We’re happy to announce that CHCB Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Heather Stein, was recently elected President of Medical Staff at the University of Vermont Medical Center. Dr. Stein has been a primary care provider at CHCB since 2011, and served as Associate Medical Director and Medical Director before taking on the role of Chief Medical Officer in 2020.

Dr. Stein’s professional interests include addiction treatment and she has a board certification in addiction medicine. She also focuses on care of the underserved, as well as comprehensive care for the whole family and reducing barriers to treatment.

Read the full press release from UVM Medical Center here.

CHCB is working with The Creative Discourse Group to help us ensure health equity for ALL within our community. We are reaching out to our patients, partners and other community stakeholders to invite you to participate in an online survey developed by The Creative Discourse Group. We want to hear about your experience with CHCB, what we’re doing well and what we can do even better to serve our community.

Within the survey you will also be offered an opportunity to sign up to participate in one of several focus groups. Each of the people selected to participate in a focus group by Creative Discourse will receive a $50 gift certificate to a local grocery store. The feedback you provide will be vital to shaping our approaches to addressing racism as a public health emergency and eliminating barriers to care for ALL in our community.

Please visit this survey to sign up for one of the 6 focus groups available. All content from these discussions will be compiled by The Creative Discourse Group and remain entirely anonymous, used only for the purpose of building our capacity to address health equity in our communities. Please share this message with anyone you believe would be interested. Please contact equityauditinfo@chcb.org if you have any questions. Thank you in advance for your partnership and assistance, and thank you for being our patient!

With Vermont Health Connect’s open enrollment period coming up fast, we want to make sure patients who use this insurance marketplace are aware of upcoming changes, specifically that you will begin paying your insurance company directly in 2022.

When is Vermont Health Connect’s Open Enrollment? 
From November 1 – December 15, 2021, Vermonters can sign up for health and dental insurance that begins January 1, 2022.

This year, an extension will also allow Vermonters to sign up between December 16, 2021 – January 15, 2022 for insurance that begins February 1, 2022.  

What stays the same? 
Vermonters must sign up through Vermont Health Connect to get financial help paying for health insurance.

Is it true that more Vermonters can get financial help now than ever before? 
Yes. This year, customers may qualify for lower costs if they are in a single plan with income up to $105,000. Those in family plans with income up to $297,000 may qualify too. They can only get this financial help if they sign up through Vermont Health Connect.

Who can help answer questions?
Vermont Health Connect is open from 8am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday. During open enrollment (November 1 – January 15), they will be open until 5pm. You can call VHC directly at 1-855-899-9600.

Additionally, CHCB’s Patient Support Services team are available to help you on a same day first-come, first-serve basis at our Riverside Health Center. Hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm. You can also contact our PSS staff at 802-264-8124 or patientsupport@chcb.org.