VT hospital budgets not on sustainable path

A Vermont board that reviews hospital budgets says spending for Vermont's 14 hospitals for the next fiscal year is not on a sustainable path. The Green Mountain Care Board said Tuesday that it approved budgets that will result in 5.1 percent increase in hospital net patient revenue for fiscal year 2013. The board had set a target increase of 3.75 percent. Anya Rader Wallack, chairwoman of the Green Mountain Care Board, said the budgets reflect the board's priorities in reducing costs and investing in health reforms but she said more work needs to be done.