The Green Mountain Care Board is set to hold a public hearing about a proposed ASC in Colchester, Va. this week, prompting Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems CEO and President Jeff Tieman to write a commentary against the proposal in the VT Digger.
Here are five things to know:
1. Nearly two years ago, an independent physician group filed the CON to build Green Mountain Surgery Center in Colchester. A Green Mountain Surgery Center spokesperson said the ASC would offer services at a reduced cost.
2. Mr. Tieman notes the state's "highly regulated hospitals" are dedicated to providing high quality care at low costs and hospitals abide to state and federal regulatory requirements.
3. Mr. Tieman said the state does not regulate surgery centers. If the surgery center comes to fruition, Vermont will not have authority to oversee its financial practices. He said, "The surgical center would operate with little oversight in a state that has chosen the opposite path."
4. In his commentary, Mr. Tieman said the community does not need the ASC and cites 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.
5. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont, the state's largest insurance company, supported Green Mountain Surgery Center in March.