VLA in the Media
Some recent press mentions for Vermont Legal Aid
1/3/2026 More bailouts for nursing homes? Why Vermont has given millions to keep care centers afloat.
Valley News
https://vnews.com/2026/01/03/vermont-nursing-homes-bailout/
Staffing tends to be the highest expenditure for nursing homes, and oftentimes nursing homes that work with temporary staffing agencies are contractually obligated to pay contract staff more than permanent staff, said Kaili Kuiper, Vermont Legal Aid’s long-term care ombudsman. That means nursing homes spend much of their budget on filling the staffing gap with temporary staff, and do not have the funds to invest in recruiting long-term staff.
1/8/2026 Vermont treasurer proposes plan to lower prescription drug costs
Brattleboro Reformer (also WPTZ-TV5, Vermont Public, Vermont Daily Chronicle, and Vermont Biz)
https://www.reformer.com/local-news/vermont-treasurer-proposes-plan-to-lower-prescription-drug-costs/article_6418f105-5e83-417c-a88e-d7c5239a3154.html
"We hear from Vermonters regularly who call us in desperation ...," said Mike Fisher, chief health care advocate. "We want people to make health care choices, not economic choices. Unfortunately, sometimes they have no choice."
1/20/2026 Commentary | Maryellen Griffin: Evictions cause homelessness. We can’t afford more.
Manchester Journal
https://www.manchesterjournal.com/opinion/columnists/commentary-maryellen-griffin-evictions-cause-homelessness-we-can-t-afford-more/article_a3098cca-58ea-4292-8c27-5dd1ef150c94.html
Maryellen Griffin is a staff attorney for Vermont Legal Aid.
1/21/2026 Housing clinic argues before Vermont Supreme Court
Yale Law School
https://law.yale.edu/yls-today/news/housing-clinic-argues-vermont-supreme-court
The clinic represented amici Vermont Legal Aid and the National Consumer Law Center, arguing that mortgage servicers cannot foreclose on homeowners without showing clear legal entitlement to do so at the time they filed their complaint.
1/22/2026 Early numbers show many Vermonters dropping their insurance for 2026
VT Digger
https://vtdigger.org/2026/01/22/early-numbers-show-many-vermonters-dropping-their-insurance-for-2026/
The new reality of marketplace insurance without federal subsidies may leave Vermonters feeling like, “I have insurance and I can’t afford to use it,” state health care advocate Mike Fisher said.
1/29/2026 VT groups hire lawyers to help immigrants with court access across the state
Burlington Free Press
https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/local/vermont/2026/01/29/vermont-legal-aid-vermont-asylum-assistance-project-boost-immigration-lawyers-courts-access-citizen/88396400007/
Vermont Legal Aid and the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project have joined forces to expand immigration legal services in the state. “We are incredibly thankful for this collaboration and for the community of supporters who made it possible,” Bessie Weiss, interim executive director at Vermont Legal Aid, said. “This partnership allows us to expand services, deepen impact, and ensure immigrant communities across Vermont have meaningful access to justice.”
1/30/2026 Gov. Phil Scott pitches a (mostly) deregulatory plan for health care
Vermont Public
https://www.vermontpublic.org/local-news/2026-01-30/capitol-recap-gov-phil-scott-pitches-a-mostly-deregulatory-plan-for-health-care
Vermont Health Advocate Mike Fisher told lawmakers this week he’d entertain the governor’s proposal if he thought it could meaningfully impact the makeup of the state’s insurance pool. But he argued the 5% price differential contemplated in the bill was unlikely to drive change, and he noted that a significant chunk of those who are uninsured are already eligible for Medicaid.