Legislators, hospital officials and proponents of Green Mountain Surgery Center voiced their opinions during a recent meeting regarding whether the ASC should come to fruition and whether the state's accountable care organization, OneCare Vermont, could benefit from a partnership, according to VT Digger.
Here are four things to know:
1. Representative Carol Ode, D-Burlington, asked OneCare officials if the surgery center could align with the ACO's mission of forming an integrated network of hospitals and physicians, to which OneCare CEO Todd Moore said he is open to discussing it.
2. Mr. Moore said the conversation is a possibility if OneCare needs capacity and the ASC is open to receiving fixed monthly payments, which is what OneCare hospitals receive.
3. Amy Cooper, Green Mountain Surgery Center's primary investor, said the planners are open to the discussion. The ASC plans to both assess and then possibly participate in the state's ACOs and other healthcare initiatives.
4. During the meeting, Ms. Cooper said the ASC would see Medicaid patients in addition to patients with other types of insurance. The surgery center would implement a charity care policy for patients who cannot pay for services rendered.