Devon Green, VP of Government Relations, VAHHS As we head into town meeting week next week, the countdown to crossover has begun. Things are starting to move fast!
Regulatory Flexibilities: The House Health Care Committee voted out a bill that would extend certain COVID regulatory flexibilities, including health care provider licensure for an out-of-state provider in good standing at a facility when a provisional license is not available. The legislation includes a new section that requires this type of “deemed” licensure to be considered a Vermont license to address concerns that some health insurers are not accepting this form of licensure.
Budget Adjustment Act: The FY 23 Budget Adjustment Act will go to a conference committee to resolve differences between the House and Senate versions. The differences that impact hospitals include:
- The House version includes $9.25 million for and inpatient adolescent psych unit. The Senate eliminated this provision.
- The Senate version has greater flexibility for pipeline funding. The House version requires health care facilities to provide assistance with living costs.
Mental Health: There was a lot happening with mental health this week.
- The Department of Mental Health presented their FY 2024 budget initiatives to the House Health Care Committee:
- ED Alternatives: $1.6 million for an urgent mental health crisis center run by Northeast Kingdom Human Services for individuals in mental health crisis. The Northeast Kingdom currently has very few mental health resources.
- Mobile Crisis Expansion: Proposal to use $422,812 to continue to expand the mobile crisis program.
- Peer Credentialing: $375,000 to establish screening, training, and credentialing for peers with an estimated 60 individuals trained in the first year.
- Forensic Facility Legislation: The Department of Mental Health presented on S.89 and its proposal for 9 forensic beds as residential outpatient care for those involved in the criminal justice system and for those who have a considerable amount of risk for violence. The plan is to use 9 existing beds in the Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital for this population.
