Vermont's Healthcare Costs Under Scrutiny
The University of Vermont Medical Center is under scrutiny for $80 million in unbudgeted patient revenue reported, contributing to Vermont's high healthcare costs.
The Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB) is considering cutting UVM Medical Center's rates to compensate for the excess revenue. The GMCB's goal is to spread the $80 million overage across the hospital's 2025 and 2026 budgets, potentially leading to a 1% decrease in commercial hospital charges for the 2025 fiscal year. UVM Medical Center administrators attribute the higher revenue to treating more patients, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. They argue that all unbudgeted revenue was used to cover the additional costs of providing necessary care. Vermont has the most expensive health care in the United States. The state's emphasis on hospital-based care contributes to high costs, as hospitals are not cost-effective for routine medical care. The monthly cost for the lowest cost commercial insurance plan in Vermont has almost doubled between 2018 and 2025.
