UVM Health Network announces sweeping cuts to programs, jobs

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Dozens of employees will lose their jobs and several programs will end after sweeping changes announced Thursday by the UVM Health Network.

The plan includes more than $18 million in administrative expense cuts and additional saving measures that would reduce the number of patients who stay overnight at the UVM Medical Center; limit regional incoming non-emergency patient transfers; eliminate surgical transplant services at UVMMC; end UVM Health Network staffing and operation of kidney dialysis clinics in Newport, Rutland, and St. Albans; consolidate family medicine and rehabilitation services at the Central Vermont Medical Center; and close the in-patient psychiatric ward at CVMC.

The network says the closures will result in the elimination of 200 positions, 100 of which would be travel nurses.

UVM blamed the cuts on a 1% decrease in commercial prices state regulators ordered after the UVM Medical Center exceeded its allowed earnings last fiscal year. The network says these cuts and savings will amount to the $122 million the network was denied in patient revenue from those commercial price increases.

The Green Mountain Care Board says this was an effort to make health care more affordable for Vermonters.

The Green Mountain Care Board tells WCAX News these service reductions and cuts are unnecessary. They say they gave UVM Health Network a plan where they could limit their comparably high expenses, have the Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital pay UVMMC back the $60 million CVPH borrowed, or decrease their administrative spending and bonuses. The UVM Network is steadfast that money invested in their New York hospital has nothing to do with these service cuts, and that administrative pay cuts would not nearly make up the amount the hospital needs to stay afloat.

These changes are expected to be rolled out over time, not immediately.

The UVM Health Network is appealing the budget constrictions but that process is expected to last six to eight months, so for now, the network says these changes are here to stay.

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