Supporting our independent primary care providers and FQHCs with tools like AI scribe is not just about reducing administrative burden—it’s about preserving the heart of Vermont’s healthcare system
In a groundbreaking effort to reduce administrative burden and strengthen Vermont’s primary care system, OneCare Vermont Accountable Care Organization (OneCare) is investing $320,000 in artificial intelligence (AI) scribe technology for independent primary care providers and federally qualified health centers (FQHC). These tools automate clinical documentation by transcribing and summarizing patient–clinician conversations, freeing clinicians to focus on patients rather than paperwork—a critical step toward reducing burnout and improving both care quality and clinician satisfaction.
Innovation Enabled by Fraud and Abuse Waivers
This investment exemplifies how fraud and abuse waivers under the Vermont All-Payer ACO Model serve as powerful enablers of innovation in healthcare delivery. The laws of which the waivers apply typically limit certain types of financial relationships among providers and payers.
Under the CMS-approved All-Payer ACO Model, OneCare has been granted targeted waivers that allow flexibility to test and scale new models of care. Using waivers the ACO can fund initiatives that advance care coordination, improve quality, and promote efficiency—activities that might otherwise raise compliance concerns.
“By strategically applying these waivers, OneCare is able to invest directly in tools and supports that enhance primary care infrastructure, such as the AI scribe initiative,” explained Linda Cohen, OneCare Counsel for Contracting and Innovation. “This approach aligns with the model’s goals of strengthening primary care, reducing administrative demands and further enables providers to deliver high-value, patient-centered care.”
Supporting Independent Primary Care Through Technology
The OneCare Board of Managers authorized the AI scribe funding as part of its strategy to sustain independent primary care. OneCare has been able to provide 12-month subscriptions to AI scribe products for 280 primary care practitioners in independent practices and FQHCs.
Most practices will use Heidi Health’s AI scribe, which can be used across electronic medical records and aligns with OneCare’s mission to support independent primary care. As of this writing, primary care providers have already signed into Heidi 21,000 times and created over 26,000 documents. They have also been working together sharing tips and ideas in Heidi-hosted office hours for Vermont primary care providers.
Advancing Sustainability and Clinician Well-Being
“Supporting our independent primary care providers and FQHCs with tools like AI scribe is not just about reducing administrative burden—it’s about preserving the heart of Vermont’s healthcare system,” said Dr. Carrie Weigand, Chief Medical Officer of OneCare Vermont. “These technologies allow clinicians to spend more time with their patients and less time on documentation, which ultimately leads to better care, improved patient satisfaction, and better outcomes. I will continue to practice longer because of my personal use of AI scribe and the digital assistance it provides.”
According to Heidi Health, the AI scribe automates an average of two hours or more of daily administrative work, transcribing and processing clinician–patient conversations and producing documentation and follow-up materials, thereby enabling clinicians to focus on direct care.
National Context: AI Innovation in Healthcare
- The use of AI in healthcare is rapidly expanding:
- 66% of physicians now use AI tools, up from 38% in 2023¹.
- Ambient clinical documentation tools are the most universally adopted AI use case, with 100% of surveyed systems reporting some level of implementation¹.
- AI adoption yields an average ROI of $3.20 for every $1 invested, typically realized within 14 months¹.
- 92% of healthcare leaders report that generative AI improves operational efficiency².
- Pairing clinicians with a scribe—AI or human—can reduce burnout by approximately 27%³.
A Model for Innovation in Value-Based Care
This initiative highlights OneCare’s role as a catalyst for value-based innovation—using regulatory flexibility to pilot technologies and care delivery models that improve the sustainability of Vermont’s primary care network. By leveraging fraud and abuse waivers responsibly and transparently, OneCare demonstrates how care transformation can be accelerated within an accountable care framework while maintaining compliance and accountability.
Citations
¹ AI In Healthcare Stats 2025: Adoption, Accuracy & Market. DemandSage.
² AI in Healthcare Statistics 2025: Overview of Trends. Docus.ai.
³ Scribes linked to 27% lower burnout rate in primary care. American Medical Association.
For more information:
Please contact Public Affairs at OneCare Vermont. public@onecarevt.org | 802-847-1346
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