Vermont’s secretary of administration is responsible for implementing Vermont’s statewide health information technology plan, which must support the use of electronic health records.1

Vermont requires hospitals to participate in the state’s health information exchange network as part of the Blueprint for Health.2 The Blueprint for Health is a Vermont initiative focused on integrating the state’s healthcare system, improving public health, and decreasing health care costs. The Vermont Information Technology Leaders, Inc. is responsible for the operation of the health information exchange network.3

The Vermont health IT-fund is established to fund health care information technology programs and initiatives, including loans to health care providers to adopt electronic health record technology.4 Every health insurer must pay a fee into the health IT-fund.5

Vermont law requires health care providers using electronic health records to have written policies and procedures to ensure the confidentiality of patient information, data integrity, security, etc.6 Health care providers may electronically transmit prescriptions to a patient’s preferred pharmacist as long as it is done in a secure manner.7

Vermont permits health care providers to treat patients electronically as long as the treatments meet the same standards of practice as those in traditional provider-patient settings.8