The Vermont Medical Society (VMS) recently joined a number of other Vermont health care associations to release a joint paper outlining health care reform guiding principles and recommendations for policy makers. The release coincided with the most recent report to the Vermont Health Care Commission by Dr. William Hsiao, the Harvard-based economist who is developing three design options aimed at achieving universal coverage in Vermont and reducing the rising cost of health care in the state.

The associations together identified a number of important themes, including:

1. State health care reform initiatives need to be fully aligned with federal reform efforts most notably the recently enacted Affordable Care Act (ACA).
2. Health care professionals and providers should be full partners with health plans and state government in planning for and implementing new payment methodologies, delivery system reforms and insurance reforms.
3. Payment incentives designed to support a re-defined health care system should promote quality and value.
4. The ability to deliver improved health care outcomes requires greater attention to, and resources for, health information technology, workforce education, recruitment and retention as well as expanded prevention/wellness programs.
5. Most providers, particularly long-term care and home health, face substantial net funding reductions under the ACA that must be considered by state policy makers.

"As health care reform efforts pick up steam in Vermont it is important that providers have a seat at the table because we have a very unique viewpoint on what works and doesn't work in the current health care delivery system," said Paul Harrington, VMS' executive vice president. "The group's recommendations reflect what we as a group feel is needed to be accomplished, or at least considered, in order for health care reform to be as successful as we'd all like it to be."

In addition to VMS, participating health care associations included the Bi-State Primary Care Association, the Vermont Assembly of Home Health Agencies, the Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems, and the Vermont Health Care Association.