University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington proposed a $1.3 billion fiscal year 2019 budget to state regulators amid protesting by the union representing about 1,800 of its nurses, VTDigger reported.
Six things to know:
1. The medical center presented its budget to the Green Mountain Care Board during a hearing Aug. 22. The proposed budget projects a $39.2 million operating surplus, as well as a 2.8 percent operating margin on approximately $1.38 billion in revenue, the report states. The proposed budget also projects $1.34 billion in expenses, including those related to the implementation of a new, $151 million EMR system and capital improvements.
2. As the medical center presented its proposed budget, members of the Vermont Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals protested outside.
3. The protesting comes after the union announced it would seek to delay approval of the hospital's budget until a contract agreement is ratified. According to the union, nurses allege hospital administrators aren't doing enough to attract and retain front-line providers and support staff necessary to provide adequate patient care. Hospital officials told Becker's they "are focused on reaching an agreement that values our nurses, compensates them fairly, and allows us to continue providing high-quality, affordable care to our patients and families."
"Our budget submission reflects those priorities and also outlines our work to move toward value-based care," the officials said.
4. During the presentation of the proposed budget, hospital president Eileen Whalen said the care board has indicated it won't delay the budget, VTDigger reported. "We deeply value each member of our team at the medical center. Our people, we know, are our strength," Ms. Whalen told the care board. "I want to thank you for giving us the space to negotiate this union contract and really respect the collective bargaining process."
5. Maggie Belensz, a nurse and union member, also spoke to the care board during public comments, according to the report. She said, "I don't know what business as usual looks like for hospital administrators. But our business as usual is a crisis."
6. The care board is expected to make budget decisions in September.
Read more about the budget and labor dispute here.
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