Vermont Board Approves Hospital Budgets

A Vermont board says budgets for Vermont's 14 hospitals for the next fiscal year are not on a sustainable path.

The Green Mountain Care Board says it has approved budgets that will result in a 5.1 percent increase in hospital net patient revenue for fiscal year 2013. The board had set a target increase of 3.75 percent.

Anya Rader Wallack, chairwoman of the Green Mountain Care Board, says the budgets reflect the board's priorities in reducing costs and investing in health reforms, but she says more work needs to be done.

Three hospitals exceeded the 3.75% limit, even after some exemptions.

Copley and Porter hospitals were told to reduce their budgets and Copley was ordered to make a better case for needing a new orthopedic surgery practice.

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