UVM Medical Center gets approval for outpatient surgery center in South Burlington

The Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB) approved the University of Vermont Medical Center’s application for a Certificate of Need (CON) to develop a multi-specialty outpatient surgery center in South Burlington . The 3-2 decision supports GMCB’s goal to expand access to high-quality surgical care on Tilley Drive in South Burlington.

Multiple aspects of the Certificate of Need were changed by GMCB to "ensure that the project aligns with Vermont’s CON laws," according to a press release. GMCB is a five-member, independent board appointed by the governor to regulate major areas of Vermont’s health care system in service to the public interest and serve as an unbiased source of information and analysis on health system performance.

Those changes include permitting only six functional ORs initially, with the possibility to add up to six more as needed. This changed from the proposed eight, with the GMCB citing "uncertainties in surgical demand projections."

To address an undue impact on the affordability of care for commercial ratepayers, the GMCB limited commercial reimbursements for cases done at the new center to 170% of the amount Medicare would reimburse for the same services. To limit impacts on neighboring facilities and to hold UVMMC accountable, the GMCB prohibited expenditure on any marketing or advertising of the new center and mandated reporting on wait times, provider productivity, staffing, pricing and utilization.

UVMMC released a statement that they "will spend the next several days closely reviewing the decision," as the conditions could impact multiple aspects of the plan.

"We designed the facility to support our dedicated care teams with the technology and the space they need to deliver the best possible care and meet the growing and changing needs of our patients," the statement reads.

Sydney P. Hakes is the Burlington city reporter. Contact her at SHakes@gannett.com .

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: UVM Medical Center gets approval for outpatient surgery center in South Burlington