VERMONT – Bouncing from plan to plan for Medicare coverage has become an inadvertent, annual tradition for Becky Beerwald. When she moved to Essex Junction from the Connecticut coast in 2023, she selected a Medicare Advantage plan before it was discontinued for the following year. Then she enrolled in a Vermont Blue Advantage[Read More…]
Health
Clearing paths for more accessible outdoor spaces
VERMONT – Before Edie Perkins heads out to explore a new trail, she runs through a mental checklist.Is there accessible parking? How far is it from her car to the trail? Is the surface hard-packed or uneven? For most people, those questions barely register. For Perkins, who uses a wheelchair,[Read More…]
Copley Hospital shutters birthing center after contentious process
MORRISVILLE – Through October, Kipp Bovey and her fellow nurse midwives closely tracked the patients whose due dates would come close to the November 1 closure of the birthing center at Copley Hospital. They wondered who might be the one to see the final baby born before the center shuttered.[Read More…]
Mother of last Copley birth bemoans loss of birthing center
MORRISVILLE – Copley Hospital officially shuttered the doors to its Birthing Center on November 1. Babies will continue to be born at the hospital only on an emergency basis. As reported in the Nov. 6 issue of the Hardwick Gazette, Elora Mae Kish was the last baby born at Copley[Read More…]
Treasurer Pieciak confirms distribution of 3SquaresVT/SNAP payments
MONTPELIER – Vermont State Treasurer Mike Pieciak confirmed that his office successfully sent payments ensuring recipients of 3SquaresVT, Vermont’s name for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), would receive their benefits Friday, Nov. 7, despite the ongoing federal shutdown. Approximately 67,000 Vermonters are enrolled in SNAP, and most participants[Read More…]
Vermont’s open enrollment period begins
WATERBURY – Open Enrollment for Vermont’s health insurance marketplace began on November 1. During open enrollment, Vermonters can sign up for or change their qualified health and dental plans for 2026. Coverage starts January 1, 2026, for those who sign up on or before December 15. Open enrollment ends January[Read More…]
Flu/Covid-19 vaccination clinic, Nov. 20
CABOT – Thursday, November 20, from 2 to 5 p.m., Kinney Drugs is providing a flu and COVID vaccination clinic at the Cabot School Wellness Space, building 49, for ages three and up. This clinic is open to the general public. Before 3:15 p.m., parking will be at the Neighbors[Read More…]
Blood drive, Nov. 24
MORRISVILLE – Monday, Nov. 24, Copley Hospital is sponsoring a blood drive at the hospital from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., registration is required. To sign up, contact Jill Baker at (802) 888-8302.
ADU provides local prescription access
PLAINFIELD – Amid shrinking regional access to pharmacies across the state, the Health Center at Plainfield has a unique two-part solution for providing local prescription access. The Community Health Pharmacy (CHP) is a mail-order retail pharmacy operating specifically for patients of Vermont health centers. Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) are[Read More…]
Copley Hospital Decides to Close Birthing Center
MORRISIVILLE – Copley Hospital will close its birthing center, the hospital announced in a press release late Friday afternoon, though no specific closure date was given. Copley’s Women’s Center will remain open, and pre- and postpartum care will continue to be offered at the Morrisville hospital. More details will be[Read More…]
Staff Rejects Copley Claims
MORRISVILLE – Birthing Center staff and union president Sarah Chouinard confirmed the board of trustees decision; “There was a meeting at 3 p.m this afternoon with the Birthing Center Staff. They will announce a closing date by the end of June and meet with us individually in July.” No specific[Read More…]
