conditions or diseases, including prevention of disease; programs to modify a patient’s behavior; and a method of ensuring compliance of the patient with the recommended behavioral change.

    (5) Education for patients on health care decision-making, including education related to advance directives, palliative care, hospice care, and timely referrals to palliative and hospice care, when appropriate.

    (6) Measurement and evaluation of the process and health outcomes of patients.

    (7) A method for all health care professionals treating the same patient on a routine basis to report and share information about that patient.

    (8) Requirements that participating health care professionals and providers have the capacity to implement health information technology that meets the requirements of 42 U.S.C. § 300jj in order to facilitate coordination among members of the community health team, health care professionals, and primary care practices and, where applicable, to report information on quality measures to the Director of the Blueprint.

    (9) A sustainable, scalable, and adaptable financial model reforming primary care payment methods through medical homes supported by community health teams that lead to a reduction in avoidable emergency room visits and hospitalizations and a shift of health insurer expenditures from disease management contracts to financial support for local community health teams in order to promote health, prevent disease, and manage care in order to increase positive health outcomes and reduce costs over time.

    (e) The Director of the Blueprint shall provide technical assistance and training to health care professionals, health care providers, health insurers, and others participating in the Blueprint. (Added 2009, No. 128 (Adj. Sess.), § 13; amended 2011, No. 60, § 6, eff. June 1, 2011.)