Two years after independent physicians filed a proposal to build Green Mountain Surgical Center in Colchester, Va., state regulators heard from both sides for and against the ASC, during a Green Mountain Care Board Member board meeting, according to VT Digger.
Here are six notes:
1. Alban, Vt.-based Northwestern Medical Center and Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems representatives referred to the ASC as a "for-profit" and "unregulated" project that would increase costs for consumers.
2. Before the board hearing, Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems CEO and President Jeff Tieman wrote a commentary against the proposal in the VT Digger, stating the community does not need the ASC. He cited a report a healthcare management firm conducted saying there is ample space available in the community to offer surgeries to residents for at least another 20 years.
3. Amy Cooper, executive director of Burlington, Vt.-based health insurance company Healthfirst, countered the argument that Vermont is the premier health system in the nation, saying the state ranks last in terms of number of surgical procedures that small centers, like ASCs, perform.
4. Ms. Cooper said the ASC would save payers $5.5 million annually and the center would pay income and property taxes due to its for-profit status. She said in the hearing, "This project is not against the hospitals. This project is for the patients. We in the independent practice community here believe there is space for all providers in the healthcare landscape," according to VT Digger.
5. A Green Mountain Care Board Member asked Ms. Cooper if the ASC would implement a company policy to price procedures less than hospitals and if the ASC would have prices posted on their website. Ms. Copper said the ASC would "commit to a lower-price policy" and would utilize a transparency tool. However, the price may change based on commercial insurer negotiations, according to VT Digger.
6. The board is accepting public comments on the proposal through its website and will receive additional public comment on April 19 at its board meeting.
Editor's note: This article was updated on April 17.