The Union Bulletin
News Update of Local 5051, HCRS Clinicians
United Nurses & Allied Professionals
March 28, 2010
The Vermont Legislative Session has just one month left and the budget issues are coming to the fore. In this update current budget issues which affect us are covered and below you will see links to view the Governor's forum held by the Vermont Council of Mental Health and Developmental Services, of which our agency, HCRS, is a member.
State Budget News
Advocacy Needed ASAP!!! - On the Mental Health side, $1,000,000 in cuts are being discussed to the Children's Personal Care Services and on the Developmental Services Side also slated for cuts are Flexible Family Funds with 70 families being cut and also cuts in Targeted Case Management. Please send your comments, support for these programs to Joyce Dion, Chair of UNAP 5051 via email
One note, these cuts are being considered by the House Appropriations Committee. This Committee is chaired by Martha Heath, a social worker, and this committee has very carefully reviewed all budget proposals and has made very supportive decisions of social services whenever possible. That does mean, however, that they need information about the real impacts of these proposed cuts. If you forward your information and concerns, we can add them to what was already sent up to our UNAP lobbyists to convey at the State House.
Children's Upstream Services (CUPS) - CUPS is a mental health program run out of HCRS staffed by our fellow union members. There was a proposal in the State Legislature to roll CUPS into the Parent Child Centers. This recommendation was not passed and CUPS will stay in Mental Health Agencies. This is a victory for our young clients and their families. As any CUPS clinician can tell you these families need primary access to mental health services. Great advocacy efforts on the part of our CUPS teams!!! Thanks for Patty Akley Warlick and Patricia Corrigan and others for their efforts!!!!!
Federal Medicaid Funds - We are learning more details about the budget and this news includes some information about the enhanced federal match for Medicaid (FMAP). These extra funds apparently are being used to replenish the human services caseload reserve which, because of the increased demand for services, has been mostly depleted. (from One Vermont Update, 3-25-10, for more info go to www.onevermont.org)
Challenges for Change - Although some of the worst cuts seem to have been avoided, next week we will begin to get information about the administration's "Challenge for Change" proposals and we will have tokeep close watch. We could see some of those same cuts outlined in the governor'sbudget proposal surface again. Among other details, many of the human services cuts required to find the savings in the "Challenges"will no doubtresult in the loss of federal funds and an even greater reduction in services. (from One Vermont Update, 3-25-10, for more info go to www.onevermont.org)
Mental Health designated agencies, HCRS is one, are expected to receive a 5% cut as part of the Challenges for Change legislation which was approved at the beginning of the session. To put this into perspective, the designated agencies, including HCRS, received 4% cuts last year which is being experienced now. A 5% cut in mental health funding is significant. We are expecting to hear the details of how the Department of Mental Health will propose where the cuts will come from in our agencies. Please stay tuned!!! to your email for more updates!
Feds Deny Certification For Vermont State Hospital
Posted:March 26, 2010 04:26 PM
Updated:March 26, 2010 04:28 PM
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - The federal government has again denied certification for the Vermont State Hospital.
After citing building safety hazards and lapses in patient care last year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services agreed to let the state apply again for certification, which it did.
But the agency told Vermont officials in a letter Thursday that certification has again been denied.
That means the state will miss out on $8 million in federal funds that were to be a match for state funding of patients at the hospital if it had been recertified.
This is not good news. Since this was posted Friday, the 26th and is so recent we do not yet know how this will play out in the mental health funding picture. We do know that it will take a 8 million dollar chunk out of the budget!
Democratic Candidate Forum (Don't miss watching it--very informative!)
Vermont Council of Developmental and Mental Health Services Gubernatorial Forum was a big success with a very large turnout. It was recorded on March 22nd andin case you missed it, you can watch it on Channel 17/ Town Meeting Television, on Comcast Cable and Burlington Telecom at the following times or on line (see below)
Thursday April 1, 10:40 PM
Friday April 2, 3:40 AM
Friday April 2, 9:40 AM
WATCH ONLINE: You may watch the program on-line by clicking here:
http://www.cctv.org/node/90595