Tue, 04/20/2021 - 4:53am tim
by John McClaughry A bill making its way through the Vermont legislature offers yet another example of government’s steady march toward regulating more of our economy and our lives.
The bill (H157) aims to establish state control over contractors who do residential construction. The bill’s lead sponsor is Rep. Scott Campbell (D-St Johnsbury). On April 6 the House advanced the bill on a vote of 97 to 52 and sent it to the Senate.
In March 2019 first-term Rep. Campbell, whose business career includes 22 years building and weatherizing housing, introduced a bill (H.534) to “create an enforcement mechanism for building energy standards, create minimum competency requirements for building contractors” and “create a building general contractor licensing system.” However, it received no consideration.
BIG MONEY
Leonine Public Affairs This week Governor Phil Scott announced his plan to reopen the state and lift the most significant restrictions that have been in place since the COVID-19 pandemic reached Vermont. The Vermont Forward Plan aims to lift gathering, distancing and masking requirements by July 4, although social distancing and masking will continue to be encouraged. Beginning on April 9 the plan allows for unvaccinated visitors to enter the state without quarantine if they’ve had a negative test within three days prior to their arrival. On June 1, unvaccinated visitors may enter the state with no quarantine or testing requirements. Universal guidance for business operations will be adopted between mid-April and July 4, after which universal guidance will be recommended for all sectors. The plan anticipates 60 to 70 percent of Vermonters will have received one dose of the vaccine by June.
Will Texas Eye Surgeons No Longer Need a Medical Degree?
Twin bills would expand the practice of optometrists. Advocates say they improve access. Critics say they could put patients at risk.
By Will Maddox
Published in
Healthcare Business
March 16, 2021
9:00 am
Twin bills have been filed in the Texas House and Senate that would expand the scope of optometry practices, but critics say the new scope may endanger patients and allow optometrists to perform procedures for which they are not prepared.
House Bill 2340 and Senate Bill 993 would allow optometrists to perform surgeries, manage complex glaucomas without any physician collaboration, prescribe hydrocodone-combination medications and other controlled substances, perform, prescribe, or order visual diagnostic studies, and shift medicine and surgery regulation from the Texas Medical Board to the Texas Optometry Board.
Tue, 02/09/2021 - 7:01am tim
by Devon Green VAHHS Vice President of Governmental Relations Sometimes legislative resolutions have so many “whereases” and words that the sentiment can get lost during the formality. This was not the case last week, when the full House and Senate passed a simple resolution recognizing the unwavering dedication of Vermont’s health care workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic.
More importantly, both the legislature and administration have supported this sentiment with regulatory flexibilities and funding throughout the entirety of the pandemic. I’ve talked to my counterparts in other states as they battle legislation
prohibiting mask requirements and have openly fought with their Departments of Health. Whereas, VAHHS and its hospitals continue to be grateful for a legislature and administration that listens to and supports its health care workers. Resolved: Thank you.
A former nurse who worked at the Meadows at East Mountain is facing up to two years in prison after law-enforcement said she took a card of painkillers intended for a patient and used them herself because of a drug addiction.
Melissa Haynes, 40, of Poultney, pleaded not guilty on Monday in Rutland criminal court to a felony charge of obtaining a regulated drug by fraud.
Haynes was released without bail and ordered not to have any regulated drugs without a valid prescription.
The charges against Haynes were based on an affidavit written by Detective Michael Warren, of the Secretary of Stateâs Office of Professional Regulation.