Swenson: Vermont's Physician Exodus Threatens Care Access

In a VTDigger commentary, Matt Swenson, founder of Omnidex Solutions, argues that Vermont's healthcare debate focuses too narrowly on prices while ignoring a worsening access crisis. He cites recent layoffs at the University of Vermont Health network (199 positions affected) and Dartmouth Health (124 cuts plus eliminated vacant positions), alongside state data showing primary care physicians fell from 634 in 2004 to 529 in 2024. Swenson argues the Green Mountain Care Board's price regulation and movement toward reference-based pricing, while worthwhile, must be paired with an access-to-care dashboard tracking wait times, ER boarding, and practices' new-patient capacity. He also criticizes Gov. Phil Scott's conciliatory approach and argues single-payer financing reforms alone won't solve a shrinking physician pipeline.

Managed Care · Finance