Statement from Department of Mental Health Commissioner Michael Hartman

Statement from Department of Mental Health Commissioner Michael Hartman on Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Decision Regarding Certification of Vermont State Hospital
We all know that Vermont State Hospital has faced its share of challenges in the past few years as the State, legislators, advocates, mental health clients and other stakeholders have worked to rethink, reform and revitalize Vermont's system of mental health care to best serve our state's most severely mentally ill.
The good news is we have made significant progress in our concerted efforts to improve care, treatment and recovery services at VSH. This spring, we were pleased to report that VSH was found to be compliant with several key provisions of an agreement made in 2006 between the US Department of Justice and the State, including marked improvements in protection of patients from harm, the quality improvement of patient care, the environmental conditions and building safety of the hospital, and mental health assessments.
Just last month, VSH was extremely pleased to receive The Joint Commission's coveted Gold Seal of Approval for demonstrating compliance with the Commission's national standards for health care quality and safety. The Joint Commission is an independent, not-for-profit organization which accredits and certifies more than 15,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States and is recognized nationwide as a symbol of quality that reflects an organization's commitment to certain performance standards.
Today, I would like to share with you some news regarding an initial certification survey of Vermont State Hospital (VSH) by CMS-contracted nurse surveyor staff from the Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living's Division of Licensing and Protection, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Boston Regional Office.
The surveyors reported that VSH was out of compliance with certain standards related primarily to three CMS Conditions of Participation for Hospitals, regarding Patient Rights, Medical Record Services, and Organ, Tissue and Eye Procurement. Based on the findings of this survey, which took place September 15-18, the surveyors have recommended that CMS not certify VSH at this time. As a result of these findings, today CMS has denied VSH's request for participation in the Medicare program.
Needless to say, this is very disappointing news, in light of the tremendous progress that VSH has made in recent months to consistently, comprehensively and compassionately improve the hospital's system of care for Vermont's most acutely mentally ill.
We welcome the opportunity these findings present as we continue to improve the hospital's services for our clients. We do, however, have significant disagreement with some of the findings, and will be engaging in the formal process of reconsideration as defined in federal regulation regarding CMS decisions. Meanwhile, we will continue to make improvements in our policies and the physical plant as deemed necessary and appropriate as a result of our understanding of this review.
We have made significant progress over the last few years at VSH. This CMS survey represents a final hurdle which we have every confidence that we will overcome, and we remain committed to ensuring that Vermonters with severe mental illness receive the highest quality care, treatment and recovery services.
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