UVM health Network to Send Kidney Transplant Patients to Dartmouth Health After Ending Local Surgeries
BURLINGTON, VT – UVM Health network patients requiring kidney transplants will now be referred to Dartmouth health, following the network’s decision to end kidney transplant surgeries at its Vermont facilities in March. The move, announced in November 2024 and implemented this year, is part of a broader effort to streamline healthcare and manage costs within the network, and was informed by a state-commissioned report from Oliver Wyman recommending consolidation of high-volume surgical services.
the UVM health Network, which encompasses three Vermont hospitals and three in New York, initially planned to transfer management of three dialysis centers – in newport, Rutland, and St.Albans – to the regional hospitals. Though,the network ultimately retained management of these dialysis services due to concerns over absorbing associated costs,according to network spokesperson Anna Mackin.
The decision to halt kidney transplant surgeries and shift dialysis management coincides with other service reductions across the network. In November 2024, the network proposed closing two clinics associated with Central Vermont Medical Center, citing revenue limits set by the Green Mountain Care Board for fiscal year 2025. The Mad River Valley Health Center in Waitsfield closed on September 26, with patients directed to the hospital’s family medicine practice in Waterbury.
The Green Mountain Care Board recently completed its annual review of hospital budgets for 2026, aiming to control healthcare costs for patients and insurers. While announcing cuts, Care Board Chair Owen Foster suggested the UVM Health Network could have reduced costs in areas other than direct patient care. The network’s actions are rooted in recommendations from a report released last year that identified consolidation as a key strategy for improving efficiency and lowering expenses within Vermont’s healthcare system.
