Vermont Blueprint for Health 2013 Annual Report

INTRODUCTION

The Blueprint program has worked with stakeholders in each of Vermont’s Health Service Areas (HSAs) to implement a new health services model. The model includes advanced primary care in the form of Patient Centered Medical Homes (PCMHs), multi-disciplinary support services in the form of Community Health Teams (CHTs), a network of self-management support programs, statewide data systems, and activities focused on continuous improvement using comparative evaluation (Learning Health System). All major insurers in Vermont participate in payment reforms designed to support the PCMH and CHT operations. 

The program is intended to establish a statewide environment where Vermonters have better access to well-coordinated services that help them live healthier lifestyles, reduce the risk of developing common chronic conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension, and improve control over existing conditions. If effective, the program should lead to several important outcomes, including an increase in the rate of residents receiving recommended assessments and treatments, a reduction in avoidable acute care (emergency department visits and inpatient admissions), and a demonstration of predictable ways to improve control over the growth in healthcare costs. This evaluation is designed to determine whether the program is achieving these goals.