If you’ve been following health news lately, you may have noticed that retirement is suddenly in vogue. First came Agency of Human Services Secretary Mike Smith. Then it was UVM Health Network’s John Brumsted, head of the largest health system in Vermont. Brumsted’s departure is a two-in-one deal: He’s also vacating a leadership role at OneCare, a key player in Vermont’s health reform efforts.
Not to be outdone, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital’s CEO, Steven Gordon, is leaving his post and, apparently, his neighborhood.
All those new beginnings must have spoken to Green Mountain Care Board chair Kevin Mullin, who last week announced his departure. Mullin and the board regulate hospital budgets and, by extension, the cost of health care in Vermont.
His successor would be stepping in at a time of ballooning health care costs, inflation and uncertainty with the state’s health care reform efforts. Which brings us to the question health care insiders have been asking since last week’s announcement: Who’s next?
The nomination process hasn’t started yet, but Gov. Phil Scott is expected to pick a name from a short list that a nominating committee puts together. The process could take time: Before Scott appointed Mullin in 2017, the seat was vacant for more than four months.
Scott’s spokesperson, Jason Maulucci, said the governor is “keeping an open mind” but also has a wishlist. It comes down to “the four C’s — competence, character, commitment and chemistry,” Maulucci said.
According to insiders, including people close to the care board, lobbyists and lawmakers, the committee and the governor have a few paths forward. Let’s review our options, shall we?
- The Legislature: Mullin, a longtime Republican, was a lawmaker before Scott appointed him for the role. Scott could go the same route with his new pick. A former lawmaker would have the advantage of understanding the power dynamics in Montpelier. Lawmakers may also be more receptive to the care board’s input if it’s coming from a former legislator.
- The executive branch: A Scott appointee could come from the Agency of Human Services or from the ranks of special health advisers to the administration. Former Green Mountain Care Board chair Anya Rader Wallack, for example, was a policy adviser to Gov. Peter Shumlin before she took on the role. A candidate from the executive branch would have the advantage of being a known quantity to work closely with the administration.
- Promoting from within: There’s always the option of promoting from within the care board. It could make sense for Scott to go with someone he appointed, if they make the short list. Those could include Tom Pelham, who Scott appointed in 2017, or Jessica Holmes, a Gov. Peter Shumlin-era holdover who Scott reappointed in 2020.
- A health care insider: The chair role requires a grasp of politics, regulation and health care finances. That’s a skill set a C-suite executive typically has. There are plenty of names on that list, but you can cross one out: Brumsted told me he would like to write about regulation and rural health care, but he’s not interested in the gig. You’re welcome.
If you know something I don’t, feel free to shoot me an email. I’m open to speculation, hot takes and tips. Bonus points if you include a cat photo.
— Liora Engel-Smith
ON YOUR SCREEN
Where do Vermont’s Democratic candidates for the U.S. House stand on the American response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine? How they’d support family farmers? Whether they’ll take campaign contributions from registered lobbyists?
If you watched VTDigger’s Democratic U.S. House debate tonight, you’d already know! But don’t worry. You can catch up by watching video of the event — the first in the 2022 Digger Debate Series — here. (Look for our story on the event later tonight.)
In addition to four Democratic candidates, Sen. Becca Balint, Sianay Chase Clifford, Lt. Gov. Molly Gray and Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, you can also catch Final Reading co-writer Sarah Mearhoff and editor Mike Dougherty ably moderating the debate.
Enjoy!
— The Final Reading Editors
IN THE KNOW
Lawmakers in the House Committee on Natural Resources, Fish and Wildlife heard from a slew of witnesses on S.148, the environmental justice bill, on Wednesday.
Xusana Davis, the state’s executive director of Racial Equity, spoke about the merits of the proposed policy from a racial equity perspective.
She addressed funding for the bill, much of which was stripped while it progressed through the Senate — from $3 million on March 9, an amount that would have covered more new, dedicated positions in the Agency of Natural Resources, to $700,000, as listed in a fiscal note on March 18.
Davis said her office supports the bill.
“I just want to strongly, strongly urge this committee to consider: What is the amount of work that we’re asking for, and how are we resourcing it?” she said.
“We don’t just want to say on paper, ‘We want to make every effort to support historically marginalized or underserved communities,’” she said. “Those communities aren’t underserved by any inherent measure of their own. They’re underserved because someone is not serving us.”
— Emma Cotton
A new report released on Wednesday by the Vermont Agency of Education highlights the deteriorating conditions of Vermont’s decades-old school buildings — a situation that could force lawmakers and school officials to make difficult decisions in the future.
That report, compiled by the French inspection and certification company Bureau Veritas, does not show in-depth information about any schools; instead, it is a precursor to a more thorough assessment that has not yet begun.
Those buildings are 61 years old on average, the study found, and have gone an average of 22 years without a major renovation.
Of those 384 buildings, 196 were known to have hazardous materials present, according to survey results, while officials suspected their presence in 52 more buildings. The report did not specify which hazardous materials officials were asked about.
— Peter D’Auria
With just weeks left to go in the session, a House committee started working Wednesday on two Senate bills aimed at making housing more affordable in Vermont.
One hurdle: Gov. Phil Scott has previously vetoed two provisions in the bills: a state registry of rental homes, and another registry of home contractors.
Rep. Thomas Stevens, D-Waterbury, chair of the House Committee on General, Housing and Military Affairs, told VTDigger he wants to produce bills that Scott would be likely to sign.
— Fred Thys
ON THE MOVE
The House Committee on Human Services on Wednesday approved a bill that would help the state formulate a plan supporting older Vermonters with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
S.206 passed the Senate last month. The bill calls for creating a plan to support dementia patients and their families. Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias affected an estimated 13,000 seniors in Vermont in 2020. That number is expected to climb to 17,000 seniors, a 30% increase, by 2025.
— Liora Engel-Smith
WHAT’S FOR LUNCH
Thursday’s special will be pork fried rice, maple glazed carrots and a homemade roll, said Chef Bryant Palmer. The grill special will be a chicken cordon bleu sandwich and the deli special will be a grilled chicken wrap with baby arugula, feta cheese, pickled red onion, tomato and a creamy dill sauce.
— Riley Robinson
WHAT WE’RE READING
FBI: Defendant in 2018 Danville kidnapping was hired for murder (VTDigger)
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health drops the ‘Hitchcock’ as rebranding aims south (Valley News)
More Vermonters are carrying, and counting, amphibians at road crossings during spring migration (VPR)
