VT S0249

Rural hospitals, community hospitals, and health systems may collaborate on cost containment, access to care, quality improvement, and preservation of rural hospitals while receiving immunity from federal and state antitrust laws

Secretary of Human Services must authorize collaborations through a two-step approval process: initial approval to explore collaboration (30-day decision) and separate approval to implement specific initiatives (60-day decision)

Collaborating parties must report to the Agency of Human Services at least quarterly and may be required to hire third-party aggregators or facilitators at their own expense as a condition of approval

Applications, reports, and other materials submitted under this process are exempt from public records disclosure and presumed confidential unless hospitals specify otherwise

The Agency of Human Services must provide annual written notice to the Attorney General of all collaborations approved, rejected, or revoked during the preceding year