Green Mountain Care Board

What is the Green Mountain Care Board?

The Vermont Legislature created the Green Mountain Care board (the board) in 2011. The board’s job is to oversee changes to Vermont’s health care system. The board has five members.

What does the Green Mountain Care Board do?

The board tries to make sure that changes to the health care system improve Vermonters’ care and keep costs down. The board decides whether to approve:

health insurance premium prices
hospital budgets
certain new health care projects, like building a surgical facility

The board also tries to find new ways to provide and pay for health care.

What are the broad issues the Green Mountain Care Board deals with?

The board deals with four main issues.

Health Insurance Rate Review

Health insurance companies in Vermont cannot change premium prices (or “rates”) without the board’s approval. Follow this link for more information on rate reviews.

Hospital Budget Review

The board reviews hospital budgets to make sure that any changes to hospital budgets align with Vermont’s health reform goals, including keeping costs down. The board reviews and approves each hospital’s budget including overall price changes and net patient revenue.

Certificate of Need

Some health care projects (like facilities and expensive equipment) have to get a Certificate of Need (CON) from the board. The board evaluates whether the project is necessary and whether it will help Vermonters.

Payment Reform

The board works with hospitals, health centers, providers, payers (private insurance and Medicaid), and state agencies to change how Vermonters pay for health care. The stated goal of payment reform is to improve care quality and hold down costs. Follow this link to learn more about payment reform.

Can I tell the Green Mountain Care Board what I think?

Part of the board’s job is to work with Vermonters and to listen to everyone’s questions, ideas and concerns.

You can submit comments to the board. The board lists special comment periods on specific issues on its website.

The Office of the Health Care Advocate (HCA) can help you share your questions, ideas, and concerns. Talking with us is free. To speak with us, call (800) 917-7787 or fill out our help request form.