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Just another dying canary in the coal mine?
by Don Keelan
I will assume that most Vermonters have no idea what role the following companies have in Vermont: Cross Country Staffing, Inc., Ettain Group Inc., Freedom Health Care Staffing, and TLC Homecare and Nursing.
In 2023, according to the University of Vermont Medical Center’s Form 990 filing (noted on GuideStar) on page 8, the Center paid the four companies $114,454,522 collectively.
Located in Atlanta, GA., Charlotte, NC., Aurora, CO., and Burlington, VT., they provided “traveling nurses” to assist the Medical Center’s staffing problem in 2023. The issue continues to exist at most, if not all, of Vermont’s hospitals.
In-house hospital personnel know that “travelers” are paid substantially more in compensation. This is added to the additional cost of meals and housing allowances while locally employed. For many hospitals, this is a budget-busting cost to absorb.
In his November 20, 2024 press conference, Governor Phil Scott provided an idea as to why the State is in this position. Not since his weekly press conferences during the COVID-19 pandemic have I seen the Governor so despondent, and more so now.
The Governor noted that over the last 10 years, the State has lost over 14,000 young people under the age of 18. He went on to note that at the same time, Vermont has 28,000 fewer in the workforce between the ages of 40 and 54, the prime working years. Meanwhile, in the last 10 years, the State saw its 65-and-older population grow by 48,000.
The problem is by no means solely limited to the health care sector. The Vermont Association of General Contractors noted in a recent story in Vermont Biz that its industry needs over 3,000 tradespeople. Meanwhile, the Governor stated that we need between 24,000 and 36,000 new houses by 2029.
The list of sectors in need of staff includes tourism and hospitality, manufacturing, agriculture and dairy operations, public safety and first responders, mental health, child daycare, and more.
Layered alongside the above is the cost crisis the State is witnessing in terms of town and school budgets and healthcare insurance.
What needs to be publicized is the infrastructure the state, cities, towns, and schools are postponing due to a lack of resources or being tapped out in their ability to bond.
At the same time, there are those who adamantly, religiously, if you will, believe that the only issue the State must address is reducing its decarbonization impact and assisting with the worldwide effort to do so.
Do they believe that this is what a Vermonter needs to hear when they cannot find a doctor, their local medical center is to close, or they fear what their tax bill might be next year?
It was somewhat comforting to hear that the Democratic-controlled Legislature got a wake-up call this past election cycle. Vermonters care about the climate, but imposing impossible-to-meet mandates from the Clean Heat Standard legislation is not a priority now. Replacing a propane kitchen stove with an electric stove can wait. But let us see if, in January, when the Legislature convenes, it is listening to what is ailing Vermont. And it is surely not what the climate change lobbyists have in mind.
Much of what has been stated above is familiar. What is now apparent from watching the Governor’s November 20th news conference was sobering. Are the crises that Vermont has been dealing with (and I left out the recent flood disasters in central Vermont) much worse than what he described? If I am correct, how deep a hole are we really in, or is the hole going to get much deeper?
Recent reports on the status of our State’s healthcare, education, and housing were the “canaries in the coal mine,” and it seems that they are not doing well.
Five years from today, we do not want the naysayers to say we told you so because those who could have made a difference had their own agenda and ignored the signs.
In January, the Legislature, the administration, school districts, the education department, and the 250-plus municipalities need to acknowledge where we are at honestly. It would be of great help if the Governor did not try to be so low-key about what we are genuinely facing—the ability to survive as a State.
The author is a U.S. Marine (retired), CPA, and columnist living in Arlington, VT.
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Categories: Commentary, Health Care
Maybe when Elon and Vivek are finished cleaning up the money black hole in Washington DC the Vermont Governor will invite them to Montpelier to see how many wasted millions of Vermonters tax dollars can be saved right here.
Nurses refused to take the COVID KILL SHOT and quit or took it and got sick. You can not change history to cover up the Vermont Government crooks from the past.
Naysayers? We are the naysayers- and have been for decades.
“Five years from today, we do not want the naysayers to say we told you so because those who could have made a difference had their own agenda and ignored the signs.” Mr. Keelan- this IS the story of Vermont’s politics for the last 30 years. For those that disbelieve- in 2008 The Ethan Allen Institute published “Off the Rails” a concise and extremely accurate assessment of Vermont’s politically induced spending ills. Subsequent legislatures ignored this and other warnings, instead doubling down on their marxist/socialist ideology- and here we are. All this was identified as the likely outcome decades ago, with contemporary legislators denying the obvious carnage to come.
It seems that the marxist politician is preferred by those that vote in the green mountains, as these ideologues somehow manage to be elected and re-elected. Changing that dynamic is the real issue- but as Vermont slips into economic collapse and the inability to increase taxation- the socialist/marxists will wake up and discover Vermont has been broke and bankrupt for almost a generation.
Wow Don, tell me you don’t know what a traveling nurse does without telling me what a traveling nurse does. You do know that the “extra” money they make goes to pay for benefits they don’t get? Or the liability insurance that are required to have? Of course you did. And you also probably knew that these people are all being weaned out as we speak while hospitals are trying to hire local? Of course you do.
If you’re so worried about holding politicians accountable over infrastructure, where were you when Trump’s plan was a month away from being a month away for four years? Joe sucks, but at least he allocated money for infrastructure.
Anybody can Monday Morning QB like you like to come here and do. Got any solutions? I won’t hold my breath
Hard to see the forest thru the trees? You’ve missed Keelan’s point- Government, Vermont’s legislature particularly has set policies in motion decades ago that brought us here. Traveling nurses are indicative of the failed economic conditions in Vermont, from Act 60 and is subsequent “fixes” to the GWSA and it’s economic burdens on the population. Skilled labor, be it a nurse or a tradesman- has no reason to move to Vermont, unless for the lifestyle or family ties- the grass is very much greener elsewhere. UVMMC has been ordered to cut 200 Million from it’s budget. Why? Because a panel of appointed “experts”, said so, to make numbers line up for legislative review.
Infrastructure? Ha. Vermont is lacking 6 BILLION in funds for school construction, because the 2007 D/P majority legislature “suspended” the fund- to meet budget shortfalls. biden’s “inflation reduction act” begat no funds for this- and exacerbated government spending, inflation and the economic malaise we live in today. Solutions? maybe there are none until Vermont’s eligible voters take charge and actually vote for candidates that seek more than to enrich themselves. Do you actually think baruth, krowinski, white, vyhosky, sibilia have Vermont’s best interest in mind when they override phil scott’s vetos on Act 18 or the GWSA- on 2024’s budget bill?
mr. chris, your monday morning quarterback review is severely lacking in fact, relying upon old fictional D/P talking points- and aren’t those tired ideas serving Vermont well?
So, we fired nurse’s because they wouldn’t take an experimental vaccine. Then bus in sheep to fill the gap at obviously a higher cost. Then complain for repercussions to decisions made. No wonder healthcare is through the roof, idiots. And yet, no one will hold the hospitals accountable, nor our government. Just keep feeding the machine. Yup, sounds like government to me.
What a scam healthcare has become. I don’t know how nurses and doctors work in the field anymore…I know I gave up on allopathic ‘medicine’ when it became clear I was being strung along, not healed… and learned to be accountable to myself for my health… its less expensive in the long run: spiritual, foods, drinks, water, exercise… if we abdicate those, we are GOING to be ill… all of them are important to maintain a healthy baseline and lifestyle, no matter what your circumstances… Vermonter’s are sick because of their choices, and because the FDA lies about what is good and nutritional and healthy, and ignores what is making us all sicker day by day. If you are not detoxing and cleansing your body every day… you can expect your body to try to push out the infectants itself… that is the ‘getting sick’ part… those of us who take care of ourselves, know why, when and how we get sick…and we don’t ever really GET sick… we’re healthy.
And oh… with pure and natural immune systems that are supported by the above…
But click, sip, and go back to sleep… and line up those meds that kill you, make you dull, and kill your connection with God…