2014 Vermont Statutes
Title 18 - Health
Chapter 221 - HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION
Subchapter 1: HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
§ 9405 State Health Plan; Health Resource Allocation Plan

§ 9405. State Health Plan; Health Resource Allocation Plan

(a) No later than January 1, 2005, the Secretary of Human Services or designee, in consultation with the Chair of the Green Mountain Care Board and health care professionals and after receipt of public comment, shall adopt a State Health Plan that sets forth the health goals and values for the State. The Secretary may amend the Plan as the Secretary deems necessary and appropriate. The Plan shall include health promotion, health protection, nutrition, and disease prevention priorities for the State, identify available human resources as well as human resources needed for achieving the State's health goals and the planning required to meet those needs, and identify geographic parts of the State needing investments of additional resources in order to improve the health of the population. The Plan shall contain sufficient detail to guide development of the State Health Resource Allocation Plan. Copies of the Plan shall be submitted to members of the Senate and House Committees on Health and Welfare no later than January 15, 2005.

(b) On or before July 1, 2005, the Green Mountain Care Board, in consultation with the Secretary of Human Services, shall submit to the Governor a four-year Health Resource Allocation Plan. The Plan shall identify Vermont needs in health care services, programs, and facilities; the resources available to meet those needs; and the priorities for addressing those needs on a statewide basis.

(1) The Plan shall include:

(A) A statement of principles reflecting the policies enumerated in sections 9401 and 9431 of this chapter to be used in allocating resources and in establishing priorities for health services.

(B) Identification of the current supply and distribution of hospital, nursing home, and other inpatient services; home health and mental health services; treatment and prevention services for alcohol and other drug abuse; emergency care; ambulatory care services, including primary care resources, federally qualified health centers, and free clinics; major medical equipment; and health screening and early intervention services.

(C) Consistent with the principles set forth in subdivision (A) of this subdivision (1), recommendations for the appropriate supply and distribution of resources, programs, and services identified in subdivision (B) of this subdivision (1), options for implementing such recommendations and mechanisms which will encourage the appropriate integration of these services on a local or regional basis. To arrive at such recommendations, the Green Mountain Care Board shall consider at least the following factors:

(i) the values and goals reflected in the State Health Plan;

(ii) the needs of the population on a statewide basis;

(iii) the needs of particular geographic areas of the State, as identified in the State Health Plan;

(iv) the needs of uninsured and underinsured populations;

(v) the use of Vermont facilities by out-of-state residents;

(vi) the use of out-of-state facilities by Vermont residents;

(vii) the needs of populations with special health care needs;

(viii) the desirability of providing high quality services in an economical and efficient manner, including the appropriate use of midlevel practitioners;

(ix) the cost impact of these resource requirements on health care expenditures;

(x) the overall quality and use of health care services as reported by the Vermont Program for Quality in Health Care and the Vermont Ethics Network;

(xi) the overall quality and cost of services as reported in the annual hospital community reports;

(xii) individual hospital four-year capital budget projections; and

(xiii) the four-year projection of health care expenditures prepared by the Board.

(2) In the preparation of the Plan, the Green Mountain Care Board shall convene the Green Mountain Care Board General Advisory Committee established pursuant to subdivision 9374(e)(1) of this title. The Green Mountain Care Board General Advisory Committee shall review drafts and provide recommendations to the Board during the development of the Plan.

(3) The Board, with the Green Mountain Care Board General Advisory Committee, shall conduct at least five public hearings, in different regions of the State, on the Plan as proposed and shall give interested persons an opportunity to submit their views orally and in writing. To the extent possible, the Board shall arrange for hearings to be broadcast on interactive television. Not less than 30 days prior to any such hearing, the Board shall publish in the manner prescribed in 1 V.S.A. § 174 the time and place of the hearing and the place and period during which to direct written comments to the Board. In addition, the Board may create and maintain a website to allow members of the public to submit comments electronically and review comments submitted by others.

(4) The Board shall develop a mechanism for receiving ongoing public comment regarding the Plan and for revising it every four years or as needed.

(5) The Board in consultation with appropriate health care organizations and State entities shall inventory and assess existing State health care data and expertise, and shall seek grants to assist with the preparation of any revisions to the Health Resource Allocation Plan.

(6) The Plan or any revised plan proposed by the Board shall be the Health Resource Allocation Plan for the State after it is approved by the Governor or upon passage of three months from the date the Governor receives the proposed Plan, whichever occurs first, unless the Governor disapproves the proposed Plan, in whole or in part. If the Governor disapproves, he or she shall specify the sections of the proposed Plan which are objectionable and the changes necessary to meet the objections. The sections of the proposed Plan not disapproved shall become part of the Health Resource Allocation Plan. (Added 1991, No. 160 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. May 11, 1992; amended 1995, No. 180 (Adj. Sess.), § 11; 2003, No. 53, § 3; 2007, No. 27, § 6; 2011, No. 48, § 20; 2011, No. 139 (Adj. Sess.), § 16, eff. May 14, 2012; 2011, No. 171 (Adj. Sess.), § 9, eff. May 16, 2012; 2013, No. 79, § 37.)