VSEA.org

"Historically, federal law has prohibited Medicaid from paying for IMD services provided to Medicaid enrollees between the ages of 21 and 64. As a result, when these particular Medicaid beneficiaries need emergency psychiatric treatment, they may seek services in general hospital emergency departments where services may not be matched to their needs or in psychiatric hospitals where the care is appropriate but reimbursement is not provided. This has been detrimental to Medicaid beneficiaries, hospitals, and State Medicaid programs."

"Administration Secretary Jeb Spaulding says he’s not surprised by the results of the [employee] survey and says it provides useful information."

Contrary to how this VPR story reads, the survey was not conducted by VSEA. It was conducted by 17 rank-and-file displaced state employees. VSEA thanks these employees for their hard work.

“The VSEA Displaced Waterbury Worker subcommittee believes that the opinions of actual frontline workers will be extremely persuasive and will ensure our legislators and State officials are making wise decisions about our future worksites and workspace design,” explained [Committee Co-Chair and displaced ANR worker Kellie] Merrell. “We strongly believe that a cost-effective approach to providing the best service to our communities includes having qualified, experienced staff working in conditions that are at least as good—or better—than the conditions that existed prior to Irene.”

Read survey and press release here!

"We are extremely concerned that the administration’s plan seriously underestimates the need for such beds and that the total number of Level I beds should be in the 50-60 range."
 
Column speaks about what’s important for Vermont’s acute mentally ill! Now the question is, are legislators listening? 

"…Morristown now says it can be a residential facility for mental health patients for the next two years. At first it will have eight beds, but that could grow to 16."